Master Dennis Karsten

I have been training in Taekwondo since 1993. I earned my first black belt in 1996, and am currently a 5th Dan black belt. As we age, it’s very important to keep our bodies moving and our minds active. Taekwondo offers me the opportunity to do both. As an instructor, I really enjoy teaching all of our forms, but especially the Wonshim self-defense forms. Wonshim offers highly effective, real world self-defense techniques that help improve a student’s technical skills and self-confidence. On a personal note, I retired from Lockheed Martin in 2008 after 34 years as a Materials and Processes Engineer working on the Titan IV and Atlas V launch vehicles and a variety of spacecraft programs.

Master Mary Everson

I began training in Taekwondo in 1997. I received my first black belt in 2000, and I am now a 4th Dan black belt Master. One of the things that most draws me to Taekwondo is the excellent workout it provides. As an instructor, I enjoy challenging each student to achieve their very best, focus on strength, flexibility and just having fun. Our school offers a unique opportunity for families to spend time together while learning a martial art. It’s great to see families grow together by spending time together. Outside of the Dojang, I enjoy hiking, golfing, my standard poodles and spending time with my grandkids.

Master Mike Bagnall

I began my training in Taekwondo in 1995 and am currently a 4th Dan black belt master.  Every student attending my classes knows that I truly believe that practicing martial arts is more fun than humans should be allowed. I am very interested in the art of Hapkido and am trying to incorporate it into our curriculum in a practical and fun way.  When I'm not in the Dojang, I spend my time running, swimming, and playing my guitar.

Instructor Todd Fahnestock

My first martial arts training began at age 6 with Karate, then later in college with Aikido. I started training in Taekwondo in 2013 as a way for my family to do something physical together, and I earned my 2nd Dan black belt in 2021. I love that Taekwondo offers a variety of opportunities to connect body, mind and spirit. It continues to fascinate me that the elements required to excel inside the Dojang are the same elements required to excel outside the Dojang: a beginner’s mind, discipline, practice, perseverance, and giving 100%. I am a five-time US Open Hanmadang gold medalist. When I teach, I do my best to keep the “fun” in the fundamentals of Taekwondo. When I’m not breaking boards or breaking rules, I am writing fantasy novels for kids and adults. (The Wishing World, Tower of the Four, Summer of the Fetch, Charlie Fiction, and God of Dragons, to name a few).

Master J. P. Fagan

Instructor Lara Fahnestock

I started with Family Taekwondo in 2013 as a mother on the sidelines. Martial arts was something I never really thought about trying, something I did not think I could do. That changed after one class. Watching all the different ages and belt levels working out together looked like fun so I gave it a try. It stuck. I earned my first Dan black belt in January 2020.

For me, taekwondo is a full body workout and an opportunity to learn self-defense, but it is also a place to push boundaries, both physically and mentally. I am a below knee amputee and have many old injuries that limit my mobility. Taekwondo helps me feel present in my body and has given me much greater physical confidence. In my classes I like to mix it up but will always spend time stretching, doing core strengthening and working with students to not just learn, but feel the techniques. When not at the dojang, I work at a local non-profit and spend lots of time outside gardening and enjoying time with my family.

I am grateful to be training, learning and teaching at Family Taekwondo Center of Littleton.

Instructor Katelin Barson

I am Katelin. I am an 8th grade literacy teacher, and honored to now be teaching taekwondo classes too. My journey in the sport began in 2017, and I earned my black belt in October of 2021. The growth I have experienced in my confidence and strength crystalized my love for our practice in the dojang. In class, I enjoy practicing some of the pillars of taekwando; balance, accuracy, and flexibility. My classes typically include a regiment of cardio and forms that target the details of the art. To put these details into practice, I put heavy emphasis on sparring, as I have had some of my favorite times in the dojang in combat. I look forward to training with all of the other students and instructors, furthering my abilities as a martial artist, and improving my discipline and character as a human being. In my time outside of work and taekwondo, I enjoy hiking, skiing, painting, and playing Dungeons and Dragons.

Instructor Dave Mathewson

My name is Dave Mathewson. I began my Taekwondo journey in 2018 and received my black belt in 2021. Studying Taekwondo fulfills a life-long dream. I have wanted to do a martial art since I was 8 years old, so I am proof that it is never too late to begin! I love all aspects of Taekwondo, but especially sparring, self-defense applications, and kicking pads and bags! When I teach class it usually involves plenty of warm-up and stretching, practicing foundational movements, working on forms, and kicking things. I have found that Taekwondo is as much a work-out for the mind as it is the body. It has taught me discipline and focus, confidence and patience. One thing I love about Taekwondo is that you never arrive – there is always something more to learn. When I am not practicing Taekwondo I work as a seminary professor. I love to teach, research, and write. I also spend time in the gym lifting weights, but most of all I love anything outdoors – on weekends you can find me camping, hiking, or flyfishing.