Learn about the Martial Arts Open School

Byun Seung-jin

Question 1. Thoughts and feelings about participating in the program as a martial arts instructor

 『Overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic with Uzbek women and youth through Taekkyeon』

First of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the officials of the International Martial Arts Center, the Korean Education Center in Tashkent, the Korea Taekkyeon Association, and the Uzbek students for the fact that I was sent to to Uzbekistan as Taekkyeon instructor of the 5th Martial Arts Open School Program hosted by the UNESCO International Martial Arts Center in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic and we were able to successfully complete our training in a safe environment from the virus. Although the training started with a lot of worries and concerns due to the continuous spread of COVID-19, the Taekkyeon training was conducted in keeping with the guidelines of the Uzbekistan government and the policy of the Korean Educational Institute on the pandemic.

Throughout the training, the traditional Korean etiquette embodied in Taekkyeon's training has been a great help in overcoming the difficult COVID-19 situation. Taekkyeon's etiquette training, which started from the first lesson, made students faithfully follow the policies of the Uzbekistan government and the Korean Educational Institute in this challenging times, which seems to be derived from learning the core virtue of eastern martial arts, which values ​​and considers relationships with others as well as oneself. These philosophical virtues have made students realize that they can enjoy pleasant and safe training by considering the safety of others as well as their own safety, and thereby encouraging each other and trying to thoroughly comply with COVID-19 guidelines. The atmosphere formed in this way made it possible to have fun and safe classes, which was meaningful and delightful, and many of the stresses and burdens created by difficult situations were relieved. Through these experiences, I felt once again that Taekkyeon training is not only a means to become strong, but can also have a positive effect on the part of life.

Question 2. Why children, adolescents and women need quality martial arts education (role and value of martial arts)

First, it‘s the psychological aspect. During this period, they develop their own personalities and sets of values, and the most important virtues of eastern martial arts, faith and righteousness, can play a positive role in forming the proper values in the process. Traditional martial arts, formed based on fighting and war, place importance on trust between one's own country, teachers, friends, and colleagues since they had to be able to trust their back during a fight or war. Most Western sports are played in competition with opponents. Even the Olympic marathon running alone is a competition with the record set by the opponent. However, in martial arts training, the goal is to win the competition with the imperfect self. This leads to the question of how to live, strives to live a righteous life, and forms another important virtue, righteousness. These virtues of faith and righteousness are manifested as loyalty in the face of national crisis, courtesy to teachers, friends and colleagues during training, being good to parents, and self-control to win the competition with myself during hard training. These realizations of faith and righteousness continue to appear in the course of modern martial arts training, and have a positive effect on forming a desirable personality during adolescence.

Second is the physical aspect. A healthy mind resides in a healthy body, and martial arts training results in effective self-defense. A healthy body obtained by practicing martial arts can have a positive effect on overcoming colds and current COVID-19. In addition, adolescents engage in many activities during their youth, and the ability to cope with unexpected accidents that occur during these activities can be developed. During martial arts training, breakfalls protect one's body when one is knocked down or pushed, and the practice of reacting with an opponent brings a quick response to a sudden situation and protects one's body.

Finally, it is technical self-defense against dangerous opponents. The psychological and physical effects obtained during the martial arts training process help young people to form the right values and lead a safer life in modern society.

Question 3. Future plans and resolutions (in terms of career)

My ultimate goal is to become an internationally recognized excellent Taekkyeon instructor, and I will do my best to help the globalization of Taekkyeon through continuous meetings and education with foreigners while I am abroad. To that end, I try to learn and fully understand foreign cultures and people, and I want to focus on studying Taekkyeon without neglecting my own training.

※ Views in this writing are the author's own.