USA TAEKWONDO UNVEILS TEAM USA INAUGURAL NATIONAL TAEKWONDO DEMONSTRATION TEAM  — A NEW ERA BEGINS

USA TAEKWONDO UNVEILS FIRST‑EVER TEAM USA NATIONAL TAEKWONDO DEMONSTRATION TEAM  — A NEW ERA BEGINS

This July in Charlotte, NC, the nation’s top demonstration teams will battle for history at the 2026 U.S. National Taekwondo Championships, where one team will earn the title of the inaugural Team USA National Demonstration Team. The champions will take center stage with a featured performance at the 2027 U.S. Open Championships in Las Vegas, NV. Registration opens w/e April 17, 2026 at usataekwondo.sport80.com.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Taekwondo (USATKD) is thrilled to announce this groundbreaking moment for American taekwondo: the qualifying of the first‑ever Team USA National Taekwondo Demo Team. This milestone elevates one of the sport’s most electrifying disciplines—where power, creativity, and precision collide—into the national spotlight like never before.

Demonstration teams have long been the heartbeat of taekwondo culture, captivating audiences around the world and inspiring athletes of all ages. Now, for the first time in U.S. history, demonstration athletes will have the opportunity to compete for an official Team USA title and represent the nation on some of the sport’s biggest stages.

Teams from across the country are invited to Charlotte, North Carolina, July 1–5, to compete at the 2026 U.S. National Taekwondo Championships for the honor of becoming the inaugural Team USA National Taekwondo Demo Team.

The winning team will hold the national title for twelve months and earn a premier showcase at USATKD’s flagship events—starting with a headline performance during the opening ceremony of the 2027 U.S. Open Championships in Las Vegas, NV one of the most prestigious taekwondo events in the world.

And the excitement doesn’t stop there. As Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Olympic Games—with taekwondo taking the stage—the Team USA National Taekwondo Demo Team of that year will have a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity to be part of USA Taekwondo’s celebrations at the Olympics. For taekwondo demonstration athletes, this is the pinnacle.

This program, developed by the USATKD Technical Committee led by Myung Chan Kim, underscores USATKD’s commitment to elevating the full breadth of taekwondo disciplines—not only sparring and poomsae—and ensuring every discipline has a national platform to shine. Demonstration performance blends athleticism, artistry, and teamwork in a way few sports can match, and this new national team opportunity gives clubs and athletes across America a prestigious title to chase.

USATKD has appointed Technical Committee member Grandmaster Woo Sup Kim as Director of Demo Teams. A distinguished alumnus of the world‑renowned Young In University—one of the premier global institutions for taekwondo—Grandmaster Kim brings unmatched expertise, passion, and vision to this new team opportunity. He will be joined by fellow Technical Committee members Daniel Osorio, Audrey Crawford, and Lynda Laurin, forming a powerhouse leadership team for the future of U.S. taekwondo demonstration performance.

“USA Taekwondo is focused on the future, and this new national demo team is an exciting leap forward,” said Steve McNally, CEO of USA Taekwondo. “The United States is overflowing with extraordinary talent, and we can’t wait for the world to see it. For the first time ever, demonstration athletes have an official national team to compete for, a national title to claim, and a stage worthy of their skill. I’m excited about the direction we’re moving, and with Grandmaster Kim and the leadership team driving this program forward, we’re setting the stage for a powerful new era in United States taekwondo. This is only the beginning. With the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles ahead of us, we have an incredible opportunity to showcase the power, creativity, and spirit of American taekwondo on the biggest stage in the world.

“I am deeply honored to serve in this role and to be part of something that has never been done before in American taekwondo,” said Grandmaster Woo Sup Kim, Director of Demo Teams. “Demo athletes are some of the most dedicated and creative performers in our sport. They train relentlessly; they inspire everyone who watches them, and they have never had the national recognition they deserve. That changes today. I invite every demo team in this country to come to Charlotte in July and make history with us.”

Registration opens w/e April 17, 2026 at www.usatkd.org.