The ITF Panamerican Championships commenced on Friday. Over 700 competitors registered to participate including participants from South Africa, UK, Ireland and Italy, as well as representation from nearly all of the Americas, including for the first time in eleven years, a team from Cuba.

The tournament was launched by a fantastic demonstration of Taekwon-do by the Argentinian National Team, which included traditional sparring, self defence against weapons, and a tremendous display of spectaculor destruction, which concluded with an incredible flying triple high front kick, to three targets.

For the Kup grades, this was to prove an fabulously exciting day, competed in the best possibl spirit, and expertly oveseen by the team of freshly trained ITF International Umpires.

During the day, President Choi Jung Hwa, together with ITF Secretary General, Master Trevor Nicholls, and ITF Vice-president Mr. Michael Tibollo, visited the event. The President was received by a rapturous stading ovation from the entire assembly, which culminated in an explosion of the word: "Taekwon", when they were asked to come to attention and pay the traditional respects to himi.

More articles, and photos to follow as available.

Photos courtesy of Mamfoto (webs.uolsinectis.com.ar/mamfoto), official photographer to the Taekwon-do Association of Argentina.