BOULDER, CO – There’s a new martial arts gym in the Centennial State and it’s already kicking up a storm.
InSeng Taekwondo, owned and operated by Coach David Lee, held its grand opening last week in Boulder on Monday, Sept. 13th. The doors opened to all ages for a demonstration, showcasing Poomsae (forms), sparring, and board breaking.
Coach David and several members of the Colorado martial arts community spent months renovating and promoting the 3,000 square-foot Taekwondo gym on Walnut Street right near the famous Pearl Street Mall. It boasts areas for forms, sparring, functional training and weightlifting, and even for studying and relaxing.
“Opening day was a great experience,” Coach Ivan Pagan told Coloradomanews.com, “Our expectations were exceeded, and we are thankful for the support we have received.”
Coach David got the idea to start his own gym, after spending nearly two decades leading the University of Colorado Boulder Taekwondo Team. He oversaw its transformation from an almost unheard of collegiate sports club, to one of the most widely-recognized collegiate martial arts clubs in the country.
“We hope to be a pillar of the Boulder community” Coach David said, “a place where kids and families can grow and where lifelong training is the goal for all ages and abilities, and eventually creating future Taekwondo Champions.”
InSeng is Korean for “journey of life” and is meant to be the gym’s guiding philosophy, “no matter where you are in life, it’s never too late to start your Taekwondo story, and we believe in mixing traditional and modern values and training techniques, to ensure all of our members can reach their goals and have longevity in this sport.”
Additionally, Coach David has coached seasoned, nationally-recognized athletes, and even guided beginners to black belt status, who would later step on the national podium. To date, he has coached the Collegiate USA Taekwondo teams at the world stage twice, most recently at the championship games in Germany.
A few dedicated alumni and supporters of the CU club team are now among InSeng’s senior staff, including coaches Ivan Pagan Maldonado, Catalina Tai, and Jip Premwhaew, all of whom have experience in competing and coaching at the national and even international levels.
“It feels like just yesterday when (coach) David and I were talking about our passion and vision to open a Taekwondo school that would truly make a difference,” Master Jip told Coloradomanews.com. “Our InSeng partners worked so hard to make this happen, and it’s beyond joy to see our dream come to life.”
Master Jip herself was ranked #3 in the world for Taekwondo and competed at the Summer Olympic games in Beijing in 2008, as a member of the Thailand national team.
Likewise, Master Catalina competed in the international circuit on several occasions, while a member of the Columbian national team. The former head instructor for Jade Martial Arts, which went out of business in 2020, following the COVID-19 Pandemic, also brings teaching experience for children and adults alike.
“Together, our coaching team is solid, diverse, and united by true passion – not just to grow a business, but to grow our community,” Master Jip said.
Since Colorado hosts the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, there’s a wide variety of ambitious talent.
InSeng will indeed face competition from other martial arts and combat sports gyms in the Front-Range area, as well as throughout the rest of the state, where athletes train for everything from Olympic Boxing to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Master Jip emphasized that what sets InSeng apart is a “complete environment” where athletes and families alike can thrive.
“What makes us unique is that we bring together high-level coaching and professional care: a sports chiropractor, an acupuncturist, and a sports psychologist – all under one roof.”
Coach Ivan said he’s looking forward to taking some of those ambitious athletes under wing, to maximize their potential, “I aim to help individuals reach national teams and create a team of black belts, who motivate each other to improve every day.”
Several local companies helped sponsor the grand opening, including Yamashiro Orthodontics, BoCo Life, Bliss Boulder, Disco Apocalypse, Bobbles and Lace, Folsom Thai, and Seoul Kitchen Coach David told Coloradomanews.com.
InSeng Taekwondo is located at 1725 Walnut St. in Boulder, CO.
You can find more information on their website insengtaekwondo.com, as well as on Facebook and Instagram by searching for the handle @insengtaekwondo