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| USA Taekwondo | |
|---|---|
| Name | USA Taekwondo |
| Abbreviation | USAT |
| Formation | 1979 |
| Headquarters | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Region served | United States |
| Membership | National and state associations, clubs, athletes |
| Leader title | CEO |
| Leader name | (various) |
| Website | (official) |
USA Taekwondo is the national governing body for Olympic-style Taekwondo in the United States, recognized by United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, affiliated with World Taekwondo and linked to the International Olympic Committee. It organizes elite athlete selection, national championships, and international representation, coordinating with state associations, clubs, and coaching networks across the United States. USA Taekwondo interacts with international federations, Olympic programs, and multi-sport events to develop athletes for the Summer Olympic Games and Pan American Games.
USA Taekwondo traces its roots to the spread of Taekwondo to the United States by masters from Korea and the subsequent establishment of regional schools and organizations such as the United States Taekwondo Union. Early institutions included ties to the Kukkiwon and exchanges with figures like Choi Hong Hi, Lee Kyo-yoon, and Haeng Ung Lee. The organization evolved amid interactions with World Taekwondo Federation (now World Taekwondo), the International Taekwon-Do Federation, and national bodies like the Amateur Athletic Union and the United States Olympic Committee. USA Taekwondo's development occurred alongside major events like the inclusion of Taekwondo as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Summer Olympics and 1992 Summer Olympics, and as a full medal sport at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Governance reforms and restructuring were influenced by disputes involving organizations such as the American Taekwondo Association and prominent athletes and coaches.
The governance structure links USA Taekwondo with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and adheres to statutes from World Taekwondo, operating through a board of directors, executive leadership, and committees that coordinate with state associations in places like California, Texas, New York (state), Florida, and Illinois. Policies reflect compliance with bodies such as the United States Anti-Doping Agency and alignment with international rules from World Taekwondo. Affiliated organizations include national training centers like the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center (Colorado Springs), regional development centers, university programs at institutions like University of Colorado Boulder and Purdue University, and partnerships with corporate sponsors and foundations. Legal and dispute resolution interactions have occurred with entities such as the American Arbitration Association and civil courts in jurisdictions including Colorado.
National programs incorporate talent identification, high performance pathways, and junior development through national training camps, Olympic trials, and youth programs with connections to clubs like Tiger Rock Martial Arts, academies led by masters linked to Kukkiwon certification, and collegiate clubs competing under National Collegiate Taekwondo. Athlete development pathways coordinate coaching from national staff who have coached at events like the World Taekwondo Championships, Pan American Taekwondo Championships, and the Junior World Taekwondo Championships. Funding and athlete support draw on grants from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, sponsorships, and nonprofit foundations that support elite athletes such as those training at the Olympic Training Center (Colorado Springs). Talent pipelines include participation in events organized by USA Wrestling-style multisport outreach programs and collaboration with youth sport organizations like AAU for grassroots engagement.
USA Taekwondo sanctions national championships, continental qualifiers, Olympic Trials, and selection events, coordinating with international competitions such as the Olympic Games, World Taekwondo Championships, Grand Prix (Taekwondo), Pan American Games, and the Universiade. Domestic marquee events include the USA National Championships, the Olympic Trials, and age-group championships that serve as qualifiers for multi-sport events like the Pan American Games and the Youth Olympic Games. Event adjudication follows World Taekwondo rules implemented at tournaments including the World Taekwondo Grand Slam and Continental Championships in the Pan American Taekwondo Union circuit. Venues have included arenas in Las Vegas, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Anaheim.
Coach education and referee certification programs align with standards from World Taekwondo and involve seminars, technical courses, and certification exams delivered by master instructors who have affiliations with Kukkiwon, national team coaches, and university sport science departments such as those at University of Colorado Colorado Springs and Auburn University. Officials and referees progress through levels recognized by regional panels and international appointments at events like the World Taekwondo Championships and Pan American Games. Professional development includes sport medicine collaborations with organizations such as the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and coaching exchanges featuring figures from South Korea and international training centers like the Taekwondo Performance Center.
Anti-doping programs operate in partnership with the United States Anti-Doping Agency and adhere to the World Anti-Doping Agency code, with in-competition and out-of-competition testing at events including the Olympic Games and World Championships. Athlete safety protocols follow best practices endorsed by sport medicine bodies like the National Athletic Trainers' Association and concussion guidelines informed by research from institutions such as Stanford University and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Ethics, safeguarding, and background screening coordinate with the U.S. Center for SafeSport and national policy frameworks similar to those adopted by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, with grievance procedures and education for coaches, officials, and athlete support personnel.
American athletes have achieved podium results at the Olympic Games and World Taekwondo Championships, including medalists who trained under national coaches and clubs with ties to Kukkiwon certification programs. Prominent Olympic competitors and medalists include athletes who have competed in weight classes featured at the 2000 Summer Olympics, 2004 Summer Olympics, 2008 Summer Olympics, 2012 Summer Olympics, 2016 Summer Olympics, and 2020 Summer Olympics. These athletes have also appeared at multi-sport events such as the Pan American Games, World University Games (Universiade), and continental championships, contributing to USA Taekwondo's international standing and inspiration for development programs across states like California, New York (state), Texas, Florida, and Illinois.