Mumbai, June 22: The International Schools Sports Organisation (ISSO), in collaboration with Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters, South Korea) and ISF Academy, launched the Kukkiwon International Taekwondo Education Program in India. The initiative aims to strengthen coaching standards, technical excellence, and athlete development pathways within the country's school sports ecosystem.
Program Details and Participation
Held on June 20 and 21 at Nita Mukesh Ambani Junior School in Mumbai, the program brought together 40 coaches from India for an immersive learning experience led by internationally acclaimed experts from Kukkiwon, according to a press release. Participants gained direct exposure to Kukkiwon-standard poomsae training, technical skills development, coaching methodologies, athlete progression frameworks, and contemporary approaches to high-performance Taekwondo education.
Global Collaboration for School Sports
The initiative reflects a shared commitment by ISSO, ISF Academy, and Kukkiwon to advance school sports through education, international collaboration, and adoption of globally recognized best practices. Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, Kukkiwon serves as the global authority for Taekwondo Dan certification, instructor education, and technical standardization across more than 200 countries.
Expert Leadership
The program was led by Master Ahn Hyung-Won, a Kukkiwon Dispatch Master and Associate Instructor, widely regarded as one of the leading educators in modern Taekwondo. A Kukkiwon 6th Dan Black Belt, Master Ahn is a U.S. Open Taekwondo Championship gold medallist, multiple Korean national champion, former Poomsae Instructor with the Asia Taekwondo Union, and current Head Coach of the Egypt National Poomsae Team.
Milestone in Coach Education
The collaboration marks another significant milestone in ISSO and ISF Academy's efforts to bring international-standard coach education opportunities to India. Over the past year, the organizations have successfully delivered educational programs in partnership with leading global sporting bodies, including FIBA, the Badminton World Federation (BWF), and the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
Quotes from Key Officials
Gaurav Dixit, Founding Director of ISSO, said, "At ISSO, our vision is to create meaningful global learning opportunities for coaches, educators, and student-athletes by partnering with the world's most respected sporting institutions. Our collaboration with Kukkiwon and ISF Academy is a significant milestone in bringing internationally recognized Taekwondo education and expertise to India. This program further strengthens our commitment to elevating school sports and empowering educators with global knowledge and best practices. We are proud to facilitate this opportunity and contribute to the long-term growth of Taekwondo within the Indian school sports ecosystem."
Na Young Jip, Senior Director of the International Strategy Department at Kukkiwon, added, "Kukkiwon is committed to promoting the growth and development of Taekwondo across the world through quality education and international cooperation. We are delighted to partner with ISSO and ISF Academy to bring this important program to India, a country with immense potential and a rapidly growing Taekwondo community. Through initiatives such as this, we aim to strengthen coaching expertise, technical standards, and athlete development pathways while fostering deeper cultural and sporting exchanges. We look forward to working closely with our partners to support the continued advancement of Taekwondo in India."
Impact on Indian Taekwondo
The Kukkiwon International Taekwondo Education Program underscores a collective vision of building global standards in school Taekwondo through education, excellence, and international collaboration. By connecting Indian educators and practitioners with globally recognized expertise, the initiative aims to create a lasting impact on the development of Taekwondo and school sports across the country.
