Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Youth Martial Arts Programs
1910 Hotel Plaza Blvd, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
About
Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Youth Martial Arts Programs include Judo, Grappling, Karate, Taekwondo, and Kung-Fu. The programs are part of the broader AAU structure, which offers multiple sports and events for amateur athletes.
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) was founded in 1888. Its stated mission is to offer amateur sports programs through a volunteer base for all people to have the physical, mental, and moral development of amateur athletes and to promote good sportsmanship and good citizenship. The AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is shared by nearly 800,000 members and 150,000 volunteers.
Programs offered by the AAU include 45 sports, the AAU Junior Olympic Games, the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships, the AAU James E. Sullivan Award, and the AAU Gussie Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award. The AAU is described as one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer, multi-sport event organizations in the world and is a member of the International School Sport Federation (ISF), which is recognised by the International Olympic Committee. The AAU Junior Olympic Games are described as the largest multi-sport event in the country, and the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships are described as the largest volleyball event in the world. The AAU James E. Sullivan Award has been given to America’s top athlete at the Collegiate, Olympic or similar elite level since 1930, and the AAU Gussie Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2017 to recognize athletes who have paved the way for change in amateur sports.
Multi-sport AAU membership cards allow youth athletes to participate in 41 sports at the local, regional, and national level with one membership. General liability and participant accident insurance is included as a benefit of membership, and an Extended Coverage benefit extends insurance coverage to athletes and teams participating in non-AAU events. AAU has a comprehensive Athlete Protection Handbook and a Concussion Policy, and background screening is mandatory for all non-athletes (coaches). Free coaches’ education for all AAU non-athletes (coaches) is provided through a program administered by the Positive Coaching Alliance via their Double-Goal Coach online courses. Ready Nutrition is the Official Sports Drink of the AAU.
The AAU Cares program, created in 2016, was established as a way for the AAU to give back to the communities in which it hosts events. The AAU Urban Initiative, created in 2015, provides a holistic approach to athletics and provides participation opportunities to urban environments that were historically under served. AAU President Jo Mirza has been named a finalist for Greater Orlando Sports’ 2026 SPORTYS Executive of the Year.
Last updated May 14, 2026.
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) was founded in 1888. Its stated mission is to offer amateur sports programs through a volunteer base for all people to have the physical, mental, and moral development of amateur athletes and to promote good sportsmanship and good citizenship. The AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is shared by nearly 800,000 members and 150,000 volunteers.
Programs offered by the AAU include 45 sports, the AAU Junior Olympic Games, the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships, the AAU James E. Sullivan Award, and the AAU Gussie Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award. The AAU is described as one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer, multi-sport event organizations in the world and is a member of the International School Sport Federation (ISF), which is recognised by the International Olympic Committee. The AAU Junior Olympic Games are described as the largest multi-sport event in the country, and the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships are described as the largest volleyball event in the world. The AAU James E. Sullivan Award has been given to America’s top athlete at the Collegiate, Olympic or similar elite level since 1930, and the AAU Gussie Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2017 to recognize athletes who have paved the way for change in amateur sports.
Multi-sport AAU membership cards allow youth athletes to participate in 41 sports at the local, regional, and national level with one membership. General liability and participant accident insurance is included as a benefit of membership, and an Extended Coverage benefit extends insurance coverage to athletes and teams participating in non-AAU events. AAU has a comprehensive Athlete Protection Handbook and a Concussion Policy, and background screening is mandatory for all non-athletes (coaches). Free coaches’ education for all AAU non-athletes (coaches) is provided through a program administered by the Positive Coaching Alliance via their Double-Goal Coach online courses. Ready Nutrition is the Official Sports Drink of the AAU.
The AAU Cares program, created in 2016, was established as a way for the AAU to give back to the communities in which it hosts events. The AAU Urban Initiative, created in 2015, provides a holistic approach to athletics and provides participation opportunities to urban environments that were historically under served. AAU President Jo Mirza has been named a finalist for Greater Orlando Sports’ 2026 SPORTYS Executive of the Year.
Last updated May 14, 2026.
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