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 currently pursuing dance with her high school dance team, where she is an Officer for the 2025-2026 school year.  Sofia owes much of her confidence, discipline and athleticism to her past taekwondo training and experiences from her involvement with G-Force.

2024 Pan American Championships - Bronze
2024 AAU National Championships - Gold

2024 USAT National Championships - Bronze
2024 AAU Gulf District Championships - Gold
2024 USAT West Grand Prix - Silver

2024 AAU Regionals - Gold

2024 World Taekwondo Open - Gold
2024 USAT Texas State Championships - Gold
2024 US Open - Gold

2023 AAU Junior Olympics Team Trials – Gold

2023 USAT National Championships - Silver

2023 AAU National Championships - Gold

2023 Costa Rica Open - Gold

2023 AAU Gulf District Championships - Gold

2023 AAU Regionals - Gold

2023 USAT Texas State Championships - Gold

2023 US Open - Bronze

2022 Pan Am Presidents Cup - Bronze

2022 AAU Junior Olympics Team Trials - Silver

2022 AAU National Championships - Bronze

2022 Gulf District Championships- Gold

2022 AAU Regionals - Gold

2022 USAT Texas State Championships - Gold

2022 World Taekwondo Open - Gold

2021 AAU National Championships - Gold

2019 AAU National Championships - Gold

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.

2024 AAU Gulf District Championships - Gold
2023 USAT National Championships - Bronze

2023 USAT Central Grand Prix – Silver

2023 AAU DFW Open - Gold

2023 Dutch Open - Par

2023 AAU Gulf District Open - Silver

2023 PATU Pan Am Series 1 - Par

2022 USAT Grand Prix Final - Gold

2022 PATU President’s Cup - Bronze

2022 AAU Junior Olympics Team Trials - Gold

2022 USAT National Championships – Gold

2022 AAU National Championships - Gold

2022 USAT Central Grand Prix – Gold

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.

2024 AAU Gulf District Championship - Gold

2023 H-Town Invitational - Gold

2023 AAU Regional Championships - Bronze

2023 DFW Open - Bronze

2023 AAU South Texas Qualifier - Silver

2022 AAU Texas Junior Championships - Silver

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. 

2024 USAT Texas State Championships - Gold
2024 US Open - Gold

2023 AAU Gulf District Championships – Silver 

2022 AAU Texas Junior Championships – Gold

2022 Unity Fight Games – Gold 

2021 AAU National Championships – Gold 

2021 AAU Gulf District Championships – Silver 

2019 AAU National Championships - Gold 

2019 USAT State Championships - Gold 

2018 AAU National Championships - Bronze 

2018 Texas Cup Championships - Gold 

DATE OF BIRTH: December 2008

BELT RANK: Black Belt, 3rd Dan

WEIGHT CLASS: Junior -68kg

COACH: Master Gianni Gaimbi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

*2025/2026 AAU Junior National Team Member

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.

2025 USAT Finals - Gold
2025 AAU Junior Olympics Team Trials - Gold
2025 USAT National Championships - Bronze
2025 AAU National Championships - Gold
2025 USAT American Open West - Gold

2025 AAU Gulf District Championships - Gold
2025 USAT Texas State Championships - Gold
2024 AAU National Championships - Silver
2024 USAT West Grand Prix - Gold

2024 AAU Regionals - Gold

2024 PATU President’s Cup - Bronze

2023 USAT Grand Prix Final – Bronze

2023 USAT Texas State Championships – Silver

2023 PATU Pan Am Series 1 Costa Rica – Bronze

2022 USAT Grand Prix Final – Bronze

2022 USAT Central Grand Prix – Silver

2022 PATU President’s Cup – Gold

2022 AAU Junior Olympics Team Trials – Gold

2022 AAU National Championships – Silver

2022 USAT Texas State Championships – Gold

2017 AAU National Championships – Gold

DATE OF BIRTH: November 2008

BELT RANK: Black Belt, 3rd Dan

WEIGHT CLASS: Junior -73kg

COACH: Master Gianni Giambi

CLUB: Houston Center for Taekwondo

*2024 Texas State Taekwondo Team Member

*2024/2025 AAU Junior National Team Member

*2025 Texas State Taekwondo 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!

2025 USAT National Championships - Bronze
2025 AAU National Championships - Silver
2025 USAT American Open East - Bronze

2025 AAU Gulf District Championships - Gold
2025 USAT Texas State Championships - Gold
2024 AAU Junior Olympics Team Trials - Gold
2024 USAT National Championships - Silver

2024 AAU National Championships - Gold
2024 USAT West Grand Prix - Silver

2024 AAU Regionals - Gold
2024 Texas State Team Trials - Gold

2024 AAU Regionals - Gold
2024 USAT Texas State Championships - Gold
2023 USAT Grand Prix Final – Silver

2023 USAT Central Grand Prix – Bronze

2023 AAU South Texas National Qualifier – Gold

2022 USAT National Championships – Silver

2022 USAT Central Grand Prix – Silver

2022 USAT Texas State Championships - Gold

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.

2025 AAU Gulf District Championships - Gold (Olympic Sparring)
2025 AAU Gulf District Championships - Gold (Traditional Forms)

2025 SW District Championships - Gold

2024 AAU Gulf District Championships - Silver

(Olympic Sparring)

2024 AAU Gulf District Championships - Gold

(Point Sparring)
2024 AAU Regionals - Silver
2024 USAT Texas State Championships - Bronze
2023 AAU National Championships - Gold

2023 USAT Texas State Championships - Bronze

2022 AAU Adirondack Championships - Gold

2022 AAU Georgia Qualifier - Gold

DATE OF BIRTH: May 2013

BELT RANK: Black Belt, 1st Dan

WEIGHT CLASS: Cadet -37kg

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.

2025 USAT Texas State Championships - Silver
2024 AAU Regionals - Silver

2023 DFW Open - Bronze

2023 AAU South Texas Qualifier - Bronze

2023 Texas World Class Championships - Gold

2023 AAU Regional Championships - Silver

2023 AAU Gulf District Championships - Silver

2023 Austin Taekwondo Friendship Games - Gold

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.

2025 AAU National Championships - Bronze
2025 AAU Gulf District Championships - Gold
2024 AAU National Championships - Bronze
2024 AAU Gulf District Championships - Gold
2024 AAU Regionals - Gold
2024 USAT Texas State Championships - Gold
2023 Texas World Class Championships – Gold

2023 AAU National Championships – Bronze

2023 AAU H-Town TKD Invitational – Silver

2023 AAU Regional Championships – Gold

2023 AAU Gulf District Championships – Gold

2022 Texas Junior Championships – Silver

2022 AAU National Championships – Gold

2022 USAT Texas State Championships – Gold

2022 Regional Championships – Gold

2021 AAU National Championships – Bronze

DATE OF BIRTH: May 2015

BELT RANK: Black Belt, 2nd Dan

WEIGHT CLASS: Youth -40kg

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!

2025 AAU Gulf District Championships - Silver
2025 USAT Texas State Championships - Bronze
2024 AAU National Championships - Silver

2024 USAT National Championships - Bronze
2024 USAT West Grand Prix - Silver

2024 AAU Regionals - Gold
2024 USAT Texas State Championships - Gold
2024 US Open - Silver

2023 USAT Grand Prix Final – Gold

2023 USAT National Championships – Bronze

2023 USAT Central Grand Prix – Gold

2022 PATU President’s Cup – Gold

2022 PATU Pan Am Series 1 – Gold

2022 USAT National Championships – Gold

2022 USAT Central Grand Prix – Gold

2022 USAT Texas State Championships – Gold

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.

2025 AAU National Championships - Bronze
2025 AAU Gulf District Championships - Silver
2025 USAT Texas State Championships - Bronze
2024 AAU Texas Junior Championships - Gold
2024 AAU Regionals - Bronze
2024 Houston Open - Gold
2023 DFW Open - Bronze

2023 AAU National Championships Sparring - Bronze

2023 AAU National Championships Forms - Bronze

2023 AAU South Texas Qualifier - Bronze

2023 AAU Gulf District Championships - Bronze