07/12/2026
I’ve waited a week to post this due to frustration. Last weekend a few of us took on the expense of traveling to Fort Lauderdale, FL for the AAU Tae Kwon Do Nationals which we qualified for in March at the AAU State Championships. The students/instructors who went have spent alot of time training for this event. Some of you have helped us train by coming to fight nights and sparring us.
We knew the officiating like any sporting event can be hit or miss, but at a national level tournament you don’t expect rookie referees to be in the center, who don’t know the rules and especially for black belt divisions.
One student lost his first fight due to the referring and another student almost lost her first fight because officials not knowing what techniques where worth what points.
It’s also frustrating for a student to fly down and out of 6,100 athletes, not have a fight. Only a 17 yr. old, 6’2” fighter could be found.
With that being said, we’re very proud of the composure these athletes had while getting minus points for legal techniques.
Congratulations to:
Alan Emerich: Silver in point sparring and Gold in Continuous (which they also made point sparring exhibition). Alan was willing to fight any division just to compete.
Logan Johnson: Bronze in WT Traditional Forms, and Continuous Sparring, though Logan didn’t place in point sparring, he had a great fight and with better officials I’m sure would have came out on top.
Payton Wiley: Gold in Grassroots Olympic Sparring, Silver in Point Sparring, Bronze in Continuous Sparring, Open Forms & Traditional WT Forms. She needed security with all the medals she won.
Annie Eisen: Gold in Point Sparring.
A huge congratulations also to Senior Instructor Wiley and Senior Master Instructor Annie for qualifying for AAU Team Trials.
Though S.M. Annie will not be heading to team trials, S.I. Wiley plans too, so wish her the best.
