Build Sound Korea with Military Arts Spirits of Mutual Respect
Boo-sung Kwon President of World Martial Arts General Federation, Korea Youth Military Arts Federation
Boo-sung Kwon newly assumed the 11th presidency last November at the World Martial Arts General Federation and Korea Youth Military Arts Federation which encompasses various organizations of martial skills such as World Pro Taekwondo Federation, kickboxing, Muay Thai, karate, Headong fencing, mixed martial arts, hapkido, wu shu, martial arts guard. This federation rejects competing and pursues disciplining minds and bodies in order to contribute to make sound and fair Korea.
Home of World Traditional Martial Arts
The federation and association has trained and extended world martial art skills in a more scientific and systematic way for the last 40 years. It keeps its eye on to comprehend good and bad points of each martial art in order to develop better and stronger martial arts. It has held 140 international martial arts competition with 16 headquarters, 38 branches, and 9 affiliates in the world. It has been a bridge not only between martial experts and general public but also between martial artists in the globe. “Thank you for encouragement from martial experts, directors of headquarters, and branch managers. The federation will make fighting groups that can surpass K-1 in Japan.” Kwon said in his inaugural address. Like what he said, the strong point of the federation and association is considered solid organizational power. This year’s goal for the federation and association is to expand the base of martial arts, help children of families without parents, train experts, and provide scholarship.
Martial Arts Spirits – Survival Source of Living in the World
Kwon is a martial expert who has once been a representative taekwondo player of Korea when he was in high school (1972). Not only taekwondo, he has profound knowledge of also fencing and hapkido and kungfu. He says that patience that he was trained through martial arts helps when working as president of the federation and association and running 6 corporates including Younpoong Engineering, Yeonseung Engineering and Construction, and Seungwoo Trade and Construction. He insists to put more words ‘power’ and ‘money’ to an old saying ‘a sound mind in a sound body.’
Kwon always put emphasis on martial arts spirits. “If you glimpse K-1 kickboxing, you can say that is violent and fierce sports. However, strict rules and mutual respect exist behind that. And players consider them as their life. In short, martial arts are not only good for our body but also good for our mind.”
What he means is Korea as a whole will improve social and cultural issues and quality of life if Koreans have a sound mind in a sound body.
Kwon is To Educate Teenagers through Martial Arts
Kwon especially emphasizes filial duty, manner, benevolence, and justice among martial spirits. If these basic sprits are cultivated to Korean people, better and brighter Korea can be expected as martial arts train not only bodies but minds, he added.
“Young people who trained martial arts can save themselves and the nation by extension. Learning strict rules and mutual respect in the sports can help spiritual growth for us. Young people can learn how to be good to their parents and friends and do justice through martial arts. I am sorry that many students today only struggle to have more knowledge and have good school performance not to build good characters. So martial arts are necessary to children today to learn how to control themselves.” Kwon suggests solution for problems of young people today.
This year will be busy for Kwon. “The federation and association will foster more young athletes to expand the base of K-1 kickboxing. We will provide opportunities of challenging competitions and attaining scholarships to more promising athletes. Also, we will financially support almost all headquarters and branches to build more gyms in local areas. Moreover, we will continue to help children heads of household and the handicapped and educate martial arts spirits to local teenagers” Kwon announced his plan of this year.
Kwon is still hungry to work more to develop martial arts and the nation. He will actively help isolated people in the society to follow his own conviction. Sound and better Korea is expected with Kwon’s efforts.