The 2020 4th Martial Arts Open School was hosted for 2 weeks from 20 to 31 July at the Hyundai Foreign School located in Ulsan Metropolitan City, Korea. Students from foreign countries, and children with multi-cultural backgrounds, showed many interest in the provided Taekwondo classes. The 30 students all passed their Poomsae evaluation and received Yellow belts and certificates as rewards.

A series of Taekkyeon class is planned to take place for 4 weeks from 7 to 29 September at the Branksome Hall Asia (International School for Girls) located in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Korea. However, due to a surge in COVID-19 cases within the country, the project may be postponed or scaled-down for the safety of the participants.

Martial Arts Open School classes are committed to safety and precaution measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. Students are checked for any symptoms of fever before class, and everyone is required to wear masks, and use hand sanitizers, etc. during the class. Because of the world pandemic, the Martial Arts Open School, which were originally to be hosted in Brazil, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Zimbabwe, have been postponed or cancelled for now.

This project, 4th of its kind, aims to involve more youth and women in martial art activities, and foster physical and psychological development of the participants through the use of martial arts around the world, including those inscribed as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. With its contribution in Girls’ and Women’s Education(GWE), the project has been selected as the sole nominee to represent the Republic of Korea, for the 2020 UNESCO GWE Prize.

Read writings by instructors of the 4th Martial Arts Open School held at Ulsan, Korea here and here. (content to be available in a couple days)