The renowned International Referee Marcelo Rezende has just been appointed as the president of Kombat Taekwondo Brazil and spoke with MASTKD about it.
The Professional Taekwondo company continues to expand with franchises worldwide. This time, we introduce Brazil, a country where Kombat Taekwondo holds great promise, not only in the generation of fighters and referees but also in the development of clubs and hosting major events.
Rick Shin, the president of the U.S.-based company, has recently appointed Marcelo Rezende as the president in Brazil. Rezende is a prestigious Taekwondo WT Master in Brazil and a highly recognized referee in the Olympic and world cycles.
When asked why he became interested in Kombat Taekwondo, Rezende stated that it was a great motivation to find a way of Taekwondo reminiscent of what he learned in the 80s, where there were no protections, and the combat was much more real.
Rezende was called upon as a referee in the first edition of Kombat Taekwondo held in Bogotá in December 2023. He shared his thoughts: “The first edition was a challenge for everyone. As part of the team that created the competition rules, with its successes and mistakes, it was truly an unforgettable experience. Seeing Olympic Taekwondo athletes adapt their fighting system, incorporating face punches and throws, demonstrates the adaptability of the fighter and the gripping nature of this system.”
It is important to mention that in the first edition, out of the 16 fighters, three were Brazilian, indicating the popularity that Kombat Taekwondo already enjoys in the country.
Regarding events in Brazil, Master Rezende mentioned the Kombat Taekwondo Grand Prix scheduled for May in Sao Paulo. He emphasized that 21 out of the 27 states in Brazil already have licensed clubs, leading to the organization of a national circuit with regional events.
Currently, Brazil has 200 licensed Kombat Taekwondo referees.
“I was very excited when Master Shin appointed me as the president of Brazil because this is not a political appointment but a business one. So, I will focus on giving my all to this as a business, not in politics or fights. I will follow the company’s philosophy dictated by Rick Shin, which says, ‘everyone is welcome, regardless of the style or origin of their Taekwondo.’ This way, we will unite all the Taekwondo in Brazil within Kombat Taekwondo.”
