Rome, GA, Get Ready! Phoenix Martial Arts Takes on the Roman Classic.

As a coach and founder of Phoenix Martial Arts, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of martial arts in children's lives. From shy and timid to confident and focused, I've seen kids blossom into capable and compassionate individuals. Our team's recent journey to their first Taekwondo competition of the season, was more than just a competition – it was a testament to the dedication and perseverance of our young athletes.

The Power of Competition: More Than Just Winning

Competition is often misunderstood. People think it's solely about winning, but I believe it's about becoming the best version of yourself. Martial arts competition, in particular, teaches kids invaluable life skills:

• Confidence: Standing on the mat, facing opponents, and overcoming fears builds unshakeable confidence.
• Focus: Training for tournaments requires discipline, helping kids prioritize and stay focused.
• Resilience: Losing is inevitable, but learning to bounce back and grow from setbacks is a vital life skill.

At Phoenix Martial Arts, we prepare our students for tournaments by emphasizing:

• Holistic training: Physical technique, mental preparation, and emotional intelligence.
• Teamwork: Supporting fellow teammates fosters camaraderie and shared success.
• Mental preparation: Visualization, positive self-talk, and and belief in yourself that the only one that can beat you on competition day is you.

I saw one of our first time competitors struggling with anxiety before this competition.  He practiced his form over and over and worried that it would not be good enough.  Reminding the student of the countless hours of practice we put in (at Phoenix we don’t let our competition out practice us), pointing out the strong points of his form, and helping to correct flaws in the last couple of weeks was able to calm that anxiety and help him become confident that he’d perform his best.  Not only did he win 1st place in the forms competition, he dominated all 6 of his opponents on competition day! 

Taekwondo Competition: A Test of Skill and Character

The Roman Classic this year had competitors from Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and Florida- truly all over the southeast. With top-notch competitors and some of the best referees in the country (this year’s competition had 16 World Taekwondo International Referees) it was an ideal platform for our brand new competition team to make its debut. The team’s instructions for this event were to:

• Develop mental toughness: No matter how tough the challenge, never stop doing your best and finish until the end.
• Foster teamwork: Supporting each other through victories and setbacks.
• Display Sportsmanship and Respect: build a reputation for themselves as the most humble and respectful competitors in the Taekwondo Community.
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The Phoenix Team followed that game plan to a T!  And they also brought home plenty of hardware.  Here are their results.

• Alijah Massey, 6-7 year old beginner division: gold forms, gold sparring
• Teagan Oliver, 8-9 year old beginner division: gold forms, gold sparring
• Jonah Neil, 12-14 old beginner division: gold forms, gold sparring
• Aydien Jurinsky, 12-14 year old beginner division: gold forms, gold sparring
• Jayden Smith, 8-9 year old beginner division: gold forms, silver sparring
• Abby Rook, 8-9 year old intermediate division: silver forms, bronze sparring
• Elijah Cotellese, 10-11 year old black belt division: silver sparring
• Sebastian Navarro, 8-9 year old intermediate division: bronze forms, silver sparring
• Cameron Nance, 6-7 year old intermediate division: bronze forms, bronze sparring
• Kaleb Schmidt, 12-14 year old beginner division: bronze forms, bronze sparring

9 Gold Medals, 4 Silver Medals, 6 Bronze Medals

As coaches, we emphasize that winning isn't everything. We celebrate personal victories, no matter the outcome. We had a student that lost his first match but was beaming with pride because the score was close and he was able to put into play everything that we worked on before the competition.  That's what martial arts is about – progress, not perfection.

Turning Kids into Martial Arts Athletes

Our approach at Phoenix Martial Arts focuses on:

• Goal-setting: Helping students set and achieve realistic goals.
• Discipline: Developing self-control and responsibility.
• Self-awareness: Recognizing strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.

We've seen students transform from:

• Shy to confident: Public speaking and demonstration skills.
• Distracted to focused: Improved academic performance and attention span.
• Timid to courageous: Standing up for themselves and others.

One parent shared with me, "My child was getting bullied at school. After joining Phoenix Martial Arts, he gained the confidence to stand up for himself and make new friends."

Lessons from the Mat: Life Skills for Success

Martial arts training extends far beyond the mat:

• Hard work: Overcoming obstacles and persevering.
• Respect: Valuing others, regardless of differences.
• Self-control: Managing emotions and impulses.

These skills help kids navigate life's challenges:

• Bullying: Standing up for themselves and others.
• Peer pressure: Making informed choices and staying true to values.
• Academic stress: Managing anxiety and staying focused.

As Tony Robbins says, "The past does not equal the future unless you live there." Martial arts empowers kids to shape their own destiny.

Unlock Your Child's Potential

Is your child ready to unlock their potential? At Phoenix Martial Arts, we're dedicated to helping kids become confident, capable, and compassionate individuals. Join our family and discover the transformative power of martial arts.

Take the First Step

Sign up for a trial class or consultation today. Let's embark on this journey together and unleash your child's inner champion.

About the Author

Coach Nick Cotellese is a 5th Degree Taekwondo Black Belt and founder of Phoenix Martial Arts. With over 40 years of martial arts experience, he's helped hundreds of kids become martial arts athletes and confident individuals.