More than 100 taekwondo students from all over the United States gathered at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas ©USAT

More than 100 taekwondo students from all over the United States gathered at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas for the inaugural USA Taekwondo (USAT) three-day seminar.

D.S. Lee, a USAT junior coach, organised the event by gathering 20 coaching colleagues from Virginia, Florida, Illinois and Texas with the aim of improving national taekwondo in the US in the future. 

"The reason why I hosted this event was for the athletes, to give them a training environment that will produce greatness," Lee said.

"The other reason was to get the coaches to be open to training together with athletes so we can all raise the levels."

The first day began with a number of fitness drills before participants separated into groups for more specific coaching, including a series of drills to quicken reaction times and improve the ability to process verbal and visual information.

In other groups, younger students worked on front leg kicking drills which brought the first day to a close.

Professor Victor Manuel Mendoza Guzman, a sports psychologist with the Mexican Taekwondo Federation, gave a speech on the morning of the second day at the Blue Sky Sports Complex.

Guzman, a leading authority in sports science, has had success coaching athletes on Mexico’s national team.

Professor Victor Manuel Mendoza Guzman, a sports psychologist with the Mexican Taekwondo Federation, gave a speech on the morning of the second day ©USAT
Professor Victor Manuel Mendoza Guzman, a sports psychologist with the Mexican Taekwondo Federation, gave a speech on the morning of the second day ©USAT

A group of professional athletes then shared their experiences with the young competitors. 

Salma Castellanos, a USAT senior national team member from Laredo, Texas, encouraged the seminar participants to work hard. 

"Even though it’s hard, I keep going and good things happen," Castellanos said. 

Fellow USAT senior member Ara White agreed. 

"You can never give up," added White.

"Every single time, I got third place, third place, third place, third place. 

"Then I started to win.

"So you can never give up." 

Participants then returned to the mat for another conditioning session which included footwork drills to help the athletes move more efficiently. 

After the last sparring session for the day was over, a select group moved into a smaller room to perfect poomsae technique with an expert.

On the final day of the seminar, athletes sparred with one another in practice matches, applying the drills and skills learned and developed in the two previous days.