November 16th, ICM hosted the International Martial Arts Academic Seminar at ICM’s International Conference Room.

4th of it’s kind, the seminar’s theme was ‘Exploring the Social Value of Martial Arts – Mutual Respect and Nonviolence.’

The conference tried to discuss features of martial arts, such as respect for others, recovery of humanitarian values, and its healing nature. These positive social values are different to the usual perception of regarding martial arts as a fighting technique.

Kim Dokyun, President of the Korean Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, started the Seminar with a keynote speech on the realization and sharing of social values through martial arts. Presentations from professors, researchers, expert scholars, field experts who have taught martial arts at refugee camps continued the sessions with topics on martial arts and mutual respect, non violence, etc.

A special session included 5 participants of the annual Martial Arts Research Initiative project that was held for 10 weeks from July to September. The participants shared their reports written during the project.

Due to COVID-19 precaution measures, ICM accepted only 70 people present at the scene. The video clip of the conference is available for view here.

ICM Secretary General Park Changhyun emphasized “the seminar hopes to present the right path for martial arts education through enhancement of the social values of martial arts training.”

View related report book here.