SOFIA PALMER

DATE OF BIRTH: February 2010

BELT RANK: Black Belt, 2nd Dan

WEIGHT CLASS: Cadet -59kg

COACH: Master Gianni Giambi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

*2021/2022 AAU Mini Cadet National Team Member

*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. After joining this elite team, Sofia saw a tremendous amount of improvement in her sparring, which brought her multiple local, district, regional, national, and international successes. Sofia continues to strive for excellence outside of taekwondo.  She has been on the distinguished honor roll each year, is a member of the National Honor Society and is now pursuing dance with her high school dance team.  Sofia owes much of her confidence, discipline and athleticism to her past taekwondo training and experiences from her involvement with G-Force.

DATE OF BIRTH: April 2008

BELT RANK: Black Belt, 1st Dan

WEIGHT CLASS: Junior -68kg

COACH: Master Gianni Giambi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

*2022/2023 AAU National Team Member

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. Raul’s current focus is studying 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 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.  After joining the competition team, Jefferson developed a great sense of confidence and respectfully saw advancement in his fighting technique.  Jefferson enjoys video games, photography and videography, and is currently focusing on his academic studies.  He hopes to return to taekwondo training in the future.

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 competed in local and national tournaments until sustaining an injury during the 2024 competition season. 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.