United States Taekwondo Association brings World Taekwondo Seminar to Warwick
| 11 Nov 2019 | 12:17
More than 130 martial artists from as far away as South Korea, Finland, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Washington D.C. and New York City assembled at the Warwick Valley Middle School gymnasium and the Chosun Taekwondo Academy to practice all aspects of the traditional Korean martial art of taekwondo. (
)
Grandmaster Kyu Hyun Lee and Grandmaster Doug Cook
The full-day event on Saturday featured four hours of instruction by martial arts-legend Grandmaster Kyu Hyun Lee.
More than 130 martial artists from as far away as South Korea, Finland, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Washington D.C. and New York City assembled at the Warwick Valley Middle School gymnasium and the Chosun Taekwondo Academy to practice all aspects of the traditional Korean martial art of taekwondo on Nov. 2 and 3.
The seminar, hosted by the United States Taekwondo Association with headquarters in Warwick whose mission is “to promote excellence in the traditional and evolving art of taekwondo,” was founded in 1980 by the late Grandmaster Richard Chun.
The full-day event on Saturday featured four hours of instruction by martial arts-legend Grandmaster Kyu Hyun Lee, president of the World Taekwondo Instructor Academy in tiny village of Yangsu-ri, South Korea and one of the highest ranking officials at the Kukkiwon in Seoul - center of taekwondo operations worldwide.
Attendees also benefited from the teachings of Finnish Master Kim Gylling who transmitted Osipsabo, an ancient formal exercise with roots in China and Okinawa, to all black belts present.
The day was rounded out by instruction from a cadre of high-ranking international USTA grandmasters and masters.
Eight black belts from Finland, Florida and Texas, tested on Sunday morning for promotion to advanced rank, followed by an additional four hours of instruction to more than 80 students by Grandmaster Kyu Hyun Lee at the Chosun Taekwondo Academy.
“This year’s USTA World Taekwondo Seminar represented one of the most significant events the USTA has ever hosted," said Grandmaster Doug Cook, president/CEO of the USTA and owner of the Chosun Taekwondo Academy located at 60 Galloway Road in Warwick. "This singular occasion brought together students and teachers from the global martial arts community in a disciplined and respectful environment for the sole purpose of education rather than competition or entertainment. By all metrics, it was an unmitigated success. We look forward to future events to be held internationally.”
For information on the programs offered by the Chosun Taekwondo Academy and the United States Taekwondo Association, visit www.chosuntkd.com, www.ustaweb.com, or call (845) 986-2288.