East West competes at 2025 AAU Nationals tournament

Written By Chris Linder

The East West Tae Kwon Do forms and sparring teams traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah from June 29 - July 5 to compete in the Amateur Athletic Union Tae Kwon Do Nationals tournament. 3,230 athletes competed during the week for the honor to win medals and make the AAU Nationals team.

East West competitors took home 8 Gold, 5 Silver, and 5 Bronze medals.

Competing in Traditional Forms:

  • Caio Ribeiro (10-11 / Intermediate)

  • Suren Habibzadeh (10-11 / Intermediate)

  • Ian Linder (14-15 / 1st Black) - Bronze TSD, Bronze ITF, Silver Open

  • Beirui Zhang (16-17 / Novice) - Gold ITF, Silver WT, Gold Open

  • Ashwin Nayak (16-17 / Advanced) - Bronze ITF, Bronze Open

  • Sophie Nickel (16-17 / 1st Black) - Silver ITF

  • Ian Zakharenka (18-32 / 1st Black) - Gold ITF, Gold WT

  • Kimia Habibzadeh (18-32 / 1st Black) - Silver ITF, Bronze WT, Gold Open

  • Chris Linder (53+ / 1st Black) - Gold ITF, Gold TSD, Gold Open

Competing in Olympic Sparring:

  • Charles Vale (8-9 / Novice) - Silver

  • Ethan Hsuan (15-17 / Advanced)

Kimia Habibzadeh, Ian Zakharenka, and Chris Linder were selected for the 2025 AAU Traditional Forms National Team!

Each of you represented our school with excellence—both in performance and in spirit.

Whether you brought home medals or gained valuable experience, you’ve made us all proud!!!

This is just the beginning—your journey towards black belt or next black belt degree!

Chris Linder

Chris Linder is an award-winning professional photographer, filmmaker, workshop leader, and lecturer. Linder earned an undergraduate degree in oceanography from the US Naval Academy and a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Following careers as a naval officer and an oceanographic researcher, he became a professional freelance photographer. Since 2002, Linder has photographed more than 50 scientific expeditions and has spent over two years of his life exploring the polar regions.

http://www.chrislinder.com