Pokhara, Dec 20, 2019 : Pokhara is scheduled to host the ‘First International Martial Arts Hapkido Conference’ on coming January 25-26.
The conference to be organised by the Nepal Martial Arts Hapkido Association aims to promote Hapkido and support in the production Hapkido players of national and international level.
Some 600 participants including grand masters, masters, coaches, players and officials from around 20 countries will be taking part in the event, said Association central chair Kali Bahadur Gharti Magar who is also the chair of South Asian Hapkido Federation.
Grandmasters from the US, Austria, Russia and South Korea, Nepal’s master Gharti Magar, eighth SAFF gold medalist boxer Prakash Thapa Magar will do their roles as instructors during the conference.
Hapkido which emerged and developed in South Korea is taken as a ‘mixed’ form of marital arts. “It is important for self-defense and social discipline as well,” said Association central member Suwarna BC. In case of Nepal, Hapkido Association was first time registered in the National Sports Council in 2073 BS.
The first Hapkido national conference was held same year and district, state and national level competitions were held in the fiscal year 2074-75 BS.
The number of Hapkido players across the country is around 10,000. The international seminar is expected to support the Visit Nepal Year 2020 announced by the government. The estimated cost to organise the conference is four to five million rupees, it is said.
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