Doug Sofranko

Doug Sofranko (born November 30, 1976 in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is a United States national and international Taekwondo Olympic sparring champion. He graduated from William Allen High School in 1994 and subsequently enlisted in the US Navy. He was a 1997, 1998 and 1999 Team USA member and an Olympic Training Center (OTC) resident athlete in 97, 98, 99 and again in 2001. He is a "World Elite Level" athlete who was also a member of the U.S. All Armed Forces Team. He has trained in Pennsylvania (under Master Kim, Master Charlie Riddick and Chris Calcagni), Hawaii (under world-renowned Master Dae Sung Lee) and New Jersey (under former Olympic Team member Bobby Leach). He was a serious contender for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney although he never went to the Team Trials due to military obligations. Look for him at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and/or the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing as a Lightweight competitor for the US team. He holds a 2nd Dan black belt in Taekwondo and holds black belts in numerous other martial arts as well. He is also a U.S. military Special Operations veteran.

Competition record

2002 New Jersey State Championships: GOLD

2002 Pennsylvania State Championships: GOLD

2002 Tri-State Taekwondo Games: GOLD

2002 U.S. National Taekwondo Championships: BRONZE

2001 Military Cup World Championships: GOLD

2001 Pennsylvania State Championships: GOLD

2001 U.S. National Taekwondo Championships: GOLD

2000 Military Cup World Championships: SILVER

2000 Pocono Cup 2000 Olympic Celebration: GOLD

2000 Pennsylvania State Championships: GOLD

2000 Millennium Taekwondo Festival: SILVER

1999 World Games: GOLD

1999 Taekwondo World Cup: SILVER

1999 International TKD Challenge Championships: BRONZE

1999 Hawaii State Championships: GOLD

1999 U.S. Armed Forces Championships: GOLD

1998 Korea World Games: GOLD

1998 World Games: SILVER

1998 U.S. Open: GOLD

1998 Aloha State Games: BRONZE

1998 World Cup Championships: GOLD

1998 Team USA Team Member

1998 Team USA Trials: GOLD

1998 U.S. All Armed Forces Team Member

1998 U.S. Armed Forces Championships: GOLD

1997 Korean World Games: SILVER

1997 Australian World Championships: GOLD

1997 9th Annual Hawaiian Grand Slam: SILVER

1997 Goodwill Games: BRONZE

"1997 Team USA Team Member"

1997 Team USA Trials: GOLD

"1997 US All Armed Forces Team Member"

1997 U.S. Armed Forces Championships: GOLD

Martial Arts Ranks

3rd Degree Black Belt Ninjutsu

2nd Degree Black Belt Taekwondo

2nd Degree Black Belt Krav Maga (Expert Instructor)

1st Degree Black Belt Combat Jeet Kune Do

Extensive training in Brazilian Jujitsu, Kajukenbo, freestyle wrestling and mixed martial arts

References

[http://www.usa-taekwondo.us USA Taekwondo]

[http://www.kukkiwon.or.kr Taekwondo Kukkiwon]

[http://www.martial-arts-network.com/orgs.php The Martial Arts Network]