On the first day of competition at the World Trade Centre, Torres and Gakuji Tozaki contested an all-American final, with both athletes performing Anan Dai.

Torres scored 25.2, with his opponent having to settle for silver with 24.8.

Bronze medals went to Mariano Fabricio Wong Alfaro of Peru and Venezuela's Casanova Guerrero Cleiver, who beat fellow Peruvian Jhon Trebejo and Panama's Héctor Cención respectively.

In the women's kata, Sakura Kokumai of the United States claimed gold at the continental event for the eighth time, notching 25.15 with Ohan Dai in the final.

Her opponent Maria Dimitrova of the Dominican Republic posted 24.14 with Chatanyara Kushanku.

There was further success for the United States in the kumite competitions.

The 2018 Pan American Championships gold medallist Brian Irr overcame reigning champion Rodrigo Rojas of Chile 6-1 in the men's over-84 kilograms final.

Bronze medals went to Brazil's Giovani Felipin Salgado and Canada's Daniel Gaysinsky.

The men's under-84kg title went to Ruben Dario Henao of Colombia, who beat Diego Silva of Brazil 3-1 in the final.

Venezuela's Freddy Valera and El Salvador's Jorge Merino placed joint-third.

Brazil's Barbara Hellen Rodrigues was the other winner on the first day of competition, triumphing in the women's under-68kg.

She recorded a dominant 7-1 victory over Venezuela's Marianth Cuervo in the final, while fellow Brazilian Anna Prezzoti and Canada's Melissa Bratic were the bronze medallists.

Kumite competition is due to continue tomorrow with the women's under-50kg, under-55kg, under-61kg and over-68kg and men's under-60kg, under-67kg and under-75kg events scheduled.