Nilesh Jalnawala represents India at the 1st Seoul World Taekwondo Leaders Forum & is appointed as the regular member of the Forum

Korea, September 2009 (View Photo Gallery)

5th Dan master, Nilesh Jalnawala was invited to represent India at the 1st Seoul World Taekwondo Leaders Forum held in Korea earlier this month. The forum witnessed a gathering of about 200 Taekwondo masters from all over the world. The forum was convened to deliberate on the current position of Taekwondo, the steps to be taken to promote the sport in a right manner while upholding its aesthetic & cultural value & how various issues related to the sport can be addressed. The forum gave the masters an insight to the research done regarding the sport, in discussion sessions with internationally acclaimed Korean Taekwondo authorities. The various sessions shed light on

Session I

• Identifying & taking measures to solve problems to allow Taekwondo to contribute to world prosperity.
• Working with NGO's to achieve the above
• Take measures to register Taekwondo as Intangible World Heritage

This session gave an overview of various milestones of Taekwondo as a sport & its current statistics. It dealt with various domestic (Korean) & external factors influencing the status of Taekwondo today. It gave an approach as to how this sport can be developed as a 'Life Sport' that can be practiced & enjoyed by all generations.

Session II

• Taekwondo as a content of Cultural Tourism & its potential.
• Status & problems if international marketing of Taekwondo
• Market strategy to enhance competitiveness of Taekwondo

The session highlighted the sport as a unique culture heritage that Korea has & as a self-discipline & not just a simple martial art. Marketing strategy developed to promote the sport in the international arena was elaborately explained.

Session III

This session dealt with finer aspects of the sport like its personal meaning, the vanishing spirit of martial art, international relations & exchange, expansion & growth of the sport & most importantly the continuing R&D.

It started with information on TKD grandmasters & masters of the early era. It also made the audience aware of media involvement, the equipment manufacturers & distributors.

It also dealt with the qualitative & quantitative aspects of TKD growth & expansion & the collaboration of WTF, Kukkiwon & TKD Promotion Foundation as the KD Family.

Session IV

Session IV was direct session which made the invitees aware of the Role of world TKD leaders & TKD business strategies & the common factors of globalization in Martial arts. The changing environment & new opportunities were also discussed. This session was the most useful to TKD professionals as they got an insight to how a successful Taekwondo training center can be run. It also discussed the aspects of partnership, leadership & scholarships.

Nilesh Jalnawala says, "It was great opportunity for a Taekwondo master like me. This forum has given me an deeper insight into the sport & a factual overview that I can work on. It also gave us a chance to interact with fellow masters, grandmasters, Taekwondo officials & authorities at a single venue, which personally wouldn't have been possible. It was complete in research & gave a much desired platform for TKD aspirants to have their isuues addressed & find answers to their queries. I am also honoured that they have made me a regular member of this Forum. I hope to make India a prpod player in this martial art in the future too."