The 5th Best Leg International Taekwondo Open Championships (BLITOC) returned to the iconic Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in Southeast London on 11th-12th July 2026 with the championships welcoming over 600 athletes from across the UK for an exciting weekend of Poomsae and Kyorugi competition.
Despite temperatures reaching 30°C throughout the weekend, the energy inside Crystal Palace remained high. Athletes showed incredible determination and resilience on the mats, while coaches, spectators, officials and volunteers helped create a positive and lively atmosphere that continued across both days of championships.
Day one saw the Poomsae event welcome 34 clubs from across the UK. With impressive performances throughout the day, the top three clubs were awarded the Best Leg International Open Championship trophies; Aquila Taekwondo claimed 1st place with an outstanding 16 gold medals, followed by Nomad Taekwondo in 2nd place and STKDD in 3rd.
Day two brought another exciting day of competition as athletes returned to the mats for Kyorugi. With matches taking place across six courts, spectators were treated to a full day of action, determination and closely contested finals. At the end of the competition, Tsunami Taekwondo took home the 1st place trophy, with Peak Performance Academy finishing 2nd and Kixstar
Dragon Taekwondo securing 3rd place.
One of the standout improvements introduced this year was Best Leg’s new weigh-in system for Kyorugi competitors. Using QR code registration and allocated time slots for each club, the updated system helped reduce queues and allowed the process to run more smoothly, particularly during the challenging heat.
An event of this scale would not be possible without the committed officials and volunteers who worked throughout the weekend. Parents, members of the Best Leg community and supporters all gave their time to help ensure the championships ran smoothly from start to finish.
The event also benefited from an outstanding team of officials, with the Poomsae referees overseen by
Thomas McGuinness and the Kyorugi referees coordinated by Claire Laybourne and Jo Leach-Flanagan. They were joined by internationally qualified poomsae officials from Sweden and Northern Ireland, who helped maintain a high standard of professionalism throughout the competition.
Led by Master Martins Obiorah, Best Leg continues to grow and raise the standard of its annual championships. Each year brings new improvements, creating an increasingly professional and enjoyable experience for all who attend.
Congratulations to all the courageous athletes who stepped onto the mats, and to the Best Leg team, officials, volunteers and supporters who helped make the 5th Best Leg International Taekwondo Open Championships a memorable success.
See pictures of the action below. Report by Maya Singh.
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