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Jordan in top form with first Korean Ambassador’s Cup
Amina Al-Khalayleh, Jordan News
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Historically, sports have played an integral role in South Korea’s
cultural heritage, tracing back to the traditional Taekkyeon and Subak (types
of martial arts) and Ssireum (a type of Korean wrestling) in the fourth
century. The Asian nation’s appreciation for sports is recognized on a global
level: Taekkyeon, which makes use of fluid, rhythmic dance-like movements, was
the first martial art registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in
2011. اضافة اعلان
One of the most popular Korean sports is taekwondo, a scientific martial art developed in the 1940s. Characterized by graceful, controlled movements, taekwondo is not just a form of physical combat but a discipline where the mind and spirit work in harmony with the body. The name incorporates three concepts: taek, meaning leg; won, meaning fist; and do, meaning discipline. These concepts are the key to mastering this art.
The region’s taekwondo powerhouse
Taekwondo is an official Olympic Sport and has gained special popularity in Jordan. It was first introduced to the Kingdom in the early 1970s, and since then, the number of practitioners in the country has reached over one million, with 150 taekwondo centers in Jordan as of 2020. For this reason, Jordan is known as the taekwondo powerhouse of the Middle East.
The martial art is also an important piece of the Kingdom’s history. Jordan’s first Olympic medal was won in 2016 when Ahmad Abughuash defeated Russia’s Aleksy Denisenko in the men’s taekwondo 68kg tournament in Rio de Janeiro.
The first Ambassador’s Cup
With this year marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Jordan, the Korean embassy has organized a series of cultural events in the Kingdom, including a joint art exhibition titled “Breaking the Borders” in May, a taekwondo performance by the world-famous demo team K-Tigers in June, a Korean Food Night in July, and a K-pop concert in August. Against this backdrop, the embassy organized a taekwondo championship this month to support and encourage martial art practitioners in Jordan.
The first-ever Korean Ambassador’s Cup Taekwondo Poomsae Championship was held at the Arena Hall at Sport City on October 7, under the patronage of the Korean Embassy in Amman and the Jordan Taekwondo Federation (JTF).
During the event, South Korean Ambassador to Jordan Lee Jae-wan said: “I am pleased to hold the first ambassador’s cup championship following the joint taekwondo performance held in Amman in July, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.”
“Taekwondo is one of the valuable assets of cultural cooperation between our two nations, laying the groundwork for the nurturing of close connections between our two peoples,” he said.
An impressive performance
Korean taekwondo master Lee Cheol-Gwon told Jordan News: “Today, I was surprised that the Jordan taekwondo Poomsae (form) was at a very high level. In Jordan, many people are training for sparring, and they are getting good results in international competitions.”
“I think it’s great to see the JTF and many Taekwondo instructors working hard to develop the Poomsae championship, as we are planning to cooperate with the JTF in the future on various taekwondo revitalization measures, such as sparring,” he said.
JTF Secretary-General Faisal Abdallat said: “Taekwondo is one of the most popular sports in this country, and I am pleased that many taekwondo practitioners are encouraged by this ambassador’s cup.”
“I hope we have the chance to hold another ambassador’s cup next year,” Abdallat added.
Saleh Ahmad, a coach at the Jabal Amman Club, which was awarded the first prize, said: “I am very happy to participate in this first Poomsae championship. Particularly, I appreciate the Korean Embassy and the JTF for their efforts.”
“Taekwondo is a source of motivation in my life.”
Coach Khalil Akil Kamal of Family Taekwondo Academy, which took second place, said: “I am very thankful and proud of this event and the presence of the honored guests.” He noted that, at the next event, “I would like to have more divisions for young children.”
Taekwondo’s popularity in Jordan is on the rise, as the martial art opens the door for many to explore their physical capacities and exceed their own expectations.
Read more Features
Jordan News
One of the most popular Korean sports is taekwondo, a scientific martial art developed in the 1940s. Characterized by graceful, controlled movements, taekwondo is not just a form of physical combat but a discipline where the mind and spirit work in harmony with the body. The name incorporates three concepts: taek, meaning leg; won, meaning fist; and do, meaning discipline. These concepts are the key to mastering this art.
The region’s taekwondo powerhouse
Taekwondo is an official Olympic Sport and has gained special popularity in Jordan. It was first introduced to the Kingdom in the early 1970s, and since then, the number of practitioners in the country has reached over one million, with 150 taekwondo centers in Jordan as of 2020. For this reason, Jordan is known as the taekwondo powerhouse of the Middle East.
The martial art is also an important piece of the Kingdom’s history. Jordan’s first Olympic medal was won in 2016 when Ahmad Abughuash defeated Russia’s Aleksy Denisenko in the men’s taekwondo 68kg tournament in Rio de Janeiro.
The first Ambassador’s Cup
With this year marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Jordan, the Korean embassy has organized a series of cultural events in the Kingdom, including a joint art exhibition titled “Breaking the Borders” in May, a taekwondo performance by the world-famous demo team K-Tigers in June, a Korean Food Night in July, and a K-pop concert in August. Against this backdrop, the embassy organized a taekwondo championship this month to support and encourage martial art practitioners in Jordan.
The first-ever Korean Ambassador’s Cup Taekwondo Poomsae Championship was held at the Arena Hall at Sport City on October 7, under the patronage of the Korean Embassy in Amman and the Jordan Taekwondo Federation (JTF).
Taekwondo is one of the valuable assets of cultural cooperation between our two nations, laying the groundwork for the nurturing of close connections between our two peoples.Over 50 Jordanians participated in the championship, which consisted of individual, pair, team, and freestyle divisions. The top players in each division were awarded the gold, silver, and bronze medals, and trophies were awarded to three taekwondo centers based on the number of medals received by players. A crowd of family members and martial arts fans gathered to cheer on participants and congratulate the winners.
During the event, South Korean Ambassador to Jordan Lee Jae-wan said: “I am pleased to hold the first ambassador’s cup championship following the joint taekwondo performance held in Amman in July, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.”
“Taekwondo is one of the valuable assets of cultural cooperation between our two nations, laying the groundwork for the nurturing of close connections between our two peoples,” he said.
An impressive performance
Korean taekwondo master Lee Cheol-Gwon told Jordan News: “Today, I was surprised that the Jordan taekwondo Poomsae (form) was at a very high level. In Jordan, many people are training for sparring, and they are getting good results in international competitions.”
“I think it’s great to see the JTF and many Taekwondo instructors working hard to develop the Poomsae championship, as we are planning to cooperate with the JTF in the future on various taekwondo revitalization measures, such as sparring,” he said.
JTF Secretary-General Faisal Abdallat said: “Taekwondo is one of the most popular sports in this country, and I am pleased that many taekwondo practitioners are encouraged by this ambassador’s cup.”
“I hope we have the chance to hold another ambassador’s cup next year,” Abdallat added.
Saleh Ahmad, a coach at the Jabal Amman Club, which was awarded the first prize, said: “I am very happy to participate in this first Poomsae championship. Particularly, I appreciate the Korean Embassy and the JTF for their efforts.”
“Taekwondo is a source of motivation in my life.”
Coach Khalil Akil Kamal of Family Taekwondo Academy, which took second place, said: “I am very thankful and proud of this event and the presence of the honored guests.” He noted that, at the next event, “I would like to have more divisions for young children.”
Taekwondo’s popularity in Jordan is on the rise, as the martial art opens the door for many to explore their physical capacities and exceed their own expectations.
Read more Features
Jordan News