08/02/2026
Blue Dragon Masters Make History in South Korea!
A huge congratulations to Masters Tyler Nguyen, Derek Nguyen, and Caitlin Nguyen for an unforgettable month of training, competition, and historic achievements in the birthplace of Taekwondo!
Their incredible journey began at the Park Chung-Hee Cup International Taekwondo Championship, where they competed alongside more than 5,100 athletes from 17 countries. Demonstrating outstanding skill and determination, our three masters, together with four Blue Dragon student-athletes, earned an impressive 2 Gold Medals and 1 Silver Medal, proudly representing Blue Dragon Taekwondo Academy and the United States on the international stage.
The excitement continued at the 2026 World Taekwondo Hanmadang, held August 1โ5, 2026, at Kukkiwon Headquarters in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea. This year's Hanmadang welcomed 4,261 participants from 61 countries, making it one of the world's largest celebrations of Taekwondo excellence.
In a truly historic moment, Masters Tyler, Derek, and Caitlin became the first three siblings to compete together at the World Taekwondo Hanmadang, creating a remarkable milestone in Blue Dragon history. Their outstanding performances earned 2 Gold Medals and 2 Silver Medals, further demonstrating their dedication, discipline, and world-class ability.
Adding to the excitement, Masters Derek and Tyler competed head-to-head in the Senior Individual Division (Ages 18โ30), where Master Derek captured the Gold Medal and Master Tyler earned the Silver Medalโan extraordinary accomplishment for two brothers competing among the world's best.
Master Caitlin became the 1st Female Athlete to captured Gold Medals in the Self-Defense Category 2 consecutive years in 2025 and 2026. She also captured a stunning silver medal in the Senior (18-30 year old) Sport Poomsae competition that had 45 competitors in her division! Not bad for someone who hasn't seriously trained in sport poomsae in over 4 years!
These remarkable achievements are a testament to years of relentless training, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. More importantly, they exemplify the values of Taekwondo and serve as an inspiration to every Blue Dragon student that with hard work, dedication, and courage, anything is possible!
Congratulations to Masters Tyler, Derek, and Caitlin on making Blue Dragon history and representing our academy, your community, and the United States with honor. Your Blue Dragon family is incredibly proud of you!
