UNESCO-supported event to attract practitioners from 18 countries Sept. 2-8


Chungju, a city in North Chungcheong Province, is to hold its annual martial arts event from Sept. 2-8, featuring expert practitioners from 18 countries.

The Chungju World Martial Arts Festival, which is officially supported by UNESCO, started off in 1998 to harmonize the history of Korean and other martial arts.

This year’s event was initially planned for May, but was postponed until September because of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the city in April.

Taekgyeon, Korea’s traditional martial art which was practiced as early as the Three Kingdoms Era will be featured during the festival. The particular martial art was designated Korea’s Important Intangible Cultural Asset No. 76 in 1983.

Along with Taekgyeon, a total of 33 Korean martial arts will be featured during the festival. They include ssireum, a type of folk wrestling and traditional national sport of Korea, the famous taekwondo, which roughly translates as “the art of the foot and fist,” and kouksundo, the traditional method of training both mind and body in Korea.

Martial arts from around the globe will also be introduced and performed. The featured martial arts include: Pencak Silat of Indonesia; Bokator of Cambodia; Muay Thai of Thailand; Arnis of the Philippines; Lethwei from Myanmar; Sambo from Russia; Savete from France; Pankration from Greece; Capoeira from Brazil; and Nuba fighting from Sudan.

Many of the featured foreign martial arts have rich history and traditions. Brazil’s Capoeira, for example, was created and developed by African slaves who were sent to the South American country’s sugar cane plantations during the 16th and 17th centuries. They created the art’s self-defense moves to save themselves from the physical abuse of their oppressors. Thailand’s combat sport Muay Thai, on the other hand, has been practiced in the country for some 1,000 years. The martial art prohibits attacking the opponent’s head, as Thais firmly believe the act could damage the core of one’s spirit.

Every practice session will be delivered in a performing manner, so visitors can enjoy watching and learn about each martial art at the same time.

The festival will also be holding various competitions at both national and international levels, featuring taekgyeon, mixed martial art, hapkido, and kendo.

Many cultural events also have been prepared, including opening and closing concerts where popular K-pop singers will be performing, as well as a musical that will showcase its taekgyeon-inspired choreography. Characters from popular anime shows including “Hutos” and “Yoohoo and Friends” will be practicing the featured martial arts along with their young visitors. The cartoon characters are joining the festival through the support of Children’s Grand Park in Seoul.

Hosts from KBS sports variety show, “Let’s Go Dream Team!” will also visit Chungju, featuring the festival for one of their upcoming episodes. Lee Chang-myung, the show’s presenter, and other personalities will join the experts and try the basic moves of their martial arts.

For more information about the event, call (043) 850-6720.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)