FISU SG/CEO at 4th International Taekwondo Symposium

FISU Secretary-General/CEO Eric Saintrond

BERKELEY – On September 18^­, UC Berkeley and UCMAP hosted the 4^th International Taekwondo Symposium. Over 120 faculty members, leading figures in Taekwondo, professors from around the globe, and taekwondo instructors gathered to discuss the educational value of Taekwondo and its future direction in the Universiade Games. Key members included Eric Saintrond, the Secretary-General/CEO of FISU the International University Sports Federation, Grand Master Sunki Chong, the Founding President of American Taekwondo United, Mr. Zhao Lei, Secretary-General of the Chinese Taekwondo Association and more. Sponsors included the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation.

Dr. Derek Van Rheenan from the UC Berkeley education department kicked off the event by displaying Taekwondo’s application as a medium through which students can be taught academics and as a way to learn social skills. Panel members for this first discussion included Mr. Zhao Lei, Dr. Allen Back, Dr. Kevin Stefanek, Professor Yoo Taek Lee, and Grand Master Soonki Chong. In the second half of the symposium, Athletic Director Sandy Barbour discussed Taekwondo’s participation in a university setting by putting forth the martial art’s possible candidacy in the NCAA. Panel members Professor Yong Chin Pak, Mr. Alex Antipa (head coach of UC Davis Competition Team), and Professor Dokyun Kim extrapolated by discussing the Universiade games and the greater integration of Taekwondo into university sports organizations. These two main topics were further expanded into talks about Taekwondo’s marketability to specific audiences, its importance as a martial art and sport in the university, and its future global position.

Over 120 people came to discuss the future of Taekwondo. 

(Source: Russell C Ahn Ph. D. Director of UC Martial Arts Program)  

 FISU SG/CEO Eric Saintrond