Lima, Peru, June 22 to 27, 2026
Once again, South American ITF Taekwon-Do made its presence felt at a top-tier event.
After 9 years, Peru returned as the host country for the continent’s highest tournament of the South American Taekwon-Do Federation (FST). More than 800 competitors from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Peru were present once again. Additionally, three special guest countries arrived with their delegations: Puerto Rico, Canada, and Romania (represented by one competitor and one umpire).
Innovative Organization
The Peruvian Taekwon-Do Federation – led by Master Tulio Flores Aguilar, who also headed the organizing committee – introduced a series of innovations that raised the bar for standards in this type of championship.
One of these was combining the weigh-in and accreditation processes into a single interactive platform. This new process cut weigh-in times down to a third of what is usually expected, quickly freeing competitors from their obligations and generating records that later streamlined the creation of the competition brackets. This was made possible thanks to the automation of the weigh-in process.
For the competition itself, software created by Sbn Gabriel Colina was used for the first time, eliminating traditional delays and providing greater stability. Consequently, this not only significantly reduced operational costs but also minimized setup risks. Combined with the application’s user-friendly interface, it allowed all umpires to adapt immediately.
Premium Venue
The Velodrome of the National Sports Village forms part of the VIDENA sports complex, located in the San Luis district of the city of Lima, Peru. It is a true architectural gem designed specifically for the world of sports, and this time, it served as the home of Taekwon-Do for five days.
Fully Packed Training Sessions
Peru was not only the great host everyone expected; it was also a constant source of professional training.
First, the 54th International Umpire Course (IUC 54) took place. This was followed by a “First Aid Course,” which was free of charge and certified by Dr. Sergio Marissi, a co-chair of the Sport and Health Committee of the South American Federation. As always, briefings for coaches and umpires were conducted by GM Abelardo Benzaquén, Chair of the ITF and FST Umpire Committee, alongside his main collaborators, Master Federico Kaenel and Sbn Máximo Croce.
The Congress
As in the previous years, prior to the championship, the first FST congress under its new structure – defined during the 2025 elections in Chile – was held. The meeting featured also ITF President GM Paul Weiler as a special guest of the organization.
Following formal protocol, several committees presented their working projects for the upcoming year. Among the most notable concepts was a statement by Master Gustavo Balbis, who mentioned that one of his goals is “to instill the art of teaching alongside the science of training.”
From an administrative standpoint, the 2025 financial balance sheet was approved, and Sbn Federico Goldoni was introduced as a financial advisor to ensure top professional management in the financial-administrative area. The 2027 South American Championships in Brazil and the 2028 South American Championships in Colombia were also confirmed. Furthermore, to give each bidding country at least 3 years of preparation time, the bidding process for the 2029 South American Championships was opened; Bolivia, Uruguay, and Brazil committed to submitting their respective proposals.
The Opening Ceremony
The Fermín Tangüis High School band opened the ceremony with a classic Peruvian melody. Following the entry of all delegations, opening remarks were delivered by Master Tulio Flores (head of the organization), Sbn Fernando Arrúa (President of the South American Federation), and GM Paul Weiler (ITF President). The Ambassador of Paraguay to Peru, Octavio Ferreira Gini, expressed the contiued support of this government for the South American Federation registered in Paraguay and highlighted the values of Taekwon-Do as a sporting activity.
The Competition
Each day brought its own unique energy. Children and adults of all ranks were the main protagonists, experiencing what it means to share, compete, and learn. From patterns to pre-arranged sparring, every division was completed according to a tight yet precise schedule. This undoubtedly reflects the behind-the-scenes preparatory work by everyone involved to deliver the ultimate sporting experience. In the team patterns and team sparring categories, 16 and 36 teams participated, respectively, further solidifying the event’s high pedigree.
The head umpire, GM Abelardo Benzaquén expressed his deep satisfaction with the event and the work of the entrire team of umpires.
Adapted Taekwon-Do
Friday featured a special division for Adapted Taekwon-Do. This modality continues to gain relevance year after year, once again proving the positive impact of Taekwon-Do and its contribution to society by improving our quality of life. We had the opportunity to speak with Sbn Carmen Gloria de la Maza, Chair of the Adapted Taekwon-Do Committee of the South American Federation, from Chile, regarding the importance and global growth of this specialty in recent years.
The Closing Ceremony
The closing of the event was deeply moving, not only because of Peru’s return as a host country, but also because of the prominent figures in attendance – such as the Ambassador of Paraguay to Peru, who once again honored us with his presence at the final award ceremony. In keeping with tradition, a special recognition was presented to all the umpires who did an exceptional job.
The Organizer’s perspective
On the alst day, we took the chance to have a special conversation with the local organizer Master Tulio Flores Aguilar regarding his impressions of the tournament. Among his core reflections, he highlighted the value of the entire team working behind the scenes, who made every detail a reality.
Special Words from GM Paul Weiler
The presence of ITF President GM Paul Weiler marks another milestone for the South American Championships 2026. We took the opportunity to gather his thoughts and expectations regarding this great event:
“When I received the invitation a few months ago, I immediately said yes because I wanted to support the initiative. Following the elections, I have seen positive progress over the past year. The atmosphere has changed; I see greater motivation among the region’s leaders, and the board members show a great willingness to work.
My expectations are highly positive, given that, for the first time, 8 of the 9 countries on the continent will be represented by over 800 competitors. This is yet another proof of the new administration’s motivation and commitment. It directly reflects the ITF’s vision for South America.”
GM Weiler was also present at the IUC 54, where he shared some important insights:
“To begin with, I believe this is the first time an IUC has been held right before an international tournament to get the umpires up to date. Additionally, I was able to see at least 5 Masters participating in the course. What seems so normal today was not the case in the past. Each of them contributed their experience under the guidance of GM Benzaquén.
I was also pleasantly surprised to see a large number of women participating, which reflects the level of development within the ITF.
Ultimately, this event is key for the region from a sporting perspective, as is the congress – bringing everyone to the same table, leaving the past behind, and facing the future proactively. Meeting in person and speaking face-to-face always ends up being more productive than doing so via email or WhatsApp. We hope it continues this way.”
New members of the ITF Women’s Committee appointed
