12th Annual Event
KIM'S
CUP
Taekwondo Championship
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Ladue High School
St. Louis, Missouri
12
Years Running
12+
Divisions
STL
Missouri
12
Years Running
12+
Divisions
STL
Missouri
About the Event
Where Champions Are Made
The Kim's Cup Taekwondo Championship is one of St. Louis's premier martial arts competitions, bringing together competitors of all ages and skill levels for a day of excellence, sportsmanship, and achievement.
Competitive Divisions
Kids to Adult Masters. Every age, every belt level, every skill set — fair brackets and a place to compete for everyone who steps on the mat.
Awards & Trophies
Gold, silver, and bronze medals in every division. Grand Champion honors for top performers.
Giving Back
A portion of every spectator ticket goes to the Bennett Project — because champions lift others up, too.
Highlights
Championship Moments
Capturing the spirit, determination, and joy of our young champions on competition day.
October 3, 2026
Schedule & Divisions
All events take place at Ladue High School. Competitors should arrive at least 45 minutes before their scheduled event.
8:30 AM ~ 9:00 AM
Referee & Judges Meeting
All Black Belt Competitor (Form, Weapon, Breaking, Sparring, Ssireum)
Ring #
Age
Rank
9:00 AM ~ 10:30 AM
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
9 yr old & under
10 & 11 yr old
12 & 13 yr old
14 & 15 yr old
16 yr old & up
All Black
All Black
All Black
All Black
All Black
Color Belt 9 yr old & under (Form, Weapon, Breaking, Sparring, Ssireum)
Ring #
Age
Rank
10:30 AM ~ 12:30 PM
#1
#2
#3
#3
#4
#5
#6
5 yr old & under
6 & 7 yr old
6 & 7 yr old
6 & 7 yr old
8 & 9 yr old
8 & 9 yr old
8 & 9 yr old
All Rank
Beginner
Intermediate
Advance
Beginner
Intermediate
Advance
12:30 PM ~ 1:00 PM
Lunch Break
1:00 PM ~ 1:15 PM
Opening Ceremony
1:15 PM ~ 2:00 PM
Obstacle Course (8 yr old & under)
2:00 PM ~ 2:30 PM
Demo Team & Family Form
Color Belt 10 yr old ~ 13 yr old (Form, Weapon, Breaking, Sparring, Ssireum)
2:30 PM ~ 4:30 PM
RING #
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
AGE
10 & 11 yr old
10 & 11 yr old
10 & 11 yr old
12 & 13 yr old
12 & 13 yr old
12 & 13 yr old
RANK
Beginner
Intermediate
Advance
Beginner
Intermediate
Advance
Color Belt 14 yr old & up (Form, Weapon, Breaking, Sparring, Ssireum)
4:30 PM ~ 5:30 PM
RING #
#1
#2
#3
AGE
14 & 15 yr old
16 & 17 yr old
18 yr old & up
RANK
All Rank
All Rank
All Rank
5:30 PM
Take Down the Ring (Mats) / Door Close
October 3, 2026
Schedule & Divisions
All events take place at Ladue High School. Competitors should arrive at least 45 minutes before their scheduled event.
8:00 AM
Door Open
8:30 AM ~ 9:00 AM
Referee & Judges Meeting
9:00 AM ~ 10:30 AM
All Black Belt Competitor (Form, Weapon, Breaking, Sparring, Ssireum)
Ring #
Age
Rank
#1
9 yr old & under
All Black
#2
10 & 11 yr old
All Black
#3
12 & 13 yr old
All Black
#4
14 & 15 yr old
All Black
#5
16 yr old & up
All Black
10:30 AM ~ 12:30 PM
Color Belt 9 yr old & under (Form, Weapon, Breaking, Sparring, Ssireum)
Ring #
Age
Rank
#1
5 yr old & under
All Black
#2
6 & 7 yr old
Beginner
#3
6 & 7 yr old
Intermediate
#4
6 & 7 yr old
Advance
#5
8 & 9 yr old
Beginner
#6
8 & 9 yr old
Intermediate
#7
8 & 9 yr old
Advance
12:30 PM ~ 1:00 PM
Lunch Break
1:00 PM ~ 1:15 PM
Opening Ceremony
1:15 PM ~ 2:00 PM
Obstacle Course (8 yr old & under)
2:00 PM ~ 2:30 PM
Demo Team & Family Form
2:30 PM ~ 4:30 PM
Color Belt 10 yr old ~ 13 yr old (Form, Weapon, Breaking, Sparring, Ssireum)
Ring #
Age
Rank
#1
10 & 11 yr old
Beginner
#2
10 & 11 yr old
Intermediate
#3
10 & 11 yr old
Advance
#4
12 & 13 yr old
Beginner
#5
12 & 13 yr old & up
Intermediate
#6
12 & 13 yr old & up
Advance
4:30 PM ~ 5:30 PM
Color Belt 14 yr old & up (Form, Weapon, Breaking, Sparring, Ssireum)
Ring #
Age
Rank
#1
14 & 15 yr old
All Rank
#2
16 & 17 yr old
All Rank
#3
18 yr old & up
All Rank
5:30 PM
Take Down the Ring (Mats) / Door Close
Tournament Details
Rules & Requirements
All competitors and coaches must review these rules before the tournament.
General Information
Tournament Director : Grand Master Hyun-Woo Kim
Awards : Form, Breaking, Sparring, Weapon, Ssireum & Family Form, Demo Team (5' Trophy), Obstacle Course
Requirements : All competitors must be students of an established school or club whose instructor holds the rank of at least 3rd Dan Black Belt.
Uniform: : Only Official White and Black Color Uniforms allowed.
Board Breaking:
Only wooden boards are permitted. (Boards must be purchased at site)
Beginner Group: 3 Boards
Intermediate & Advanced Group: 4 Boards
All Black Belts: 5 Boards
Sparring Rules
All competitors need Full Sparring Gear (Chest, Head, Fist Forearm, Shin & Instep, Mouthpiece, and Groin Cup). Other safety equipment is optional but strongly recommended.
Rounds
Black Belt: 1 Min × 2 Rounds
Color Belt: 1 Min × 1 Round
scoring
Punch to Body — 1 Point
Kick to Body — 2 Points
Spinning Kick to Body — 4 Points
Kick to Head — 3 Points (Black Belt 13yr+)
Spinning Kick to Head — 5 Points (Black Belt 13yr+)
Special Events
Ssireum (Korean Wrestling)
A wrestler wins by forcing their opponent to fall on their back, side, or any part above the knee. All competitors are required to wear a helmet.
Demo Team
5–30 students limit, 5–8 minutes performance time limit (2 minutes setup time).
Form, Weapons, Kick, Tumbling, Breaking, Music, Dance are all allowed.
Coaches & Spectators
Everything You Need to Know
Whether you're coaching a team or cheering from the stands, here's what to expect on competition day.before their scheduled event.
🧑🏫
Coaches
Mandatory coaches meeting at 8:30 AM
Coach wristband required on the floor 1 coach wristband included per school Additional wristbands at check-in Must remain in designated areas
📋
Check -in
Bring your registration confirmation and arrive at least 15–20 minutes earlier to your time slots
👀
Spectators
$8 per person · children 4 & under free Purchase tickets in advance or at the door.
All-day access to all competition rings if purchased at the door $10 per person.
A portion of ticket sales benefits the Bennett Project 💛
🥋
Competitor Gear
Full dobok (uniform) required
WTF-approved hogu, headgear, gloves
Mouthguard required for sparring Groin protector required for males No jewelry or piercings on the mat
🏅
Awards
Gold, silver & bronze medals per division
All competitors receive recognition
ℹ️
General Rules
All judge decisions are final
Respectful conduct required at all times
No unauthorized photography of minors
First aid on site throughout the event
Find Us
Venue & Directions
Event Venue
ADDRESS
Ladue High School 755 S Warson Rd St. Louis, MO 63124
Date & Time
Saturday, October 3, 2026 Doors open 7:30 AM · Ends ~4:30 PM
Parking
Free parking in the main school lot. Overflow parking on S Warson Rd.
Secure Checkout
Registration
Select your registration type below. All payments are processed securely through Stripe.
Competitor Registration
Enter the ring at the 12th Annual Kim's Cup. Registration includes entry to your selected division(s), competitor wristband, and access to the awards ceremony.
$80
per competitor · one or two events.
1 or 2 event included
+$10 per additional event
Competitor wristband & number
Medal eligibility
Grand Champion eligibility
Spectator Tickets
Cheer on your champions all day long! Your ticket supports a great cause a portion of every admission goes directly to the Bennett Project.
$8
per person · all-day access
if purchased at the door $10 per person
All-day access to all competition rings
Concessions & vendors on site
Children 4 & under: Free admission
💛A portion of every ticket sale goes to the Bennett Project — thank you for supporting our community.
Vendor Table
Showcase your products to hundreds of martial arts families. Tables are limited — secure yours today.
$150
per table · includes 2 chairs
6ft vendor table + 2 chairs
1 vendor wristband included
Additional wristbands: $15 each
Setup begins at 7:00 AM
Tables assigned by arrival order