Participants of the 2018 Martial Arts Research Initiative for Experts

UNESCO ICM is running a Martial Arts Research Initiative for Experts from nine countries starting July 2nd to August 20th. The participation of four female martial arts experts who can voice opinions about martial arts education for women makes this year's training program even more meaningful.

UNESCO ICM('Centre') is running the Martial Arts Research Initiative for Experts from nine countries from July 2nd to August 20st. The training program was launched to promote youth development and engagement, encourage women's participation in martial arts, and foster martial arts instructors capable of developing well-organized martial arts education programs.

This year's martial arts expert training program consists of martial arts and sport theories studying session and practice of basic martial arts moves. The participants include one Korean graduate student studying martial arts and eight martial arts experts from Bahrain, Belize, Nepal, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao Pepole's Democratic Republic, Uzbekistan, and Viet Nam. The participation of four female martial arts experts who can voice opinions about martial arts education for women makes this year's training program even more meaningful.

In 2017, five martial arts experts from Kenya(one person), Spain (two), and Uzbekistan (two), took martial arts and sport theory classes and Taekkyeon theory and practice classes for 88 days from September 1st to November 27th. With the aim to visualize the positive value of martial arts, the Centre complied their reports on “social development through martial arts” into a booklet that was distributed to relevant UNESCO national committees and organizations.

The Centre plans to continue identifying and implementing projects designed to research martial arts' social and educational values, share knowledge, and encourage young researchers' martial arts studies.