Chungju City Establishes First Overseas Taekkyeon Training Center ⁢in Poland

A forward base to ‌introduce the ‌<a href="https://www.newsdirectory3.com/the-new-martial-arts-masterpiece-zhang-sanfeng-will-be-released-on-iqiyi-on-january-22-wu-yue-and-liu-yan-will-be-domineering/" title="The new martial arts masterpiece "Zhang Sanfeng" will be released on iQIYI on January 22. Wu Yue and Liu Yan will be domineering.”>traditional martial art ‘Taekkyeon’, registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage ‌of Humanity, is being established in Poland.

A demonstration by Ambassador Seungjin Byun, who has been promoting Taekkyeon in Poland since 2019. Courtesy of Chungju City

According to Chungju City, a 98㎡ Taekkyeon training center will open in Gdansk, a port city in northern Poland. This training center was set up by a local Taekkyeon group comprised of Polish people by renting and restructuring⁤ a building owned ⁣by ⁢the city of Gdansk.

Taekkyeon classes, training for Taekkyeon leaders in Europe, Taekkyeon experience ​classes, and other activities‌ will be held ​at the center, which is expected to be used ⁤as a place for Korean traditional culture exchange in the long term.

Globalizing ​Traditional Martial Arts

Chungju City, the ‘home of Taekkyeon’, has been sending Ambassador Byeon Seung-jin to Poland since 2019 to conduct education and‍ popularization activities with the aim of globalizing traditional martial arts.

Ambassador Byeon, who has practiced not only Taekkyeon but ⁢also various martial arts such⁤ as Taekwondo ⁢and Wushu, is ​actively engaged ⁣in activities to globalize ‌Taekkyeon, including operating Taekkyeon classes for Polish citizens and promoting the formation of a‍ Taekkyeon association and ⁤establishment of a training center in the European region.

Taekkyeon: A Traditional Martial Art

Taekkyeon‌ is a traditional martial art that involves kicking or ⁤tripping an opponent with rhythmic movements‍ that seem like dancing. It was systematized by⁢ the​ first Taekkyeon master, Mr.​ Shin Han-seung, and in 1983, ⁤it was designated as⁣ Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 76, the first Korean martial art.

In 2011, it⁤ was the first traditional martial art to ​be registered as​ a ⁣UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. UNESCO highly evaluated it as a martial art with musical and dance-like‌ rhythms and‌ high artistic value.

Establishing a Municipal Taekkyeon Troupe

The city established a municipal​ Taekkyeon troupe in 2011 and has been carrying out ​various activities to pass down, promote, and globalize ⁣Taekkyeon.

The first​ Taekkyeon ⁤training center established by Mr. Shin is located in Hoam-dong, Chungju.