North Carolina AAU Taekwondo is excited to announce the Olympic Sparring Development Camp, a free two-day training opportunity for athletes and coaches who want to grow their understanding of high-performance sparring.
This camp is designed for athletes and coaches who want to learn what high-performance training is all about. We will start with the basics and build into more advanced training, strategies, and concepts to help athletes prepare for the next season of competition.
The Olympic Sparring Development Camp will take place Saturday, July 25, 2026, and Sunday, July 26, 2026, at Achieve Martial Arts in Matthews, North Carolina.
Event Details
Event: Olympic Sparring Development Camp
Dates: Saturday, July 25, 2026, and Sunday, July 26, 2026
Saturday Sessions: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sunday Session: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Achieve Martial Arts
Address: 343 W John Street, Matthews, NC
Ages: 8+
Ranks: All ranks welcome
Cost: Free
Contact: info@https://https://carolinataekwondo.org
Phone: (704) 651-5618
Who Should Attend?
This camp is open to athletes and coaches who want to improve their sparring knowledge, sharpen their training approach, and better understand what it takes to prepare for competition.
Athletes should consider attending if they want to improve their sparring fundamentals, learn how high-performance athletes train, understand strategy and tactics for competition, develop better mechanics, timing, and decision-making, and build confidence before the next competition season.
Coaches should consider attending if they want to take new drills and concepts back to their school, better understand athlete development for Olympic sparring, learn how to structure training for competition, support athletes who want to compete at a higher level, and connect with other coaches in the North Carolina AAU Taekwondo community.
This is also a great opportunity for clubs that want to expose their athletes to a larger training environment while helping them prepare for future AAU Taekwondo events.
What Athletes Will Learn
The goal of this camp is not just to run athletes through drills. The goal is to help athletes understand why they are training a certain way and how those concepts apply in real sparring situations.
Mechanics
Athletes will work on the proper way to perform techniques with precision, balance, control, and purpose. Good sparring starts with good mechanics. Before an athlete can move faster, kick harder, or make better decisions, they need to understand how their body should move.
Methodology
Athletes and coaches will learn more about the training approach behind high-performance athlete development. This includes how to think about repetition, progression, timing, recovery, and building skills in a way that can carry over into competition.
Strategy
Sparring is not just about kicking. Athletes need to understand how to read an opponent, create opportunities, manage distance, respond under pressure, and make smart choices on the mat. This camp will introduce athletes to strategic concepts they can continue building on after the event.
Drills
Athletes will learn practical drills they can take back to their own schools and continue using in training. The goal is for athletes and coaches to leave with real skills, real training ideas, and a better understanding of how to keep improving after the camp is over.
Meet the Coach
The Olympic Sparring Development Camp will be led by Master Thomas Huskey.
Master Huskey brings years of coaching, competition, and athlete development experience to this event. His background includes being a 5x State Champion, NC AAU Taekwondo District Chair, 2x All-Army Taekwondo Team Member, Head Coach of UNC Charlotte Taekwondo, Founder of The TKD Lab YouTube Channel, coaching athletes to first-place finishes at nationals, and assisting in training multiple national team members.
The focus of this camp is to give athletes and coaches access to practical, high-level training concepts in a way that is understandable, useful, and applicable to their own Taekwondo journey.
Why This Camp Matters for North Carolina AAU Taekwondo
One of the goals of North Carolina AAU Taekwondo is to create more opportunities for athletes, coaches, and clubs across the state to train, develop, and grow together.
Development camps like this help build a stronger competition community. They give athletes a chance to train outside of their normal environment, learn from different perspectives, and better understand what is expected as they continue progressing.
They also give coaches a chance to collaborate, learn, and bring new ideas back to their own clubs. When athletes, coaches, and clubs grow together, the entire North Carolina Taekwondo community becomes stronger.
How to Register
Registration is required for this free event. Because space may be limited, athletes and coaches are encouraged to register early.
Register here: https://carolinataekwondo/sparring-development-camp/
Final Thoughts
The Olympic Sparring Development Camp is an important step toward building more athlete development opportunities in North Carolina.
This camp is free, open to ages 8 and up, and designed to help athletes and coaches learn practical skills they can continue using long after the event is over.
If you are a sparring athlete, coach, or club looking to grow before the next competition season, we encourage you to attend.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Olympic Sparring Development Camp
Is the Olympic Sparring Development Camp free?
Yes. The camp is free to attend, but registration is required.
Who can attend the camp?
The camp is open to athletes ages 8 and up. All ranks are welcome. Coaches are also encouraged to attend.
Where is the camp being held?
The camp will be held at Achieve Martial Arts, located at 343 W John Street, Matthews, NC.
What are the camp dates and times?
The camp will take place Saturday, July 25, 2026, and Sunday, July 26, 2026. Saturday sessions are 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM. The Sunday session is 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Do participants need an AAU membership?
No. All participants do not need to have a current AAU membership before the event begins.
Can coaches attend even if they are not participating as athletes?
Yes. Coaches are encouraged to attend so they can learn training concepts, drills, and strategies to take back to their athletes.
What will athletes learn at the camp?
Athletes will learn sparring mechanics, training methodology, strategy, and drills designed to help them prepare for future competition.
How do I register?
You can register online at https://carolinataekwondo/sparring-development-camp/.
