Clinics at Nationals

I want to register for the clinic(s) with Sandra Sanchez and/or Steven Da Costa, do I need to be competing at the AAU Nationals?
  • You do not need to compete at the AAU Karate National Championship to participate in the Sandra Sanchez/ Steven Da Costa clinics. If you are not competing at the AAU Nationals, you do not need an AAU Membership to do the clinics.
I am a coach and/or official, and want to train with Sandra Sanchez and Steven Da Costa, how do I register?
  • As a coach and/or official we have separate sessions set up for you to train with them. 

All registrations are done through Uventex (clinic registration, athlete registration, coach registration, official registration and volunteer registration). 

AAU Membership

Do I need an AAU Membership to do the kata and/or kumite clinic?
  • If you are only doing the kata and or kumite clinic, and not participating at the AAU National Championship, you do not need to have an AAU Membership.
Do I need an AAU Membership to participate in the tournament?
  • Yes, if you are registering as an athlete, a coach, or an official you will need to have a current AAU Membership.

Check-In

Can my club or a designated representative check me in on Monday (June 30) or Tuesday (July 1)?
  • Yes, your club or your designated representative can pick up your credentials. For athletes 13 and over, with the exception if you are in the heavyweight division, you will need to weigh-in. If you are unable to weigh-in on either Monday or Tuesday, we will offer limited times on Wednesday and Thursday for you to weigh-in.  You cannot weigh-in on the day of your Sanbon Kumite division. 

Weigh-ins

What groups need to weigh-in?
  • If you are 13 or older you need to weigh-in unless you are a heavyweight.  If you are a heavyweight, you are not required to weigh-in. If you do not weigh-in you will be defaulted to the heavyweight division. You must weigh-in a minimum of one day before your Sanbon Kumite division, to allow us to adjust brackets. You cannot weigh-in on the same you are competing. 

Determination of Experience Levels (Non Inclusive Athletes)

Your experience level is based on the years of martial arts training you have received.  This includes all the martial arts training you have received and not just the training in your current style. For example, you have trained ten years in Taekwondo, and decided to start training in Shotokan karate, and have been training for less than a year in karate, based on your previous 10 years of martial arts training, you are considered an advanced athlete.
  • Beginner - Less than 1 year of training
  • Novice - More than 1 year of training but less than 2 years of training
  • Intermediate - More than 2 years of training but less than 4 years of training
  • Advanced  - 4 or more years of training
The youngest competition age we offer in the AAU is 5 years old. Training an athlete received when they are 4 and under are not included in year of training.

Determination of Experience Levels (Inclusive Athletes)

For inclusive athletes (para and special needs athletes) their experience level for the inclusive divisions are based on their actual karate ranks. We offer two experience levels for Inclusive athletes:
  • 4th kyu and below
  • 3rd kyu and above

Inclusive Karate

What is inclusive karate?
  • Inclusive karate are division for para athletes and athletes with special needs.
What are the Heroes & Veterans divisions?
  • These divisions are veterans and first responders with disabilities.  
Are inclusive athletes allowed to compete in the non-inclusive divisions?
  • A coach, inclusive athlete, or parent may request an inclusive athlete to participate in the non-inclusive divisions. If an inclusive athlete competes in the non-inclusive divisions, their years of training will determine which category they compete in.
What are the entry fees for Inclusive Athletes?
  • Entry fees for the inclusive divisions are free.  If an inclusive athlete chooses to compete in the non-inclusive divisions, regular entry fees apply to those divisions. 

Determination of Age

For purposes of determining your age, we use July 1, 2025 as the cut off date.  When determining your age for this event it will be based on how old you will be on July 1.  If you turn 11 on July 1, you will compete with the 11 year old age group. If you turn 11, on July 2, you will compete in the 10 year old age group. 

Mandatory Equipment for Kumite

  • White Naugahyde/Leather Fist guards (AAU Approved)
  • White Foam Headgear with face shield (AAU approved) ages 17 and under
  • Groin Cup Protector (Males)
  • Mouth guard

Optional Equipment for Kumite

  • Red Naugahyde/Leather Fist Guards (AAU Approved) *
  • White, Blue or Red Cloth/Naugahyde Shin pads (AAU Approved) *
  • Blue Naugahyde/Leather Fist Guards (AAU Approved)*
  • White, Blue or Red Cloth/Naugahyde Boot/Instep Pads (AAU Approved) *
  • White Foam Open Face Headgear (Adult) (AAU Approved)
  • White Breast Shield (Female)
  • White Chest Protectors
*When wearing red equipment, you must be Aka. When wearing blue equipment you must be Shiro. If you are Shiro you cannot wear Red Fist Guards or Red Boots, you can wear Red Shin pads if they are covered by your uniform. If you are Aka you cannot wear Blue Fist Guards or Blue Boots, you can wear Blue Shin pads if they are covered by your uniform.

Shin pads and boot/instep protectors are NOT allowed for Ippon kumite. 

Uniform requirements

  • The official AAU Karate patch must be worn for this competition (sewn to gi) 
  • Beginner - Must wear White Belt
  • Novice - Must wear Green Belt
  • Intermediate - Must wear Brown Belt
  • Advanced - Must wear Black Belt
  • Traditional White Gi (piping on the shoulders by the uniform manufacturer is allowed)
  • No rolled sleeves or cuffs
  • Pants must be 3/4 length (between ankle and knee)
  • Sleeves must be 3/4 length (between wrist and elbow)
  • Females must wear a plain white t-shirt or white sports bra under gi top.  Male athletes may wear a plain white t-short under their gi top.
  • No headbands or jewelry
  • Uniforms may not bear unreasonably sized trademark or name of a product or manufacturer, and may not bear the name of a club/organization/competing league. Only the original manufacturer’s labels may be displayed on the gi and in the normally accepted locations.
  • Only acceptable logo on uniform and/or equipment is an AAU logo unless approved by the AAU Executive Committee

Can I have my school logo on the back of my gi?
  • The only markings allowed on the back of the uniform are the manufacture's logo/ brand.
Am I required to have an AAU patch on my uniform?
  • Yes, you are required to have an AAU patch on your uniform.
Where can I get an AAU patch?
  • When you are registering for the tournament through Uventex you will have an opportunity to purchase patches in the system. You will pick up the the patches you order at check-in. This year we will also have sticker patches available for sale. 
What happens if I don't have a patch?
  • Athletes will have 1 minute to correct any uniform infractions.  If they are unable to correct the violation they may be disqualified.

Coach's Attire

The official uniform for coaches shall be as follows:
  • Full length solid black athletic pants (tracksuit pants or leggings) or trousers, athletic shoes, an official coach’s shirt, and an identifying credential placed around their neck. * Pants may have manufacturer logos, or stripes on the pants, otherwise the pants should be solid black.
  • Coaches shall not wear their own team, organization or club jackets.

Coaching at the AAU National Championship

Am I required to attend the coaches clinic on Tuesday, July 1, to be allowed to coach at Nationals?
  • Yes, all coaches are required to attend clinic on Tuesday morning
I want to attend the clinics with Sandra Sanchez and Steven Da Costa, but I have the coaches meeting, do I get an opportunity to train with the Olympians?
  • Yes, as part of the your registration as a coach and/or official, you will have a kata clinic and kumite clinic in the afternoon with Sandra Sanchez and Steven Da Costa

Official's Attire

The official uniform for Referees and judges shall be as follows:
  • A single breasted navy blue blazer, bearing two silver buttons.
  • A white shirt with long or short sleeves.
  • The official AAU tie is worn without a tie pin.
  • Plain light gray trousers without cuffs.
  • Un-patterned dark blue or black socks.
  • Black shoes for use in the match area.
  • A whistle attached to a white chord.
  • Referees and Judges may wear a clip or elastic to secure long hair.
  • Jewelry of any kind is not allowed, including watches, wedding rings and stud earrings.
  • Modification may be made to referee attire to accommodate religious beliefs. All modifications must be approved by the executive committee. The following modifications are acceptable, including but are not limited to: turbans, hijabs, skirts, and yamakas.  

Style Specific Kata Divisions

Can I do both style specific and my individual kata division?
  • Yes, Athletes are allowed to compete in their individual age group for kata and in the style specific kata divisions.
Can I compete in multiple style specific kata divisions?
  • No, As the style specific kata divisions all run at the same time, you are not allowed to sign up for multiple style specific divisions.  You are allowed to select one style specific division.
What if my style does not have enough competitors for more than 1 round?
  • At the discretion of the tournament director these divisions maybe combined with a similar style or it maybe combined into the "All Style" category? 
What is the "All Style" category?
  • "All Style" is a catch all division for styles with fewer competitors. If style does not have enough competitors it may be combined into the this category. 
What ages can do Style Specific Kata?
  • We have two age groups set up for Style Specific Kata, 12-15 and 16 & up

Kata

In individual kata, judged with the flag system, can I repeat a kata?
  • With the exception of the 16-20 Open Flag Kata Division, and the 21+ Open Flag Kata Division, you are allowed to repeat a kata.  If the 16-20 Open Flag Kata Division or the 21+ Open Flag Kata Division has repechage, they can repeat a previous kata but not a kata preformed in repechage.
If my division is split into multiple pools, am I allowed to compete in the different pools?
  • No you can not participate in multiple pools.  If a division is split into multiple pools,  we will make sure the division is evenly split between the pools.  For advanced divisions, if there are multiple pools, the winners of the different pools will be brought back together to determine first and second place.

Kobudo

Can I do both long and short weapons?
  • Advanced competitors have the option to compete in both long and short weapons.  For advanced kobudo competitors ages 16 and up we offer an additional kobudo division, "The Kobudo Challenge".
  • For beginner/ novice/ and intermediate kobudo competitors long and short weapons compete in the same division.
What is "The Kobudo Challenge"?
  • The Kobudo Challenge is a three round divisions. In the first round competitors use short weapons, and the top 16 from this round advanced to the next round. In the second round competitors use long weapons, and the top 8 athletes from this round advanced to the third and final round. In the final round, the competitors will be allowed to select either a long or short weapon. 

National Team Qualifier

If I medal at Nationals am I qualified to be apart of the National Team?
  • Gold, Silver and Bronze medalists in advanced black belt individual divisions (Kata/Kobudo/Sanbon Kumite/Ippon Kumite) for ages 12 and up
Can inclusive athletes qualify for the National Team?
  • Yes, inclusive athletes are eligible to be selected for the National Team.
Is there an age limit to making the National Team?
  • No, there is no age limit in being selected for an AAU Team. The AAU regularly competes in WUKF events, the WUKF offers Veterans divisions for competitors 36 and over.

Schedule

All kata and kobudo divisions will be preassigned to rings in Uventex. For beginner, novice, and intermediate divisions the kata and kobudo divisions will run back to back.  For advanced competitors kata and kobudo will be preassigned, but will not run back to back.

As kata/kobudo divisions are preassigned, you will report directly to the ring. For kata/ kobudo we will not be using the staging area. 

Kumite divisions will report to the staging area and be assigned to the first available ring. 

For 5-6 year old year old competitors, your kata, kobudo and kumite will run back to back to back. 

Please make sure your profiles updated in Uventex so you can receive alerts as to when to report to rings, and alerts if your divisions has been re-assigned to a different ring. 

Uventex Profile

Please make sure your profiles are up to date in Uventex. Make sure you enable your profile to receive text alerts for your divisions. If you have have multiple profiles we recommend you contact Uventex and consolidate some of the profiles.  For parents with multiple children competing at Nationals, please make sure you are set up to receive alerts for each athlete. 
Contact us  to have your event listed.