East Texas Master Instructor Clayton  Watkins Helps Lead Team USA to World  Cup Dominance in France  

Yearlong coaching, weekly Zoom sessions and national  team practices helped prepare American athletes for a  winning performance at the 2026 ICO World Cup. 

THONON-LES-BAINS, France — A year of  preparation culminated in an international triumph for  Master Clayton Watkins and his fellow Team USA  coaches as the American delegation dominated the 2026  ICO World Cup, finishing atop the overall medal  standings and capturing 322 gold medals and world titles.

Held October 14–18 in Thonon-les-Bains, France, the  competition brought together approximately 1,200  athletes representing 33 countries. Team USA fielded  roughly 280 competitors from nearly all 50 states, uniting  martial artists from across the country for a commanding  American performance.

Watkins, Team USA’s Head Korean Martial Arts Coach,  spent the year leading up to the event working with  athletes preparing for the Korean martial arts divisions.  His involvement extended far beyond tournament-day  coaching, combining regular instruction, remote training  and national team practices to help competitors prepare  for the international stage.

A sixth-degree black belt, master instructor and co-owner  of ProComp Sport Martial Arts, Watkins brought  experience as an instructor, competitor and coach to the  assignment. His work focused on helping athletes  translate their technical skills into consistent, confident  performances under competitive pressure.

Throughout the year, Watkins held weekly Zoom sessions  with athletes from around the country. Those meetings  provided an ongoing connection between the national  coach and competitors training in different communities,  allowing him to offer feedback, address questions and  guide their preparation as the World Cup approached.

The weekly sessions gave athletes regular access to  coaching despite the distances separating them. Rather  than limiting national team preparation to occasional  gatherings, Watkins maintained a consistent coaching  presence throughout the year, helping competitors stay  connected to their training goals and to the larger  American team.

He also led in-person team practices in Los Angeles and  Chicago. Those gatherings provided opportunities to work  directly with competitors, refine technical details and  bring together athletes who would later stand alongside  one another representing the United States.

Together, the weekly online sessions and national  practices created continuity in the team’s preparation.

Athletes could work on corrections at home, receive  additional guidance and build on that progress during in person training.

Working with competitors from across the country also  called for adaptability. Each athlete brought a different  training background, individual strengths and competition  experience. Watkins’ role required clear communication  and careful observation while building on the foundation  established by the athletes and their home instructors.

That sustained approach highlights an important part of  his coaching expertise: the ability to break down  demanding skills, communicate useful corrections and  help students apply those adjustments over time.  Preparing athletes for international competition requires  technical knowledge alongside the patience and  consistency to guide their development through months of  work.

When competition began in France, the emphasis shifted  from preparation to execution. Watkins served alongside  fellow American coaches, offering technical guidance and  supporting athletes as they faced competitors from around  the world.

Set along the shores of Lake Geneva, the ICO World Cup  became the setting for a major American team  achievement. Team USA’s 322 gold-medal finishes

contributed to its first-place position in the overall medal  count, securing a dominant result for the delegation.

The success reflected a nationwide effort involving  athletes, national coaches, home instructors, families and  supporters. Watkins’ contribution centered on the Korean  martial arts competitors he had worked with throughout  the year, while the final medal standings represented the  accomplishments of the entire American team.

For East Texas, his role brought a local connection to that  international success. Watkins is co-owner of ProComp  Sport Martial Arts, which serves students in Gilmer,  Mineola and Tyler. His work with Team USA extends the  reach of an organization rooted in those communities to  athletes training across the United States.

At ProComp, the daily work of teaching emphasizes  discipline, focus, perseverance and technical  development. Those same principles carried into Watkins’  national team responsibilities, where consistent  preparation and attention to detail helped athletes  approach the demands of world-level competition.

For local students, having an instructor involved in  national team coaching provides a tangible connection to  opportunities beyond their home school. Watkins’  experience demonstrates how martial arts can open paths  into competition, teaching and leadership while

connecting students with a broader international  community.

The 2026 World Cup marks a significant achievement in  Watkins’ coaching career. His road to France included a  year of work with Korean martial arts competitors,  weekly Zoom sessions connecting athletes nationwide,  and team practices in Los Angeles and Chicago.

That preparation culminated in an American delegation  united on the world stage—and a tournament that ended  with Team USA leading the overall medal count and  celebrating 322 world titles.