NAOMI ALADE

DATE OF BIRTH: December 2007

BELT RANK: Black Belt, 2nd Dan

WEIGHT CLASS: Junior +68kg, Senior +73kg

COACH: Master Gianni Giambi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

*2024 AAU T.O.P.S Team Member

*2024 TEAM USA Junior National Team Member

*2024 TEAM USA Senior National Team Member

Naomi began Taekwondo in January 2013 at the age of 5 under the instruction of Grandmaster Mark Giambi. She began competing in local tournaments in January 2014. In the fall of 2014, Naomi joined the G-Force Olympic sparring competition team under the instruction of Master Gianni Giambi. Since that time, Naomi has won multiple local, regional, national, and international tournaments. She is an excellent student and a current sophomore at Carnegie Vanguard High School. Naomi’s favorite book is the Harry Potter series. Naomi is the oldest of 5 children and a member of her school’s thespian society.

DATE OF BIRTH: April 2008

BELT RANK: Black Belt, 1st Dan

WEIGHT CLASS: Junior -68kg

COACH: Master Gianni Giambi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

Raul started taekwondo when he was six years old and in his early years, his motivation to start training was IP Man. He wants to one day be an Olympian and be the best at his level.  He enjoys competing and traveling for national and international events.  Raul’s proudest moment was when he started training with Master Gianni Giambi because that opened a lot of opportunities for him. When Raul is not training, he is studying for school and spending time with his three younger brothers. Something that Raul has learned from taekwondo is to respect people and to be more persistent.

DATE OF BIRTH: December 2008

BELT RANK: Black Belt, 3rd Dan

WEIGHT CLASS: Junior -63kg

COACH: Master Gianni Gaimbi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

Jonathan began taekwondo in 2016 and has been competing in local and national tournaments since 2017.  He started major international tournaments in 2022.  Outside of taekwondo, Jonathan has played the clarinet since 3rd grade and in middle school he was in the Regional Band.  He is also currently working on his Life Rank in Boy Scouts.  Jonathan likes to travel and compete in tournaments.

DATE OF BIRTH: November 2008

BELT RANK: Black Belt, 3rd Dan

WEIGHT CLASS: Junior -68kg

COACH: Master Gianni Giambi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

*2024 Texas State Taekwondo Team Member

*2024/2025 AAU Junior National Team Member

Eric started training in taekwondo at the age of four and started competing in local and national competitions at the age of nine. Outside of taekwondo, Eric plays football at his high school.  He really enjoys listening to music and his favorite food is pizza!

DATE OF BIRTH: February 2009

BELT RANK: Black Belt, 2nd Dan

WEIGHT CLASS: Junior -78kg

COACH: Master Gianni Giambi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

*2023/2024 AAU Cadet National Team Member

*2024 TEAM USA Junior National Team Member

*2024/2025 AAU Junior National Team Member

Joshua began practicing taekwondo in January 2013 at the age of 3 under the instruction of Grandmaster Mark Giambi. He began competing in local tournaments in January 2014. In the fall of 2014, Joshua joined the G-Force Olympic sparring competition team under the instruction of Master Gianni Giambi. Since that time, Joshua has won at multiple local, state, national and international tournaments. In 2023, he secured bronze at the World Taekwondo Cadet Championship. He is an exceptional student and was double promoted from kindergarten to second grade.  He is currently a sophomore at Carnegie Vanguard High School where he is a member of his school’s Thespian Society.  His favorite book is the Harry Potter series. Joshua is the second oldest of 5 children.

DATE OF BIRTH: February 2010

BELT RANK: Black Belt, 2nd Dan

WEIGHT CLASS: Cadet -59kg

COACH: Master Gianni Giambi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

*2023/2024 AAU Cadet National Team Member

*2024 TEAM USA Cadet National Team Member

Sofia started taking taekwondo classes in 2017 at the age of seven. A year later she joined a competition team and attended local tournaments in and around the Houston area.  In 2019, she traveled to her first National Championships and won Gold in her youth division.  In the spring of 2020, Sofia became a student under Master Gianni Giambi, joining the G-Force Olympic sparring competition team. Since joining this elite team, Sofia has seen a tremendous amount of improvement in her sparring, bringing her multiple local, district, regional, national, and international successes.  Outside of taekwondo, Sofia continues to strive for excellence. She has been on the distinguished honor roll each year, is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and recently joined her school’s dance team.  In her free time, Sofia enjoys being with her family and friends, volunteering in the community, watching cooking videos and learning to cook.

DATE OF BIRTH: June 2010

BELT RANK: Black Belt, 1st Dan

WEIGHT CLASS: Cadet -47kg

COACH: Master Gianni Giambi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

Sakeena began taekwondo in 2017 and has been competing in local and national tournaments ever since. Her older sister Subhana is her biggest inspiration, and her favorite athlete is Lionel Messi. Sakeena’s favorite foods include alfredo pasta, and a delicious steak. Her favorite movie is Avatar. One of Sakeena’s proudest moments in taekwondo is winning a Gold medal at AAU Nationals in 2019. 

DATE OF BIRTH: September 2011

BELT RANK: Black Belt, 2nd Dan

WEIGHT CLASS: Cadet -51kg

COACH: Master Gianni Giambi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

*2024/2025 AAU Cadet National Team Member

Taylor Jo was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and moved to Cypress, Texas in 2016.  She started training in taekwondo at the age of 6, under the instruction of Grand Master McCloskey at Young Brothers Taekwondo.  She started competing in 2018 with Master De Los Reyes, and in 2023 she earned her 2nd Dan Black Belt.  In September 2023, Taylor Jo joined the G-Force competition team at The Houston Center for Taekwondo to continue her Olympic Sparring career.  Prior to finding her passion in Olympic Sparring, Taylor Jo enjoyed competing in gymnastics.  She is a great student and received the Presidential Award for the 2022/2023 school year.  Taylor Jo enjoys traveling and trying new things and is currently learning to play the viola in her school’s orchestra.

DATE OF BIRTH: July 2011

BELT RANK: Black Belt, 1st Dan

WEIGHT CLASS: Cadet -55kg

COACH: Master Gianni Giambi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

Addison was introduced to Taekwondo in November of 2019 at Young Brothers Taekwondo – Cypress under the guidance of Grandmaster David McCloskey.  She began competing in March of 2020 as an orange belt where she would soon find a passion for Olympic sparring.  She then started training under Master Adrian De Los Reyes, where she competed with Team Legacy for three years.  In January 2024, Addison joined the Texas G-Force competition team.  Addison loves Korean BBQ, enjoys spending time with family and reading her favorite series, Spy School.

DATE OF BIRTH: December 2011

BELT RANK: Black Belt, 1st Dan

WEIGHT CLASS: Cadet -41kg

COACH: Master Gianni Giambi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

Drake began training under Master Adrian De Los Reyes in September 2022 and started competing immediately, winning his first Silver medal in November of that year.  He went on to earn his Black Belt in December 2023 and shortly thereafter joined the Texas G-Force competition team at the Houston Center for Taekwondo.  Prior to taekwondo, Drake was a successful triathlete.  He began racing in triathlons at 4 years old, and has completed the Run Houston 5k and 1/2 Marathon Series events for five consecutive years.  Not only is he an all-around athlete, he is an exemplary honor roll student as well.

DATE OF BIRTH: May 2013

BELT RANK: Black Belt, 1st Dan

WEIGHT CLASS: Youth -46kg

COACH: Master Gianni Giambi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

Sky first started taking lessons in taekwondo when she was 4 years old.  She joined the competition team at her school and started going to tournaments when she was 6.  In 2020, she joined the G-Force competition team with Master Gianni Giambi.  Sky competes locally and attends AAU Nationals each year.  Outside of taekwondo, she enjoys drawing and making art for her family.

DATE OF BIRTH: May 2015

BELT RANK: Black Belt, 1st Dan

WEIGHT CLASS: Tiger +30kg

COACH: Master Gianni Giambi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

Derrick started taekwondo training at the age of four and started competing in local and national tournaments at the age of six. He also enjoys gymnastics and football.  Derrick loves music and his favorite food is pizza!

DATE OF BIRTH: December 2007

BELT RANK: Advanced, Red

WEIGHT CLASS: Junior, +78kg

COACH: Master Gianni Giambi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

Jefferson began training in taekwondo at the age of 12 when his best friend introduced him to the sport.  He joined the G-Force competition team in January of 2021 as a yellow belt and competed in his first local tournament In June that year.  Since joining the competition team, Jefferson has developed a great sense of confidence and has seen much advancement in his fighting technique.  Outside of taekwondo, Jefferson enjoys video games, photography and videography.

DATE OF BIRTH: November 2012

BELT RANK: Intermediate, Blue

WEIGHT CLASS: Cadet -53kg

COACH: Master Gianni Giambi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

Glenn started taekwondo in the middle of 2022.  At the beginning of 2023, Glenn entered his first tournament with Master Gianni Giambi and was able to qualify for his first AAU National Championship in the summer of 2023.  As Glenn is just starting out, he had a big inspiration when he received two medals at his first National Championship.  When Glenn is not training, he practices his piano and prepares for classical competitions.  Glenn enjoys making new friends everywhere he goes.

DATE OF BIRTH: May 2013

BELT RANK: Advanced, Brown

WEIGHT CLASS: Youth -35kg

COACH: Master Gianni Giambi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

William started training at The Houston Center for Taekwondo in the spring of 2019 and joined the G-Force competition team as an orange belt. William competes locally and attends AAU Nationals every year.  Outside of taekwondo, he enjoys playing the saxophone in his school’s symphonic band and is also a member of the Honors Ensemble.  William plays basketball, runs track and has consistently been on the principal’s honor roll since the 1st grade, receiving straight A’s every quarter.

DATE OF BIRTH: August 2017

BELT RANK: Intermediate, Purple

WEIGHT CLASS: Youth -23kg

COACH: Master Gianni Giambi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

Miles started taekwondo in 2020 at the age of 3 under the instruction of Grandmaster Mark Giambi. He began competing in local competitions in 2022. In the Spring of 2023, Miles joined the G-Force competition team under the instruction of Master Gianni Giambi. Since then, Miles has competed at multiple local tournaments and is looking forward to his first trip to nationals in 2024.