The 2025 Open Invitational Taekwon-do Championships is set to explode into action on Saturday, March 8, at the Alfred Sangster Auditorium at the University of Technology (UTech). With top-tier fighters, a post-pandemic resurgence, and a massive lineup of competitors from over 25 martial arts schools, this year’s staging promises to be an electrifying spectacle.

At the forefront of the action will be the elite Black Belt sparring division, featuring Jamaica’s most dominant taekwondo athletes. Richard Stone, a standout competitor over the last six years, will take centre stage, while heavyweight champion Akino Lindsay and lightweight champion Ackeem Lawrence are primed for battle in their respective weight classes. With reputations on the line and national bragging rights at stake, the showdown between these elite martial artists is expected to deliver high-intensity clashes.

Beyond the marquee Black Belt division, the championship will be buzzing with young and ambitious talent. High participation numbers are anticipated in the junior and children’s categories (ages 5-17), as rising stars from taekwondo, karate, and other martial arts disciplines look to sharpen their skills ahead of international competitions later this year.

The stakes are higher than ever, with medals, sponsor prizes, and overall Grand Champion titles up for grabs. Competitors from martial arts schools across Jamaica will battle for supremacy, knowing that a strong performance here could solidify their standing in the national and international circuits.

The competition starts at 9:30 AM, with tickets priced at $1000 for adults and $500 for children under 12. Fans of martial arts should prepare for a day filled with precision, power, and passion, as Jamaica’s finest step into the ring to showcase the art of combat at its highest level.