top of page
Membership

About AAU Karate

Welcome to AAU Karate North Carolina!

Triangle's BEST Karate organizes and promotes AAU Karate workshops, training, and competitions in the North Carolina District.   Below you will see a list of AAU competitions and meetings. 

01 / 04

Why AAU? 

  • Karate athletes join AAU Karate individually for youth development, leadership development, a community of karate fans, and trainings and competitions at district, regional, national, and international levels. 

  • AAU Sports is the largest volunteer sports organization worldwide.  

  • AAU Karate is one of a handful of AAU Sports programs that sends athletes as young as 12 years old to international competition! 

  • Karate dojos, clubs, and programs are welcomed to join AAU Karate as a club. 

  • Membership has many benefits including background checks for adult administrators, coaches, and volunteers, and secondary health insurance for athletes of all ages. 

​

Types of Membership

  • Youth Athlete - ages 5-20

  • Adult Athlete - ages 21 + 

  • Non-Athletes  - coach, official, volunteer

  • Club A, B, C with different licensing benefits

​

Who is Eligible? 

  • Individuals ages 5 to 75+, from beginner to advanced ranks, may participate as athletes. 

  • Athletes generally have four levels of competition - Beginner, Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced. 

  • Persons as young as age 13 may serve as coaches and officials; requriements include learning  the AAU Karate competition rules, completing coaching requirement (video training, online quizzes), completing online test on karate rules, and coaching or officiating at AAU events.  Certificates of coaching and officiating ranks are available at the District and National levelts. 

​

Levels of Competition

AAU Karate provides competition at the district (state) level regional (multi-state) level, national, and international levels.  Each level qualifies and increased participation provides the experience and placement to do well at the next level.  Members of the U.S. traveling team are seleted from high placements in four national events, the National Championships, North American Open, AAU Junior Olympic Games, and the AAU Combat Games.  

Join a Community

AAU is the largest volunteer sports organization in the world!

Contact us
JJ_Alejandrojpg.jpg
Ailia-and-Sophia-1536x1187.png
Gear and Wear poster_edited.jpg

How to get involved in AAU

01

Research or ask more questions

If you have questions about the value of AAU Karate for your dojo members or your club, or wish to discuss  how to garner sponsorships or support from your local sports council, contact the AAU Karate NC Director, Cyndy, at TrianglesBestKarate@gmail.com

or 919-844-5555

02

Join the AAU as a member

Indvidual membership provides secondary health insurance for all ages, and background check for ages 21+.

Club membership provides your club  or dojo with marketing opportunities and the ability to acquire $1 M. insurance for eventsa dn practice insurance (for rented facility). 

AAU's Coaches and Officials programs provide active and retired athletes additional ways to grow in karate and give back to others. 

​

03

Register your event 

Getting an AAU license for your workshop, clinic, training, series of trainings, practices, or competition provides with you with marketing support to reach out to other AAU ahletes and clubs in your district, as well as a COI for $1 M for you and third parties like a rented facility.  

04

Join other AAU Karate events

AAU Karate's district events usually draw from the entire state of North Carolina as well as curious, resourceful, and skills competitors from adjacent states.  State championships are qualifiers for the national events.  Each competition is pay-as-you-go. 

AAU Karate Events

https://uventex.com/events/event/339030 

​

Nov. 7 and 8, 2026

Boo Williams Sportsplex 5 Armistead Pointe Pkwy. B., Hampton, Virginia, Hampton, VA

AAU NE district championship.jpg

https://uventex.com/events/event/339909

​

Hudson High School 69 Brigham Street, Hudson, Massachusetts

​

Your AGE as of November 15, 2026 determines age division in which you will compete.

​

Doors Open 8:00 AM
Referee Meeting 8:30 AM
Competition Begins 9:00 AM

​

Senior Residential Housing / Feb 2035

ciraco 2026 flyer.jpg

 

3rd Annual Ciraco's Karate AAU Invitational

  • December 5, 2026

  • Socastee High School

  • Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

  • Host / Contact: Hosted by Ciraco's Okinawan Karate & Kobudo (Contact: Joshua Dunn)

  • Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Karate Licensed Event

​

Custom Residence / Dec 2035

Kata-seminar-with-QR-764x1024.png

https://www.tournamentinabox.com/files/php/article_view.php?articleid=539 

​

Sat, Dec 12, 2026 - kata seminar in Syosset, NY

​

Sun, Dec. 13, 2026 - All Shotokan Cup, Competition,  Queensboro College, 222-05 56th Ave., Bayside, NY 11364

​

​

Custom Residence / Dec 2035

Registration will open on Dec 1, 2026.  Hotel information coming soon. 

​

Mar 13, 2027, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

​

Wake Technical Community College - North Campus, Building K, 6600 Louisburg Road, Raleigh, NC 27616

​

 

  • Expected number of athletes: 350 from the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, and more!

  • More divisions including ones for inclusive / adaptive athlete

  • New this year:  Ippon Kumite division 

  • Rotational team kumite for teams of 3 males or 3 females.

  • Ages 13+ black belts are invited to serve as officials - we train, we give constructive feedback, and we provide regional certificates. 

  • Wake Tech's space is state of the art, with plenty of seats, parking spaces, and lobby space.

​

​

NAO_27.png

North American Open is an international level event!

 

FAQ Frequently Asked Questions (athletes, coaches, offciails) link 

​

Registration link for athletes, coaches, and officials

​

  • Dates: March 26–28, 2027

  • Location: Rio Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

  • Parking: Free parking available at the venue

  • Prize Pool: $14,000 cash/prize pool across select divisions

  • Eligibility: Open to ages 5 and older (from beginners to elite competitors)

  • Organized by AAU Karate and World Union of Karate Federations (WUKF)

​

  • Disciplines:

    • Traditional and Style-Specific Kata

    • Team Kata & Unified Team Kata

    • Traditional Kobudo

    • Sanbon Kumite, Ippon Kumite, Premier League-Style Kumite, and Rotational Kumite

    • Inclusive, Para, and Special Needs Karate divisions (including Kihon, Kata, Kobudo, and Unified Team Kata) 

  • Ages & Levels: Open to all ages (5 and older) and experience levels, from beginners to elite competitors.

  • Open Policy: Open to all styles, dojos, organizations, and nations with no mandatory affiliation or federation residency requirement.  

​

bottom of page