The athletes are attending the Championships from a total of 55 countries, with the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) keen to point to the rapid global growth in popularity of the taekwondo discipline.

Currently not on the Olympic programme, poomsae is a non-sparring event where individuals or teams perform a "sequence of movements arranged in a meaningful order in response to attacks from multiple imaginary assailants".

More than 1,000 male and female athletes have been registered to compete across the various age categories at the Championships, which are due to be held at the National Sport Village until next Sunday (October 2).

Eight age categories will feature, from cadet level for 12 to 14 year olds, up to the over 65 group.

The 10th edition of the Championships will be the first to be held with the poomsae world ranking bylaws being applied, following their introduction in June.

WTF President Chungwon Choue claims the world rankings are part of the ongoing commitment to professionalising the sport and believes the World Championships will highlight the popularity of poomsae taekwondo.

"The record number of athletes competing at the 10th WTF World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships demonstrates just how popular poomsae taekwondo is around the world," said Choue.

"There are few sports which can be practiced by people of all ages but in Lima we will see how taekwondo is a sport which is universally popular and universally accessible.

"I have no doubt that the World Championships will be one of our best ever events.

"At the WTF we are constantly trying to improve our competitions and at the Championships the new competition rules will be enforced and world rankings will be applied for the first time, encouraging athletes to compete at their very best."

The Championships will feature both recognised and freestyle competitions, with 187 officials due to officiate.

Freestyle poomsae was introduced for the first time at the World Championships in 2012 and involves athletes performing taekwondo techniques to a composition of music and choreography.

In both recognised and freestyle poomsae there will be individual, pair and mixed team competitions.

The freestyle poomsae contents will last between 60 and 70 seconds while recognized poomsae competitions will last 30 seconds to 90 seconds.