USA Taekwondo and AAU Taekwondo Announce Strategic Alignment

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.

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Sources from both organizations confirmed to MASTKD that the objective is not organizational consolidation, but meaningful alignment—a practical approach designed to improve clarity, coordination, and opportunity across the sport, while helping athletes pursue development opportunities with fewer conflicts and greater flexibility.

A significant step forward—while remaining independent

Both organizations will remain independent, with separate governance structures, but described the alignment as a significant step forward intended to build a more functional and athlete-centered domestic ecosystem for athletes, coaches, referees, and families.

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 to strengthen collaboration across competition, development, coaching, and officiating.

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 is expected to give 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. The 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, recognizing 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 said they 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.

From dialogue to action: the October 2025 precedent

The January announcement builds upon initial discussions held in October 2025 in Charlotte, where leadership from both organizations met to explore shared goals and areas of cooperation and publicly committed to improving athlete opportunity. Leaders framed the new initiatives as the next phase of that work—moving from dialogue to action.

From the organizations

McNally said the alignment is athlete-driven: “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.”

Oh emphasized the development focus: “Our focus is on providing athletes, coaches, and families with a safe, respectful, and development-driven environment… building an ecosystem the next generation can believe in.”

Looking ahead

Both organizations said additional details regarding timelines and program implementation will be announced throughout 2026, reinforcing a shared belief that athletes benefit most when the Taekwondo community works collaboratively.

About the organizations

About AAU Taekwondo
The AAU was founded in 1888 and focuses on sports programs for participants of all ages at the grassroots level under the philosophy “Sports for All, Forever.”

About USA Taekwondo
USA Taekwondo is the National Governing Body for Taekwondo in the United States, recognized by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and World Taekwondo, responsible for selecting and supporting U.S. teams for major international competitions.

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Claudio Aranda

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