The Songahm Taekwondo Federation is the branch of the ATA that covers South America.
It was founded in 1984 by
Grand Master H.U. Lee and
Master Cesar Ozuna.
The STF
was the first international attempt of Grand Master Lee at spreading Songahm
Taekwondo outside of the United States and Canada. An expansion like this can
only happen with the "right" people involved. Master Cesar Ozuna is one of those
people.He has a strong educational background including a high school diploma from the French High School (Asuncion, Paraguay), degrees in business administration, international relations, and personnel management (Stockton, California) and a master's degree and doctorate from Schiller College (Europe University at Heidelberg, Germany). He has been equally successful in martial arts competition with numerous victories in tournaments, kick-boxing matches, and as a team coach. It was while in the United States for his schooling in California that Master Ozuna was introduced to the ATA. In 1982, Master Ozuna opened his first school in Paraguay and decided to join the American Taekwondo Association.
Through the previous direction of Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee, continuing direction from Grand Master Soon Ho Lee, and the hard work of Master Ozuna, the Songahm Taekwondo Federation has grown constantly throughout the years. What started out in Paraquay has now extended to Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, and Peru.
With seven countries and over 120 schools on the rosters, an annual international tournament in Foz do Iguassu, Brazil that hosts over a thousand STF and ATA competitors, and an annual Instructor Certification Camp, the STF is certainly a success story for the growth of Songahm Taekwondo around the world and the fulfillment of Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee's vision.
