DI00000645
Promoting Martial Arts, Safeguarding ICH
As the term “martial” having its origins in the name of Mars (the Roman god of war) suggests, martial arts are often conceived as synonymous with fighting. This prevalent misconception has been intensified by the ever-growing popularity of combat sports and mixed martial arts coupled with the media and entertainment industry. Despite the common perception of martial arts as mere fighting methods, they are in fact the epitome of intangible cultural heritage (ICH). Numerous martial traditions contain such non-martial elements as dances, rituals, and folk games.
Kanghyeok Lee, Programme Specialist, International Centre of Martial Arts for Youth Development and Engagement under the auspices of UNESCO (ICM)
2021