The festival, which was begun in 2008 to promote taekwondo among American citizens, will feature demonstrations from U.S. taekwondo students as well as traditional Korean dances, a wedding ceremony and performances by K-pop stars. (image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 22 (Korea Bizwire) – The United States Taekwondo Education Foundation (USTEF) plans to hold its 9th annual New York Times Square Taekwondo Festival on June 23, bringing together about 5,000 participants, including American students learning the Korean martial art, organizers said Saturday.
The festival, which was begun in 2008 to promote taekwondo among American citizens, will feature demonstrations from U.S. taekwondo students as well as traditional Korean dances, a wedding ceremony and performances by K-pop stars, said the organizers.
In a bid to promote Korean cuisine abroad, the USTEF, supported by the South Korean government, will also provide bibimbap, which means mixed rice and is served as a bowl of rice, sauce, meat and vegetables, for about 1,000 people on the sidelines of the festival, they noted.
“We will ensure that the upcoming festival will introduce Korea’s taste and culture to Americans and grow into one of the best cultural events in New York,” USTEF Chairman Kim Kyung-won said.
“We’ll also continue to endeavor for the globalization of taekwondo through the education of students.”
The USTEF has been working to include taekwondo into regular curriculum at U.S. schools. Thanks to such efforts, about 600 schools in the U.S. are currently teaching taekwondo to their students.
(Yonhap)
There are many reasons why adults consider practicing taekwondo. It is a art that is never static as we will adapt to update and improve our teaching methods and techniques. It puts a heavier emphasis on kicks and uses hands as backup. Taekwondo is really a great sports to learn.