20 Most Important Taekwondo Tournaments

Taekwondo, a dynamic Korean martial art, is widely practiced and enjoyed by millions worldwide.

It boasts numerous prestigious tournaments showcasing remarkable talent and athleticism.

Here is an overview of the most important Taekwondo tournaments.

Most Important Taekwondo Tournaments:

1. World Taekwondo Championships
2. Olympic Games
3. Asian Taekwondo Championships
4. European Taekwondo Championships
5. Pan American Taekwondo Championships
6. World Taekwondo Grand Prix
7. World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships
8. World University Taekwondo Championships
9. World Military Taekwondo Championships
10. African Taekwondo Championships
11. Australian and Oceania Taekwondo Championships
12. World Taekwondo Beach Championships
13. Youth Olympic Games (Taekwondo)
14. Para Taekwondo World Championships
15. International Taekwondo Cup
16. National Taekwondo Championships
17. Universiade (Taekwondo)
18. European Junior Taekwondo Championships
19. Pan American Junior Taekwondo Championships
20. Asian Junior Taekwondo Championships

#1 World Taekwondo Championships

• 📍 Location: Varies globally
• 📅 Established: 1973
• 🔄 Held: Biennially
• 👥 Teams: Numerous national teams

The World Taekwondo Championships, governed by World Taekwondo, is the premier global event in Taekwondo.

South Korea has been the dominant force, winning the most gold medals. The tournament features both male and female competitors across various weight categories, showcasing the best in the sport.

#2 Olympic Games (Taekwondo)

• 📍 Location: Varies globally
• 📅 Established: 2000
• 🔄 Held: Every 4 years
• 👥 Teams: Numerous national teams

Taekwondo made its Olympic debut in the 2000 Sydney Games and has since been a regular fixture, governed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The competition features eight weight categories for both men and women, with athletes aiming for Olympic glory. South Korea leads with the most medals won.

#3 Asian Taekwondo Championships

• 📍 Location: Varies across Asia
• 📅 Established: 1974
• 🔄 Held: Biennially
• 👥 Teams: Numerous national teams

The Asian Taekwondo Championships, governed by the Asian Taekwondo Union, highlights the talent and expertise from Asia’s top Taekwondo practitioners.

South Korea consistently dominates the event, with impressive performances and exceptional prowess across multiple weight categories.

#4 European Taekwondo Championships

• 📍 Location: Varies across Europe
• 📅 Established: 1976
• 🔄 Held: Biennially
• 👥 Teams: Numerous national teams

The European Taekwondo Championships, organized by the European Taekwondo Union, represents the highest level of competition within Europe.

Athletes from countries like Russia, Turkey, and Spain have been successful in recent editions, showcasing the depth and skill present in European Taekwondo.

#5 Pan American Taekwondo Championships

• 📍 Location: Varies across the Americas
• 📅 Established: 1978
• 🔄 Held: Biennially
• 👥 Teams: Numerous national teams

The Pan American Taekwondo Championships, governed by the Pan American Taekwondo Union, bring together the top practitioners from North, Central, and South America.

Athletes from the United States, Mexico, and Brazil have been among the strongest competitors in the tournament’s history.

#6 World Taekwondo Grand Prix

• 📍 Location: Varies globally
• 📅 Established: 2013
• 🔄 Held: Annually
• 👥 Teams: Individual athletes

The World Taekwondo Grand Prix, an elite international series governed by World Taekwondo, provides a regular platform for the world’s best athletes to showcase their skills and earn valuable ranking points.

With multiple events held annually, it has become an essential component of the Taekwondo calendar.

#7 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships

• 📍 Location: Varies globally
• 📅 Established: 2006
• 🔄 Held: Biennially
• 👥 Teams: Numerous national teams

The World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships focus on the artistic and technical side of Taekwondo, consisting of prearranged patterns called “poomsae.”

Governed by World Taekwondo, this event attracts global attention and provides a unique venue for practitioners to display their mastery and precision in this traditional aspect of the martial art.

#8 World University Taekwondo Championships

• 📍 Location: Varies globally
• 📅 Established: 1986
• 🔄 Held: Biennially
• 👥 Teams: Numerous national teams

The World University Taekwondo Championships, governed by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), showcases the top Taekwondo talents from universities worldwide.

College athletes compete fiercely for their nation, with South Korea having a strong presence in the competition. The event has inspired numerous young practitioners to strive for greatness.

#9 World Military Taekwondo Championships

• 📍 Location: Varies globally
• 📅 Established: 1999
• 🔄 Held: Biennially
• 👥 Teams: Military national teams

The World Military Taekwondo Championships, organized by the International Military Sports Council (CISM), highlights the martial art’s strong ties to military training.

Nations with robust military Taekwondo programs, such as South Korea, excel in this competition. It puts a spotlight on the significance of discipline and mental fortitude in the sport.

#10 African Taekwondo Championships

• 📍 Location: Varies across Africa
• 📅 Established: 1979
• 🔄 Held: Biennially
• 👥 Teams: Numerous national teams

The African Taekwondo Championships, governed by the African Taekwondo Union, showcase the growing presence and skill of Taekwondo practitioners on the African continent.

Countries like Nigeria, Tunisia, and Egypt have been strong performers in the event, highlighting the potential for further growth in African Taekwondo.

#11 Australian and Oceania Taekwondo Championships

• 📍 Location: Varies across Australia and Oceania
• 🔄 Held: Varies
• 👥 Teams: Numerous national teams

The Australian and Oceania Taekwondo Championships, organized by the Oceania Taekwondo Union, highlight the region’s dedication to the martial art.

Australia and New Zealand have been dominant forces at the event, engaging with neighboring nations in the spirit of competition and showcasing the potential for Taekwondo in the region.

#12 World Taekwondo Beach Championships

• 📍 Location: Varies
• 📅 Established: 2017
• 🔄 Held: Varies
• 👥 Teams: Numerous national teams

An innovative addition to the Taekwondo calendar, the World Taekwondo Beach Championships, governed by World Taekwondo, is a unique competition held on sandy shores.

This event brings a fresh outlook to the sport and tests participants’ adaptability and skill, while also promoting its popularity in diverse environments.

#13 Youth Olympic Games (Taekwondo)

• 📍 Location: Varies globally
• 📅 Established: 2010
• 🔄 Held: Every 4 years
• 👥 Teams: Numerous national teams

The Youth Olympic Games, organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), provide a stage for young Taekwondo talents from around the world to shine.

Taekwondo made its debut in the 2010 Singapore Games. This event fosters the development of future champions while promoting international friendship and sport education.

#14 Para Taekwondo World Championships

• 📍 Location: Varies globally
• 📅 Established: 2009
• 🔄 Held: Biennially
• 👥 Teams: Numerous national teams

The Para Taekwondo World Championships, governed by World Taekwondo, celebrate the martial art’s accessibility and inclusivity for athletes with disabilities.

Competitors from around the globe participate in poomsae and kyorugi events, emphasizing the incredible resilience and skill of these athletes, while inspiring others to embrace the sport.

#15 International Taekwondo Cup

• 📍 Location: Varies globally
• 🔄 Held: Varies
• 👥 Teams: Numerous national teams

The International Taekwondo Cup, a global event sanctioned by multiple Taekwondo federations, provides an opportunity for skilled martial artists around the world to compete.

It reinforces the spirit of sportsmanship and promotes international friendship. The competition offers a chance for upcoming talents to make their mark and learn from fellow practitioners.

#16 National Taekwondo Championships

• 📍 Location: Varies by host country
• 📅 Established: Varies by country
• 🔄 Held: Annually
• 👥 Teams: Individual athletes

National Taekwondo Championships, held by respective national federations, act as the primary means to identify promising talent in each country.

These events allow athletes to showcase their skills and promote the growth of Taekwondo on a national scale. By establishing a competitive atmosphere, practitioners are encouraged to further hone their abilities.

#17 Universiade (Taekwondo)

• 📍 Location: Varies globally
• 📅 Established: 1986
• 🔄 Held: Every 2 years
• 👥 Teams: Numerous university national teams

Universiade Taekwondo, held within the framework of the World University Games (Universiade), attracts top collegiate Taekwondo practitioners under the governance of the International University Sports Federation (FISU).

Featuring both poomsae and kyorugi events, the competition provides young Taekwondo talents an opportunity to represent their country and institution in a world stage.

#18 European Junior Taekwondo Championships

• 📍 Location: Varies across Europe
• 🔄 Held: Varies
• 👥 Teams: Numerous national teams

The European Junior Taekwondo Championships, governed by the European Taekwondo Union, focuses on the development and growth of talented young martial artists in Europe.

The event allows these young practitioners to hone their skills, gain experience, and make a name for themselves on the international stage, competing against their peers from other countries.

#19 Pan American Junior Taekwondo Championships

• 📍 Location: Varies across the Americas
• 🔄 Held: Varies
• 👥 Teams: Numerous national teams

The Pan American Junior Taekwondo Championships, organized by the Pan American Taekwondo Union, offers a platform to support and develop young Taekwondo athletes across the Americas.

Eager to make a mark, these fighters engage in intense competition and showcase their potential while representing their countries and promoting their martial art.

#20 Asian Junior Taekwondo Championships

• 📍 Location: Varies across Asia
• 🔄 Held: Varies
• 👥 Teams: Numerous national teams

The Asian Junior Taekwondo Championships, governed by the Asian Taekwondo Union, shine a spotlight on the up-and-coming stars of Asian Taekwondo.

The event fosters competition between the best junior practitioners in the region, promoting growth in the sport and inspiring the next generation to continue pursuing martial arts excellence.

If you need ideas or are curious about existing team identities, explore our compilation of taekwondo team names.

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