USA TAEKWONDO & AAU TAEKWONDO ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT TO STRENGTHEN TAEKWONDO IN THE UNITED STATES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

USA Taekwondo and AAU Taekwondo Announce Strategic Alignment to Strengthen Taekwondo in the United States

Charlotte, North Carolina – January 2026 — USA Taekwondo and AAU Taekwondo today announced a strategic alignment focused on expanding opportunity, reducing barriers, and strengthening the domestic development pathway for Taekwondo athletes across the United States.

This alignment represents a significant step forward for the sport, as both organizations work collaboratively to better serve athletes, coaches, referees, and families. While USA Taekwondo and AAU Taekwondo will remain independent organizations with separate governance structures, this effort is designed to create a more functional and athlete-centered domestic ecosystem.

Over the past several months, USA Taekwondo CEO Steve McNally and AAU Martial Arts Executive Director Clinton Oh have worked together to identify practical areas of cooperation that improve clarity, coordination, and opportunity across the sport. The focus of this collaboration is not organizational consolidation, but meaningful alignment that allows athletes to pursue development opportunities with fewer conflicts and greater flexibility.

This announcement builds upon initial discussions held in October 2025, when leadership from USA Taekwondo and AAU Taekwondo met in Charlotte, North Carolina, to explore shared goals and areas of cooperation. At that time, both organizations publicly committed to improving athlete opportunity and strengthening collaboration across competition, development, coaching, and officiating. The initiatives announced today mark the next phase of that work—moving from dialogue to action.

Key Areas of Collaboration

Aligned Domestic Competition Calendar
USA Taekwondo and AAU Taekwondo will work to better coordinate major national event and camp calendars, reducing unnecessary overlap where possible. This strategic spacing will allow athletes greater flexibility to participate in multiple competitive and developmental opportunities throughout the year.

Referee Collaboration and Training
Referee leadership from both organizations are collaborating to create crossover training and development opportunities. This initiative is designed to enhance officiating consistency, strengthen the national officiating pool, and support referee appointments at both domestic and international events.

Cadet Development Alignment (Beginning in 2027)
For the first time, USA Taekwondo and AAU Taekwondo will align domestic development efforts for World-Class Cadet athletes (ages 12–14) through coordinated opportunities, coaching collaboration, and enhanced international exposure.

Key elements include:

• The winner of the 2026 AAU Cadet Team Trials will earn an invitation and the No. 8 seed at the 2027 U.S. Cadet National Team Trials. This recognizes competitive performance while preserving the integrity of the national team selection process. Additional implementation details will be released at a later date.

• Both organizations will collaborate on identifying qualified coaches for the U.S. Cadet National Team through a shared vetting and recommendation process.

• Resources will be aligned to support 2027 U.S. Cadet National Team members’ participation in key Pan American and World Taekwondo developmental events, reducing financial and logistical barriers for athletes and families while strengthening international experience.

Shared Commitment to Safety and Standards
USA Taekwondo and AAU Taekwondo will collaborate on policies and best practices that promote a safer, more respectful, and accountable sport. These efforts will align with World Taekwondo standards and meet or exceed requirements established by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

Looking Ahead

This alignment reflects a shared belief that athletes benefit most when the Taekwondo community works collaboratively. By expanding competitive opportunities, clarifying development pathways, and fostering cooperation, USA Taekwondo and AAU Taekwondo are investing in the long-term success and growth of the sport in the United States.

Additional details regarding timelines and program implementation will be announced throughout 2026.

From the Organizations

Steve McNally, CEO, USA Taekwondo
“This collaboration is about athletes. By improving alignment and reducing unnecessary barriers, we are creating a system that provides more opportunity, clearer pathways, and stronger support for athletes as they pursue their Taekwondo goals.”

Clinton Oh, Executive Director, AAU Martial Arts
“Our focus is on providing athletes, coaches, and families with a safe, respectful, and development-driven environment. By working together, AAU and USA Taekwondo are strengthening the sport and building an ecosystem the next generation can believe in.”

About AAU Taekwondo

The AAU was founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in amateur sports. During its early years, the AAU served as a leader in international sport representing the U.S. in the international sports federations. The AAU worked closely with the Olympic movement to prepare athletes for the Olympic Games. After the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, the AAU has focused its efforts into providing sports programs for all participants of all ages beginning at the grass roots level. The philosophy of "Sports for All, Forever," is shared by nearly 800,000 participants and over 150,000 volunteers.

About USA Taekwondo

USA Taekwondo is the National Governing Body for Taekwondo in the U.S., recognized by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and World Taekwondo. The organization is responsible for the selection, training and funding of U.S. teams for the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, World Championships, and other international competition, while serving its members through leadership, resources, and opportunities in taekwondo. USATKD supports athletes and officials from grassroots to elite levels, offering programs that build champions on and off the mat.

For media inquiries:

media@usatkd.org