Sebastian Teran Raises the Bar for American Judo

American judo has another World Champion!

Sebastian Teran of Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center in Florida captured the -55kg title at the 2026 Cadet World Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador, becoming just the second American ever to win a Cadet World Championship.

The 16-year-old Teran, who trains under longtime coaches German Velazco and Jhonny Prado, has been steadily making his way up the international ranks. A lifelong judoka, Teran entered the World Championships as the No. 1-ranked cadet in the world and the tournament's top seed.

But going into a World Championship as the No. 1 seed is one thing. Coming home as World Champion is something entirely different.

Teran delivered when it mattered most, winning all four of his matches and remarkably not allowing a single opponent to score against him on his way to the gold medal.

For some, an American winning a World Championship may have once seemed like a long shot. But those who have watched Sebastian develop knew what he was capable of. His victory is not only a tremendous accomplishment for himself, his coaches and Ki-Itsu-Sai—it is another major step forward for American judo.

Teran follows Jonathan Yang, who became the first American Cadet World Champion in 2024 when he captured the -60kg title in Lima, Peru.

Two American Cadet World Champions in three years sends a powerful message to the next generation.

It can be done.

Thousands of young American judoka coming up through dojos across the country can now look at athletes like Sebastian Teran and Jonathan Yang and know that standing on top of a World Championship podium is no longer just a dream.

The bar has been raised—and the future of American judo is looking very bright.