Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines self-defense as “the act of defending oneself, one’s property, or a close relative.” Protection is an obvious benefit to being able to guard and defend yourself in a time of trouble. But personal safety isn’t the only benefit. Your health can improve with the exercise and rigors of self-defense, which are offered with Tae Kwon Do.

You can improve your balance. Standing on one leg, kicking and punching at the same time, takes skill. And practice. The sheer act of repetitively working on these motions, and not falling over, can help your body control and coordination.

Physical conditioning inevitably gets better. When you are working different areas of your body, they will get stronger. This can include everything from toned muscles to endurance.

Your self-awareness and reflexes are heightened. Your instincts become sharpened, as you work to anticipate your sparring partner’s next move. This preparatory skill is especially important if you ever find yourself in a fight-or-flight situation.

Self-defense isn’t just for one gender. It’s not just for one race. Self-defense is for everyone who wants the enjoyment of physical activity and all of its benefits, along with the security of knowing they can protect themselves should the need arise.

Happy New Year!  Welcome, 2018.  After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it's refreshing to start over - with a clean slate.  The new year seems to usher in that feeling.  In fact, it contains an underlying excitement of sorts.  What will the new year hold?  What intriguing things will happen?  What goals will you accomplish?

Often one of those goals is to become a more physically fit, in-shape version of ourselves.  If trimming down and toning up are high on your to-do list, you're not alone.  Losing weight and healthier eating topped the 2017 New Year's resolution list, with 21.4% of respondents noting it as their top goal, according to Statistic Brain Research Institute.

Instead of joining a pricey gym with the same equipment, little interaction, and scare opportunities for advancement, why not take a look at Tae Kwon Do?

-There is always room for advancement levels, even through Black Belt!

-Age is never an issue.  From 4 years and up, there's a program for you.

-You are constantly learning new skills.

-Instructors engage, instruct, and encourage you, one-on-one.

-Besides the benefits of healthy exercise, you are also learning self-defense techniques.

-And perhaps the best, most cost-effective part of all. . .

You can sign up for a FREE trial! Visit https://atlantatkd.com/beginners-martial-arts-classes-program

We'd LOVE to see you. Sign up today and see if it's right for you!

Attention All Parents!! Do you need a night out after the Thanksgiving Holiday?  We have you covered with an all-inclusive Parent's Night Out!  Let you children join us for games, projects, TKD, dinner and a movie.  We plan all the fun - you enjoy the evening.  Sign up now by calling

(770)460-3356

and reserve your place now!

Master Shim's World Class Tae Kwon Do masters, instructors, competitors and their families headed to Greensboro, North Carolina over the weekend of July 21-22, 2017 to compete in an amazing international tournament along with over 1000 other competitors.  Yong In University is the alma mater of our very own Master Shim where he was an esteemed member of the world recognized traveling Yong In University Demonstration Team.  We got to see this year's team as they impressed us with their hit flying techniques and board breaking as well as their synchronized forms. Thank you to all who supported this great event!

Congratulations to all of Master Shim's competitors who gave their best this past Saturday! Forms Gold Medalists: Samantha F. Ethan R. Chinelle A. Curtis S. Hudson D. Jordan W. Doan V. Juliana M. Samantha H. Alex N. Jameel H. Forms Silver Medalists: Alexis H. Challaine B. Jahmall C. Liam R. Rosalyn L. Christian H. Brian K. Michael K. Binh H. Forms Bronze Medalists: Lexci C. Tiger K. Brandon D. Abigail S. World Class Poomsae Medalists: Emily P. - Gold Alina K. - Silver Kiana H. - Bronze Raenah F. - Bronze Stormy W. - Bronze Breaking Gold Medalists: Jameel H. Alexis H. Alex N. Challaine B. Samantha H. Juliana M. Doan V. Brandon D. Tiger K. Binh H. Jim C. Ethan R. Brian K. Abigail M. Jordan W. Breaking Silver Medalists: Lexci C. Hudson D. Christian H. Rosalin L. Liam R. Jahmall C. Breaking Bronze Medalists: Stormy W. Michael K. Chinelle A. Sparring Gold Medalists: Hudson D. Michael K. Chinelle A. Nolan T. Binh H. Alison T. Griffin T. Stormy W. Joseph B. Sparring Silver Medalists: Jameel H. Christian H. Abigail M. Ethan R. World Class Sparring Medalists: Alexis F. - Gold Alex N. - Silver

THANK YOU! To all of our dedicated students, parents, and families who raised over $22,500 for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at the 2016 Haunted HealthKick. You guys ROCK!!!!

Our competitors did a great job this past weekend at the ATU Nationals!
Challaine B. - Demo & Bronze in Poomsae
Alex N. - Demo, Gold in Poomsae, & Bronze in Sparring
Samantha H. - Demo
Alexis F. - Bronze in Sparring
Samantha F. - Demo & Gold in Poomsae
Jordyn C. - Demo & Gold in Poomsae
Matthew B. - Demo
Alison T. - Demo
Griffin T. - Demo
Kiana H. - Demo & Bronze in Sport Poomsae
Raenah F. - Demo & Excellent Sport Poomsae
Emily P. - Demo, Bronze in Sport Poomsae & the ATU National -51 Cadet World Class Sparring Champion
Bryce A. - Gold in Sparring
Elijah E. - Gold in Sparring
Joseph B. - Bronze in Sparring
Christina H. - Bronze in Sparring & Bronze in Poomsae
Stormy W. - Demo & Excellent Sport Poomsae
Alina K. - Demo & Bronze in Sport Poomsae
David Kim - Demo
Great Job by all!

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP) — The young people who learn martial arts at a studio north of Detroit are not considered students.

Their instructors use a different word.

Heroes.

That's because the techniques these children learn will be used not to take on an opponent from a rival studio but against the deadly diseases that ravage their young bodies and threaten their lives.

Called Kids Kicking Cancer, the Southfield, Michigan-based program helps sick kids learn to use martial arts-style breathing and relaxation techniques to manage stress, anxiety and pain stemming from their illnesses and medical treatments.

It was founded by Elimelech Goldberg, a rabbi and first-degree black belt in the art of Choi Kwang Do. Known to the children as "Rabbi G," Goldberg said he was motivated to start Kids Kicking Cancer by the memory of his daughter Sara, who was diagnosed with leukemia just before her 1st birthday and succumbed to the disease a little more than a year later.

"My daughter, at 2 years old, contributed so much to this planet, because she brought in this light. And now that's the light that I'm privileged to help spread to the rest of the world," Goldberg said before leading a class of 16 preteens and teenagers suffering from cancer, sickle cell anemia and other ailments.

One child in the class of "little heroes," as Goldberg calls them, is Jayson Harris, a 9-year-old from Detroit whose cancer is in remission.

"Being in class is like a second family to me," Jayson said shortly before taking his spot on the mat and driving his fist into a striking pad held by instructor Michael Hunt.

The training also is designed to teach the kids to take control of their situations. Or as Goldberg says, to teach them to be victors instead of victims.

Hunt, 27, was the latter when he joined Goldberg's first class in 1999. He had already undergone a year of chemotherapy to treat a cancer of the muscles known as rhabdomyosarcoma, as well as having four ribs and a tumor removed from his side. Hunt later had two steel rods surgically implanted on either side of his spine.

Now, he certainly is the former.

Being a part of Kids Kicking Cancer allowed him to cut down on the medications he had been taking to manage the pain, and as a trainer he is an ever-present reminder to enrollees that the program can help.

"I'll tell them my story, and they're like, 'Oh, OK. Now, I know I can do it,'" Hunt said.

Mike Householder can be reached at mhouseholder@ap.org and http://twitter.com/mikehouseholder