Masters Alliance

When leadership changes at a major competition like the AAU National Championships, what happens to the quality of the event? Olympic medalists and veteran coaches Juan "The Mayor of Taekwondo" Moreno and TJ "Bronze" Grimes take us behind the scenes of the recent tournament in Salt Lake City, providing a raw, unfiltered look at what worked and what critically failed.

The 3,400+ competitor event showed p...

What happens when a combat sport's scoring system fundamentally changes what techniques are rewarded? In this revealing episode, we analyze footage from the Grand Prix Challenge match between CJ Nicholas (USA) and Sol Jungwoo (Korea) that highlights everything wrong with modern electronic scoring in Taekwondo.

Through frame-by-frame analysis, we expose phantom points, missing techniques, and bizarre scoring anomalies ...

The dark underbelly of competitive Taekwondo surfaces in this revealing episode as coaches Juan Moreno, Fred Borchardt, and TJ Proe dissect the technical disaster that unfolded at the recent Grand Prix Challenge in Charlotte. What began as a standard tournament quickly descended into chaos when the DADO Gen 3 electronic scoring system malfunctioned spectacularly, with officials secretly adjusting sensitivity levels midway through t...

What happens when three Olympic-level Taekwondo masters remove their filters and speak their unvarnished truth about the state of the sport? The Warehouse 15 podcast delivers exactly that as Coach Juan Moreno, Herb Perez, and TJ dive deep into the challenges facing modern Taekwondo.

The conversation begins with TJ sharing his vision for his newly opened training facility, where he aims to create an environment focused on c...

Three Olympic gold medalists engage in a no-holds-barred critique of USA Taekwondo's latest cash grab – yet another "Talent ID Camp" charging athletes $225 for a chance to be "discovered." The hosts unpack why this approach fundamentally misunderstands how genuine talent identification works in successful sports programs worldwide.

Drawing from their extensive experience both as athletes and coache...

Three Olympic Taekwondo veterans discuss the controversial Gen 3 chest protector technology causing scoring chaos ahead of the World Championships, while examining how officiating decisions are negatively impacting the sport's strategic diversity.

• Gen 3 chest protectors showing serious malfunctions at the President's Cup with random point registrations
• American athletes disadvantaged by training on outdat...

What if everything you thought you knew about creating champion fighters was wrong? In this raw, unfiltered conversation with Olympic gold medalist Herb Perez and bronze medalist Juan Moreno, we crack open the uncomfortable truth about what's really happening in American Taekwondo.

The discussion begins with a critical examination of the recent Cadet World Championships, where Russia's dominance reveals a stark c...

Olympic medalists Juan Moreno, TJ , and Herb Perez pull no punches in this raw, unfiltered examination of what's happening behind the scenes in American taekwondo.

Coach Moreno shares fascinating insights from his training camp in Uzbekistan, where he's witnessed a thriving system with nine full-time coaches for their senior team, impressive test matches, and remarkable depth of talent. The contrast between this ...

"Sorry, not sorry" might be our new theme song, but there's nothing to apologize for in this deep dive into taekwondo's evolution. Three Olympic medalists pull no punches as they debate whether modern electronic scoring has elevated the sport or stripped away its martial essence.

The conversation begins with a public service announcement warning practitioners about questionable "skip dan" cert...

"We're saying what everyone's thinking." These words from a military veteran to Coach Moreno capture the essence of what makes The Warehouse 15 podcast essential listening for the Taekwondo community. Coaches TJ, Moreno, and Young pull no punches as they dissect the uncomfortable realities facing modern Taekwondo.

The conversation weaves through multiple critical topics, beginning with a comparison of o...

We discuss the challenges and opportunities facing USA Taekwondo, from centralized training models to athlete development disappointments, while celebrating TJ's exciting announcement of a new Peak Performance Training Center in Charlotte.

• TJ announces the opening of his new Peak Performance Training Center in Charlotte, North Carolina
• The Grand Prix Challenge ticket prices are unexpectedly high at $50 per day...

The Warehouse 15 crew delivers a no-holds-barred assessment of the recent Pan Am Championships in Queretaro, Mexico, where competitors battled not just opponents but also 90-degree heat in outdoor tents. The tournament's chaotic organization—from confusing registration processes to midnight schedule changes—prompts a larger conversation about respect for athletes in international Taekwondo.

The discussion takes a crit...

A seismic shift has occurred in the Olympic world with the election of the first-ever female IOC president, and the Warehouse 15 team wastes no time diving into what this might mean for martial arts on the global stage. Masters Herb Perez, Juan Moreno, and TJ Curry unpack this historic development with their signature blend of insider knowledge and unfiltered commentary.

The conversation takes a particularly heated turn wh...

Navigating the complex terrain of taekwondo politics requires more than just technical skill—it demands resilience against systems that sometimes work against their own athletes. In this revealing conversation, Coach Lee joins the Warehouse 15 podcast to share his perspective as both an Olympic coach and someone who's experienced the double standards prevalent in USA Taekwondo.

The episode uncovers the controversial s...

In our inaugural guest episode, we dive deep with Dan Lewis, a geologist-turned-data analyst who's revolutionizing how we understand Taekwondo trends in America. Lewis shares shocking statistics about USA Taekwondo's decline - participation has dropped from over 7,000 competitors in 2019 to just 4,500 today, with some regions seeing a devastating 75% decrease in athletes.

What makes this conversation particularly...

What defines a great athlete? Is it inherent talent or the influence of dedicated coaching and training? In this episode, we unpack the long-standing debate of nature versus nurture in sports. Featuring engaging discussions, personal anecdotes, and insights from three experienced coaches, we explore the complex journey that athletes undertake to reach greatness. 

From the excitement of training camps to unexpected fashion ...

How does one navigate the unpredictable world of sporting events and weather chaos? Join us at Warehouse 15, where I, the Grandmaster of Disaster, along with TJ and Coach Moreno, share personal updates and the latest weather conditions from California to South Florida. Our conversation takes an exciting turn as we spotlight the recent USA Taekwondo Open Tournament. We celebrate the amazing triumphs and acknowledge the challenges fa...

What happens when martial arts expertise meets the vibrant backdrop of Canadian hospitality? Join us at Warehouse 15 as Grandmaster Disaster, TJ, and Coach Moreno unravel their experiences at the Canadian Open in Montreal. We celebrate the remarkable organization of the event and the warmth of our Canadian hosts, with special nods to high-performance director Alan and Brittany. Revel in the pride as TJ and Coach Master Perez both r...

What if the true measure of success in sports isn't just about winning but about pushing the boundaries of performance and personal growth? Join us in Warehouse 15 as we, Herb Perez, Coach Moreno, and Coach TJ, unmask the realities of our athletic journeys. We recount our candid experiences, from my own self-reflective path of balancing martial arts and competitive distractions to Coach Moreno's fatherly pride in his chil...