A Harrogate taekwondo master has represented Great Britain as a referee at the World Championships in South Korea.
Kambiz Ramzan Ali MBE, founder of Harrogate’s K.R.Ali Taekwondo Academy, officiated at the 2026 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Chuncheon.
The five-day competition brought together 1,417 competitors from 83 nations, with Kambiz selected among an international team of referees.
His two-week visit also included meetings to strengthen links between Harrogate and South Korea through sport, education and cultural exchange.
Kambiz, a member of the European Taekwondo Union’s Culture and Heritage Committee, said:
“This has been a truly exceptional and memorable experience.
"Officiating at the 2026 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships was an enormous honour, but having the opportunity to represent Harrogate and help strengthen relationships between our community and South Korea made the journey even more special.
“It brought back many memories of the work we began more than a decade ago, which contributed to the establishment of Harrogate Road in Seoul.
"To return and continue developing those friendships through Taekwondo, education, sport and cultural exchange fills me with tremendous pride.”
During the visit, Kambiz presented letters of commendation from Harrogate Mayor Councillor Viv Poskitt and Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon to Korean figures recognised for their contributions to education, culture, sport and international friendship.
The programme was supported by his long-time friend, Master Jung-il Lee.
Kambiz met Dr Lee Jeong-geun, President of the Korea Tourism Evaluation Institute, to explore tourism and cultural links with Harrogate.
He also returned to Kyonggi University, where he has held an honorary professorship for more than a decade, to discuss future academic, sporting and cultural exchanges.
Other visits included Dongbang Culture University, ACE Hospital in Ansan, Sellings Korea and Isu Global Academy, with discussions covering education, sports medicine, rehabilitation and injury prevention.
Alongside fellow GB international referee Master Carolina Barros Clark, Kambiz visited the World Taekwondo Chungdokwon Headquarters.
He also met representatives at Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Headquarters in Seoul, to discuss instructor training, youth development and future cooperation between South Korea and the UK.
Kambiz said:
“I am extremely grateful to Mayor Viv Poskitt, Tom Gordon MP, my fellow instructors and colleagues, and all our friends and supporters in South Korea who made these meetings possible.
"I hope the relationships strengthened during this visit will continue to create opportunities for our communities and future generations.”
Back in Harrogate, Kambiz is now preparing his academy’s students for the 2026 British National Poomsae Championships, where he will also return as Chief Referee.
He added:
“But now that I am back home, my focus turns once again to my duties as Chief Instructor at K.R.Ali Taekwondo Academy and preparing our team for the upcoming 2026 British National Poomsae Championships.
"This year will be particularly special, as not only will our students be competing on the national stage, but I will also have the honour and responsibility of returning to serve as Chief Referee for the Championships as I had last year.
"There is certainly plenty of work ahead, but I am confident that our students will rise to the occasion and once again make the Academy and Harrogate proud.”
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