USAFA Competitive Taekwondo Team
C1C Sam Saltamachia
Name: C1C Sam Saltamachia
Rank: 1st Degree Black Belt
About Me: I am originally from Houston, Texas and a 3 TIme AAU Junior National Team Member and US Junior National Team Member. I have competed at the National and International level for both USAT and AAU. Overall, Taekwondo has helped me to be who and where I am today.
Rank: 1st Degree Black Belt
About Me: I am originally from Houston, Texas and a 3 TIme AAU Junior National Team Member and US Junior National Team Member. I have competed at the National and International level for both USAT and AAU. Overall, Taekwondo has helped me to be who and where I am today.
- 2013 Rocky Mountain State Games: GOLD
- 2013 Hosted 38th National Collegiate Taekwondo Championships
- 2012 Colorado State Championship: SILVER
- 2008 National Qualifier (Fin): SILVER
- 2008 National Qualifier (Jr. Feather): GOLD
- 2008 German Open: GOLD
- 2008 AAU Jr. National Team Member (Bantam)
- 2007 AAU Jr. National Team Trials: GOLD
- 2007 Pan Am Jr. Championships (Jr. Bantam): BRONZE
- 2007 Junior Team Trials (Jr. Bantam): GOLD
- 2007 Junior Olympics (Jr. Bantam): GOLD
- 2007 Pan Am Games Trials (Fin/Fly): BRONZE
- 2007 Dutch Open (Bantam): SILVER
- 2007 AAU Jr. National Team Member (Bantam)
- 2006 AAU Jr. National Team Trials: GOLD
- 2006 Senior Nationals (Fin): BRONZE
- 2006 AAU Jr. National Team Member (Bantam)
- 2006 AAU Nationals: GOLD
- 2006 Junior Olympics: SILVER
- 2006 U.S. Open: BRONZE
- 2006 AAU Jr. National Team Member (Bantam)
- 2005 AAU Jr. National Team Trials: GOLD
- 2005 AAU Nationals: SILVER
- 2005 Jr. Black Belt Festival: GOLD
- 2005 Junior Olympics: BRONZE
- 2005 U.S. Open: BRONZE
C3C Young Hong
Name: C3C Young Hong
Rank: 2nd Degree Black Belt
About Me: I started Tae Kwon Do on the middle of 9th grade mainly because I needed a hobby. After a year of doing martial arts however, made me want to pursue in the sport. I began to enjoy every aspect of Tae Kwon Do: the sparring, forms, discipline, etc. I started entering competitions on my freshman year in college and though it is sometimes difficult, I am eager to always meet and fight people from all over the world to learn more about Tae Kwon Do.
Rank: 2nd Degree Black Belt
About Me: I started Tae Kwon Do on the middle of 9th grade mainly because I needed a hobby. After a year of doing martial arts however, made me want to pursue in the sport. I began to enjoy every aspect of Tae Kwon Do: the sparring, forms, discipline, etc. I started entering competitions on my freshman year in college and though it is sometimes difficult, I am eager to always meet and fight people from all over the world to learn more about Tae Kwon Do.
- 2013 Collegiate National Taekwondo Championships
- 2013 Pikes Peak Daedo Competition
C4C Jose Martinez-Alvarez
Name: C4C Jose Martinez-Alvarez
Rank:
About Me
Rank:
About Me
C1C Derek Rath
Name: C1C Derek Rath
Rank: 1st Degree Black Belt
About Me: I started TKD at Yu’s Martial Arts in California in 1998 under 8th degree Black Belt Grand Master Byong H. Yu. I received 1st Dan on 20 Oct 2006. At tournaments I’ve received gold medals for weapon demonstrations, forms, and sparring. By age 14 I was an assistant instructor, and by 17 I was the lead sparring instructor for my school.
Rank: 1st Degree Black Belt
About Me: I started TKD at Yu’s Martial Arts in California in 1998 under 8th degree Black Belt Grand Master Byong H. Yu. I received 1st Dan on 20 Oct 2006. At tournaments I’ve received gold medals for weapon demonstrations, forms, and sparring. By age 14 I was an assistant instructor, and by 17 I was the lead sparring instructor for my school.
C2C Calvin Llarena
Name: C2C Calvin Llarena
Rank: Blue Belt
About Me:
Rank: Blue Belt
About Me:
C2C Taylor Amundsen
Name: C2C Taylor Amundsen
Rank: Blue Belt
About Me:I have practiced Kajukenbo karate for seven years, and Taekwondo for one. I currently hold a Brown belt in Kajukenbo and green in Taekwondo. From Missoula MT.
Rank: Blue Belt
About Me:I have practiced Kajukenbo karate for seven years, and Taekwondo for one. I currently hold a Brown belt in Kajukenbo and green in Taekwondo. From Missoula MT.
- 2012 Colorado State Championships: SILVER
C1C Tunji Fisayo
Name: C1C Tunji Fisayo
Belt Rank: Green Belt
About Me:
Belt Rank: Green Belt
About Me:
- Where are you from: Douglasville, GA
- Family: Parents – Tayo (Dad)and Remi Fisayo (Mom)
- Fiance – Rachael Bromley
- Hobbies/Interests: MotoGP and Superbike Races; who love to get my racing license upon graduation
- Goals: Have a positive attitude regardless of circumstance.
- What do you want to do in the AF? Pilot and put in 25+ years as a Commanding Officer leading great Airmen.
- Martial Arts Experience: 3 years American Freestyle Karate and 1 year Kickboxing
C2C Gina Biagetti
Name: C2C Gina Biagetti
Rank: Green Belt
About Me: I first did Taekwondo in middle school, before moving and switching to Karate, which I did throughout high school. I reached brown belt in both TKD and karate, and am very excited to be a part of the USAFA TKD team!
Rank: Green Belt
About Me: I first did Taekwondo in middle school, before moving and switching to Karate, which I did throughout high school. I reached brown belt in both TKD and karate, and am very excited to be a part of the USAFA TKD team!