Local Teen Represents U.S. at Taekwondo Cadet World Championship

Julian Kim, 13, of Haymarket performs an axe kick, one of the signature moves in Taekwondo. Photo Courtesy of Lauren Kim

Reigning U.S. Taekwondo National Champion Julian Kim of Haymarket has made a name for himself as a teen Taekwondo athlete; the modest 13-year-old brought home the gold medal after competing in the 2015 Taekwondo Cadet National Championship in July.

Kim is one of 20 U.S. Taekwondo athletes to compete in the Cadet World Championship Aug. 24.

The Taekwondo Cadet World Championship sparring division is comprised of the highest ranked black belt males and females ages 12-14. Athletes are categorized by weight and randomly paired with an initial competitor. Teens from Europe, South America, Asia and the Middle East will compete for the gold medal.

This year alone, Kim has competed in six major sparring competitions for a total of 30 sparring matches. He won 28 of those matches and was awarded first place at the Canada Open, 2015 AAU National Championship and 2015 USA National Championship.

During the 2015 USA National Competition in Austin, Texas, Kim fought in eight matches and won every match. His last match ended at 3 a.m. He entered the competition unranked and left with the number one title for his weight group. The first place winners of each weight group are invited to represent the U.S. at the prestigious Cadet World Championship.

Julian and Dennis Kim. Photo Courtesy of Lauren Kim

Kim is looking forward to training with his U.S. teammates at the Olympic training center a week before the competition. Of the 10 male and 10 female athletes, 16 are 14-year-olds, two are 13-year-olds and two are 12-year-olds.

Kim has high hopes for the championship, but he’s also realistic.

“Winning will be difficult, but it is my goal,” he said.

Since age four, Kim has been training under his coach and father, Grand Master Dennis Kim. Grand Master Kim, owner of the USTiger Taekwondo in Gainesville, has coached many successful competitors over the past eight years. Brandon Ivey of Ashburn was training with Coach Kim when he  won the gold medal at last year’s Taekwondo Junior World Championship. Ivey was the first U.S. gold medalist since 1998, and his accomplishment was noted in Sports Illustrated.

Grand Master Kim accepted an invitation to be one of four U.S. coaches at the 2015 Cadet Worlds Championship. He looks forward to coaching his son, Julian, at the Cadet World Championship.

Image Courtesy of USA Taekwondo

“We are excited for the opportunity. Not many 13 year olds get to represent their country in anything,” he said.

The Cadet World Championship will be livestreamed from Korea on August 24. Stay tuned for details on Julian’s journey and the World Championship results.