The AAU Karate National High School Varsity Program recognizes high school students who demonstrate commitment not only to Karate, but also to academics, leadership, service, and participation in AAU Karate.
Many Karate athletes dedicate hundreds of hours each year to training, competition, coaching, officiating, and supporting their dojo and community. The Varsity Program provides these student-athletes with an opportunity to receive national recognition for that commitment, even when Karate is not offered as a varsity sport by their school.
The program is open to eligible high school students in grades 9–12 who maintain a current AAU Athlete Membership and actively participate in Karate.
Students may attend public, private, charter, online, or homeschool programs.
To earn the AAU Karate National Varsity Letter, students must:
Eligible activities may include:
Students do not have to win a tournament or championship to qualify. The program recognizes commitment, participation, development, leadership, and service.
Students who meet all Varsity requirements and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher may also earn the designation:
This additional recognition celebrates athletes who demonstrate excellence both in the dojo and in the classroom.
Students who successfully complete the program may receive:
Returning athletes may earn additional annual Varsity recognition, with special distinction available to students who complete the program throughout their high school careers.
AAU Karate believes that becoming an outstanding martial artist involves more than earning medals.
The Varsity Program is built around five areas of student development:
Karate • Academics • AAU Participation • Leadership • Service
Whether a student competes, helps teach younger athletes, develops as a junior official, volunteers at an AAU event, or assists an Inclusive Karate participant, those contributions can be part of their Varsity journey.
Varsity athletes may be recognized annually in conjunction with the AAU Karate National Championships, including recognition of Scholar Athletes, graduating seniors, Four-Year Varsity Athletes, and other outstanding participants.
Attendance at Nationals is not required to earn the Varsity Letter.
The AAU Karate Varsity Letter is a national AAU recognition. Individual schools determine their own policies regarding official school varsity letters, athletic awards, and recognition of independent or non-school-sponsored sports.
AAU Karate may provide successful participants with documentation that can be presented to their school administration requesting recognition of their achievement.
You already put in the hours.
You train. You compete. You lead. You serve.
Now let that commitment be recognized.
Register today for the AAU Karate National High School Varsity Program.
Varsity Letter Membership
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