[Students Reporters]Nam-Yang-Ju Sports Complex Center Hosts 19th International Taekwondo Han-Ma-Dang

aniel SeungHyung Chung / 9th grade, Cypress High Schoo

Contestants from all over the world participated in the International Taekwondo Han-Ma-Dang a Taekwondo Tournament which opened on August 10th and ended on August 13th in Nam-Yang-Ju Sports Complex Center South Korea. It was one of the biggest taekwondo festivals drawing over 3500 contestants from all over the world.

This year's Han-Ma-Dang festival allowed contestants to participate in 12 categories and 52 sub-categories. Individual battles included: wui-ryuk-gyeok-pa (power breaking) jong-hap-gyeok-pa (Combined Breaking) as well as Record Setting Competitions such as turn back kick high-jump breaking and running-jump breaking. Team competitions included: Public Poomsae (Martial Art Forms) Creative Poomsae and Team Performances on Taekwondo.

Different from other Taekwondo festivals Han-Ma-Dang centered more on gyeok-pa (breaking) poomsae and Taekwon rather than physical sparring. These activities were all coed and open to all ages.

On opening day 600 challengers from 56 foreign countries participated and made a total of more than 3500 contestants including domestic participants. The 2011 Taekwondo Han-Ma-Dang organization committee President, Eung-Hwan Oh, commented "We will work our best to support this event's slogan 'World Where We Become One by Taekwondo' and I can see that the event will aid greatly in boosting the regional economy."