ORLANDO, FL. (March 11, 2025) – The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) announced a new opportunity for AAU martial arts competitors. In conjunction with USA Open Sport Karate, a new sport is being added to AAU’s martial arts offerings, Open Sport Karate. On Friday, February 28, 2025, AAU and USA Open Sport Karate representatives met at the AAU National Office in Orlando, Florida to officially launch the new initiative.

“We have so many talented young athletes participating in all of our AAU martial arts sports,” said Jo Mirza, AAU President. “The addition of Open Sport Karate to our AAU Karate program is a welcome one and should provide another great avenue for our athletes to compete.”

USA Open Sport Karate’s mission is to help grow the quality of Open Sport Karate competition in the United States. Sport Karate focuses on agility and sparring, and through this style of competition foster values such as discipline, respect, and perseverance. The initiative will create a clear pathway for competitors to advance through local, state, regional, and national championships. This will create new opportunities for athletes to compete and allow them to gain recognition for their dedication and skill.

“We are excited to work with the AAU,” said David Sklar, Executive Director of USA Open Sport Karate. “Through this we can continue to elevate competition standards and expand the reach of Open Sport Karate.”

AAU and USA Open Sport Karate will work together to offer new events available to AAU members starting later this year. This will be a new sporting opportunity for AAU members and future members who are looking to explore martial arts.

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ABOUT AAU:

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer sports event organizations in the country. As a multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports programs. Founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in sports, the AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by nearly 1,000,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 45 sports programs and 55 U.S. districts. For more information, visit www.aausports.org.

ABOUT USA OPEN SPORT KARATE:

USA Open Sport Karate is an athlete-focused organization with a mission to provide martial artists with a standardized, professional competition experience across all events. By establishing clear rules and consistent protocols, every competitor, regardless of age or skill level, knows what to expect open sport karate events.