Sacramento’s Khai Chang, 9, will travel to Daytona Beach, Florida, in October to compete in taekwondo’s Pan American Club Championship. Photo by Albert Chang

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – Three Sacramento athletes took home medals in the 2026 USA Taekwondo season final in Arkansas in September.

Emily Shimomura, 9, and Khai Chang, 9, won first-place while 64-year-old Artavia Edwards took home a bronze medal in the final Sept. 11-13 in Little Rock. Ian Chang, 11, also competed and fell just short of reaching the medal round.

“Arkansas was a great experience,” said Edwards, a second-degree black belt.

Of her competitors, Edwards said, “Win or lose, we’re family.”

She will be traveling later this month, along with Khai, to Daytona Beach, Florida, to compete in the Pan American Club Championship. The event is being held Oct. 22-25.

Khai Chang won first place, too in Arkansas. He is pursuing the USA Taekwondo Aspiring Dominant Athlete status for 2026, said Xai Lor, owner of iYa Taekwondo.

Emily too has had an exceptional season, said Lor, a taekwondo master, remaining undefeated through the finals in Arkansas.

“Her performance capped another impressive competition in a season defined by consistency, discipline, and determination,” Lor added.

Ian finished just 0.04 points shy of advancing to the medal round, Lor said, “a difference small enough to show that he was competing right alongside some of the strongest athletes in his division.”

Ian is promoting to his black belt Oct. 3, he said by phone.

Taekwondo “has taught me many things,” he said, such as courtesy, integrity and perseverance.

This year is the first Ian and Khai traveled nationally to compete, their father Albert Chang said.

For Khai, he likes taekwondo because it has taught him self-defense and new things, he said.

“Every tournament brings a new challenge,” said Lor. “There are no guarantees once an athlete steps onto the competition floor. What these athletes can control is their preparation, their discipline, and how they represent themselves, their team, and their community. That is what makes us especially proud.”

iYa Taekwondo is on Greenhaven Drive in Sacramento’s Pocket-Greenhaven neighborhood. The school’s eighth annual haunted house and trunk-or-treat event is planned for 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 17.