Children never cease to amaze you. At USTMA, we know this to be a fact of life and therefore, have created the unique year-round Super Junior program that sets children on a path towards lifelong success. Super Juniors provides a structured environment to allow children to further develop physically, mentally and emotionally.

Unlike many sports which don’t believe that children are capable of focused training until the age of 8 or later, taekwondo training combines the unique capabilities of the child with the focused training of repetitive movements that ensures the development of physical confidence in children as young as 4. Super Juniors is a unique training ground for early childhood development that emphasizes gross motor skills, personal leadership and interpersonal skills that sets each child on a path to succeed not only in sports, but in life.

The official Super Junior logo - young athlete in taekwondo sparring gear

The USTMA philosophy holds that life, by default, is competitive and that we are best helping our children prepare for the future by teaching them the coping and independence skills needed to handle stress in all its form—failure and success. The Super Junior program is designed specifically to develop the athlete that shows both physical and mental excellence in all that they do.

Super Juniors’ athletes experience USTMA and Taekwondo in a more intensive manner through a variety of ways, including:

• Belonging to a team and understanding team dynamics
• Exposure to competitive tournaments
• Mentoring by a C-Crew member
• Opportunities for leadership positions
• Exposure/training to USTMA coaches and coaching staff
• Training ground for C-Crew team membership

2010 USTMA Super Junior Team

Who is Eligible to be a Super Junior Team Member?
- Exceptional athletes aged 4-8 who have earned their orange belt and show the mental discipline and maturity to be included in a team environment.

How Do I Join Super Juniors?

- Super Juniors is a competitive team. Formal try-outs are held two to three times per year for USTMA athletes. Additionally, individual recruitment is an ongoing process and Master John Choi is always watching for potential Super Juniors.

Did you know that the SJ uniform has the korean word for "competition" on it?

What Are the Benefits of Being Part of the Super Juniors Team?

Team membership in Super Juniors benefits the athlete by learning how to excel individually while also learning how to contribute to the success of a team.

• improved listening skills
• the ability to follow complex directions
• improved focus
• the ability to perform and speak in public
• the ability to cope under stress and handle pressure situations
• patience and the ability to wait
• learning to self-assess and improve
• learning how to set and attain personal goals
• self-confidence and self-respect

Aside from the benefits of improved physical conditioning, athletes learn greater self-confidence and respect for parents, coaches and themselves through setting goals and consistently achieving them. While heavy emphasis is put on improving each athlete on an individual basis, members of Super Juniors also are initiated into the concepts of teamwork, the meaning of being a teammate, and the powerful pride that comes from team unity. To aid in team building, Super Juniors distinguish themselves with their own dobak (uniform), team logo, team jacket and team hats.

• good sportsmanship
• team leadership
• participate in team routines at demonstrations
• ability to cheer on teammates and encourage the success of a group
• impact of personal attitude and work ethic on a group
• team events and buddy opportunities with Korean exchange students
• support and recognition as a valuable team that is part of the USTMA community