Florida Tae-Kwon-Do Federation

AAU Tae-Kwon-Do Tournament Schedule

AAU Sanctioned Events

Results All Divisions
Athletes By Club
Medal Count By Club

Get ready for Nationals with this unique Clinic!! We will have 4 rings and electronic scoring systems on hand. Put your skills to the test in Point or Olympic sparring with a full court of officials. You can spar as many times as you wish who ever you want, you make the choice of who to spar or we will decide either way you'll get 5-8 fights if not more! Ask questions from our ref's about rules or situations, Try scoring some matches, this will be a great event don't miss out!! No medals or awards just lots of experience. (Everyone will get a participation award)

NON-Sanctioned AAU Events

The Lakeland Center
Lakeland, FL
866-FL-GAMES (354-2637)
games@flasports.com
www.flasports.com

Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center
Tallahassee, FL
866-FL-GAMES (354-2637)
games@flasports.com
www.southeastsportsfestival.org

AAU News

2008 Florida Qualifier draws over 400 athletes

Thank you for your support at the 2008 Florida Tae Kwon do qualifier this past weekend. Competition was fierce as several new schools were in attendance and needed to qualify for nationals. The level of competition was that of a National Tae Kwon Do event. Over 45 officials from TN,GA and Florida stayed for the entire event, Thank you for your hard work. We had over 100 coach's participating .The Coaches had really been on their game, several matches were close and it was the coaching that won the match. The back bone of the event were the volunteers who set up, ran and broke down the event, we couldn't do it without you THANKS!

Update: Earlier in the day an adult athlete was injured and had to go for evaluation to the hospital, He later returned to the event to thank all that helped him, He had no permanent injuries and plans to compete at nationals !!

Rider killed in motorcycle crash was a Tae Kwon Do competitor

By SONJA ISGER
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Alfredo Valdes had already made his mark in the TaeKwonDo world and
was trying to find his way in the adult world, when he crashed his
motorcycle Tuesday and died at age 20.

In Valdes' teen years he clocked hours on the mats at Pil-Sung
TaeKwonDo School in Lake Worth. The work paid off with medals from
competitions around the country, said school owner Ginger Palhof.

"He was my student for five or six years - one of my most talented
students," she recalled Wednesday.

He'd been on her mind a lot lately as she assembled a scrapbook for
one of his buddies, another TaeKwonDo student.

"We gave this boy a scrapbook of his career, so I spent the last
three weeks looking at Alfredo's picture every day," Palhof said.

Then Tuesday, her phone began ringing incessantly. Valdes' friends
calling to share the news.

"It was absolutely heart wrenching," she said.

Police said Valdes was on Parker Avenue just north of Forest Hill
Boulevard when he crashed into the back of a Ford van. Valdes tried
to pass the van only to swerve back into his lane to avoid oncoming
traffic, West Palm Beach officer Jim Saridakis said Tuesday.

When he did that he hit the back of the van, his motorcycle skidded
for about 80 feet as he tried to brake. He died instantly, the
officer said.

Valdes was a well-traveled, highly decorated competitor before he
left TaeKwonDo in his late teens, Palhof said.

At 14, he won a gold medal in forms at the national Junior Olympics
in Minnesota. And he just kept winning, both at the choreography of
the sport and the sparring.

"He was one of the best in the nation of TaeKwonDo for many years,"
Palhof said. But all boys grow up.

Palhof said she last saw Valdes four or five months ago, he told her
he wanted to enroll his nephew in the school.

"He loved TaeKwonDo and he was exceptional."

Announcements

Florida Qualifiers

Florida Officials Upgraded

At the recent AAU Nationals in Ft. Lauderdale 3 Florida officials received some of the highest ranks in the Officials program.

Getting their 'A' upgrade were;

• Ginger Allen
• Paul Allen
• Geraldo Dejesus

Getting the highest upgrade to "AA' was;

• Philip Williams

Congratulations to you all, Florida AAU is proud of all your hard work and efforts in building the Florida AAU officials program.

Thanks!

Team Trials

Congratulations to all of the Florida athletes that fought with pride and determination at the recent AAU Team Trials in Ft. Lauderdale. Several Florida athletes barley missed making the team this year, many matches were decided by 1-2 points.

Making the AAU team from Florida this year were Lamonte Kelly, Jermaine James and Kevin Gomogda CONGRAULATIONS to you all!

Florida AAU is proud of your hard work and efforts. Special thanks to Philip Williams for officiating, KiKi for running the computer, Master Dejesus and his students for helping with staging, inspections and overall support at the event.

2008 Rule Changes

The following rule changes will take effect for all AAU Taekwondo Competitions conducted during the 2008 competition season which runs from September 1, 2007 through August 31, 2008. The 2008 AAU Taekwondo Rule Book will be available online September 15, 2007

1. In Sparring Competitions for athletes 13 and under, the 'seven point gap rule' has been modified. The match will be won by the 'seven point gap rule' if at the end of the first round there is a gap of seven or more points. If there is not a seven point gap at the end of round one then the 'seven point gap rule' is suspended for the remainder of the match.
2. In Olympic Sparring only manufactured Shin/Instep pads, i.e. Macho, Adidas, etc, will be allowed. No taped on instep pads.
3. 14 - 17 Black Belt Olympic Sparring Junior Safety Rules Divisions will not be offered at National events. These divisions may be offered at District or Regional events.
4. In Point Sparring Competition one point will be awarded for valid hand technique to all legal scoring areas, two points for valid foot technique to the legal body area, and three points for valid foot technique to the legal head area.
5. Forms competition may be conducted either via single performance with scoring ,which is the current method of competition, or by bracketed competition similar to bracketing for single elimination sparring.

Congratulations To Florida AAU

Master Turnbull has been promoted to AAU Tae-Kwon-Do region 4 director. He is still in charge of Florida AAU Tae-Kwon-Do and will be helping with the Florida Gold Coast district.

Master Dejesus has been appointed to District Tae-Kwon-Do director for the AAU Gold Coast Area. He will be running AAU Tae-Kwon-Do in the south Florida area.

DeJesus Taekwondo School
7938 Pines Blvd
Pembroke Pines, Fl 33024
(954)-964-7676
www.dejesusteamolympic.com

Macho New Sponsor for AAU Tae-Kwon-Do

Macho is now the official sponsor of AAU Tae-Kwon-Do, for great deals, equipment and setting up an account visit www.macho.com. Blue AAU coaches Shirts will be available the first of the year through Macho.

2008 AAU Coaches

Remember no one can coach at a local, state or national event until they take a local coaches clinic in 2008. The cost of these clinics is $35.00

We will also be taking your pictures at the clinics so please dress appropriately (no hats or jackets). Bring your AAU 2008 card with you. You can sign up for the clinic at the door, or to speed up check in download the clinic form from this web site and fill it out COMPLETLY and bring to the clinic.

New coaches - join AAU at www.aausports.org as a coach, or if you compete as an athlete.

Blue AAU coaches shirts are available through Macho. Download and read the 2008 AAU rule book at www.aautaekwondo.org. Attend a local AAU coaches clinic to get certified.

New Coaches Tips

• What to have at ring side: (fanny Pak/back pack)
• 2008 Coaches rule book
• Towel
• Score cards / pencil
• Protest form
• Water bottle
• Stop watch
• Nail clippers/ Band Aids/ Tape
• $25.00 cash (protest)


• What to do at ring side:
• Have rule book open (turned to sparring rules)
• Keep score of the match including deductions
• Keep track of time of rounds 1:30 color 2:00 black
• Stay in your seat
• Don't argue with the ref , this can cause a deduction
• Keep verbal coaching to your fighter only


• What to do before and after the fight:
• Study the rules of sparring!
• Inspect your fighter for proper gear
• Check hair, nails , jewelry
• Give water and advice between rounds
• Win or lose talk to your fighter after the fight

Be a good coach and follow the rules, no one wants a coach who is incompetent. Remember you represent your fighter, your school, and your instructors and the AAU TKD program.

Future Dates for the AAU Tae-Kwon-Do Nationals

• 2008 June 30 - July 5, 2008 Madison, WI
  Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center


• June 29 - July 4, 2009 Ft. Lauderdale, FL

2008 AAU Tae Kwon Do Handbook

2008 AAU Tae-Kwon-Do Officials' Handbook.