Thailand used Taekwondo for a better life

The main job of the Taekwondo Association of Thailand (TAT) is to promote the sport and create exponents capable of competing on the international stage.

Two young boys show off their skills during a practice session at the Pakkred Home for Boys in Nonthaburi.

Yet the TAT also extends its reach to under-privileged children in the hope of improving their lives through the benefits of the Korean martial art.

TAT president Pimol Srivikorn has initiated a project for children at orphanages to give them discipline, self-respect and hope for the future.

"I want to use taekwondo as a mechanism to instill good qualities in the orphans aged between eight and 18," Pimol said.

At present, the TAT sponsors taekwondo classes at three orphanages - the Pakkred Home for Boys in Nonthaburi, Maharaj Foundation Home for Boys in Pathum Thani and Chalermphrakiat 48 Phansa school in Lamphun.

The school is for girls whose father or mother has died of AIDS.

The taekwondo course was launched there two months ago and 40 students take part in the classes.

In all there are 150 taekwondo students at the three venues. Read more...

WTF's Activation Ceremony

The World Taekwondo Federation held an activation ceremony for the 2008/09 Winter Taekwondo Peace Corps in Seoul, Korea on Jan. 12, 2009.

The activation ceremony, held at the headquarters of GCS International in downtown Seoul, drew members of the 2008/09 Winter Taekwondo Peace Corps and dignitaries. The WTF announced a total of 32 successful applicants for the 2008/09 Winter Taekwondo Peace Corps last month.

The 32 Taekwondo Peace Corps members are to be sent to eight countries in eight teams for a period of about one month starting this month. The eight countries are Greece, Russia, Morocco, Bolivia, Uzbekistan, Egypt, China and Kirgyzstan.

On Jan. 11, four members of the 2008/09 Winter Taekwondo Peace Corps already left for Egypt, and another four members left for Morocco on Jan. 13. A third four members are scheduled to leave for Greece on Jan. 14.

The Taekwondo Peace Corp project is promoted by the WTF and organized by GCS International, a United Nations-recognized non-governmental organization with a special consultative status with the U.N. Economic and Social Council. GCS stands for goodwill, cooperation and service. WTF President Chungwon Choue serves as head of GCS International.

“Through the WTF Taekwondo Peace Corps program, I am confident that taekwondo could contribute to the promotion of global peace,” said WTF President Choue in a speech during the activation ceremony.

Read more....

Taekwondo Combat Sport join to create a global sport

Taekwondo and other martial arts and combat sports affiliated with the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) are stepping up their efforts for the creation of a global martial arts and combat sports games.

In this regard, a GAISF martial arts plenary session took place at Swissotel Krasnye Holmy, in Moscow, Russia on Dec. 13, 2008.The occasion served as a preparatory meeting for the launch of the tentatively named SportAccord Martial Arts and Combat Sports Games to be held in 2010. The project has been driven for the past years under the leadership of Mr. Hein Verbruggen, president of GAISF, as an official event of GAISF.

The representatives from 12 International Federations among 13 GAISF Martial Arts and Combat Sports Federation attended the meeting, except sumo. The 12 International Federations, which attended the meeting, were aikido, boxing, judo, ju-jitsu, karate, kendo, kickboxing, muaythai, sambo, taekwondo, wrestling and wushu.

From www.wtf.org. Read more here.