In a virtual meeting held yesterday, February 22, the national presidents of Kombat Taekwondo from around the world gathered under the leadership of Grand Master Rick W. Shin, president of Kombat Global and the Professional Taekwondo Federation (PTF). The meeting marked a milestone in the organization’s evolution, with announcements that expand its reach and professionalism.
During the session, the new rules for the professional league were officially announced, aimed at raising the level of competition, prioritizing athlete safety, and enhancing the spectacle of full-contact matches. These updates standardize refereeing criteria, fight formats, and scoring, thereby reinforcing the professional standard that sets Kombat apart.
Another key announcement was the official introduction of new disciplines under the Kombat Global banner, expanding the platform beyond traditional taekwondo:
- Kombat Mixed Martial Arts (MMA adapted to the professional style)
- Kombat Kickboxing
- Kombat Jiu Jitsu
- Kombat Kun Khmer (incorporating the Cambodian martial art)
These additions position Kombat as an inclusive, multi-disciplinary league, attracting fighters from various martial arts and strengthening its global presence.
The highlight of the unveiled schedule was the confirmation of events in Latin America, with a special focus on Mexico: the Kombat Taekwondo Challenge Series, scheduled for April 25 in Querétaro, is shaping up to be one of the key events of the first half of the year and the venue where the new rules will be introduced. This event in Mexico represents a strategic opportunity for regional growth, attracting local athletes, promoters, and fans, and consolidating Kombat’s expansion in one of the continent’s most important taekwondo markets. Mexico, with its strong tradition in martial arts—and especially in taekwondo—is establishing itself as a priority venue for promoting the professional league in Latin America.
The official 2026 calendar (updated as of February 22) features a packed schedule, with some events still to be confirmed:
- March 7: KCS 019 – San Salvador, El Salvador
- March 8: Instructor Certification Seminar – El Salvador
- March 28: KCS – Washington, USA (TBD)
- April 19: KCS – Montevideo, Uruguay
- April 25: KCS – Querétaro, Mexico
- May 29: KCS – São Paulo, Brazil
- June 20: KCS – Kombat Grand Prix – Cambodia
- July 9: Kombat Taekwondo National Assembly – Korea
- July 10–11: Kombat World Championships – Korea
- August 22: KCS – Montevideo, Uruguay
- October 11: KCS – Caracas, Venezuela
- October 24: KCS – São Paulo, Brazil
- November 27 – December 4: Kombat World Expo – Cambodia (includes the Hall of Fame Award & Gala, camps, certifications, sightseeing, etc., and the Kombat Grand Prix)
- December 12: Kombat Grand Prix – Guadeloupe (TBD)
The event brought together leaders from more than 100 countries, highlighting support for the training of certified referees and local promoters. Kombat Taekwondo continues to revolutionize martial arts with a unified, high-impact platform.
