From June 20th to June 21st in Lublin (Poland) was held a seminar conducted for the first time by Master Ung Kim Lan, 8th Degree, the Vice-president of the ITF Germany, Member of ITF Technical Committee and Coach of the German Female Taekwon-do Team.

Master Ung Kim Lan is an Examiner for black belts in Poland from December 2006.

 

The main aim of the seminar was preparation for the Black Belt Grading held on Sunday, 22nd June. The contents of the seminar were basic movements, patterns, step-sparring and self defense. The participants were very satisfied with the seminary and very impressed on the skills and knowledge of Master Ung Kim Lan.

75 people took part in the seminar. On Friday 20th June all participant together took part in the classes from 6pm to 9pm. On Saturday 21st June the contestants were divided into two groups. The first group was all color belts and the second one was all black belts headed by both Masters: Tadeusz Loboda and Jerzy Jedut. Both groups had two classes each one lasted 1,5 hour.

The visit of Master Ung Kim Lan in Lublin was this time longer therefore the organizers took advantage of this situation and showed Master Ung Kim Lan tourist attractions located nearby Lublin.

On Friday Master Ung Kim Lan visited The Museum-Palace in Kozłówka (10 km from Lubartow) built in the late baroque style, expanded and furnished by Konstanty Zamoyski at the turn of the 19th century. The Palace interiors retained their architectural layout, décor, and authentic furniture dating back to the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries. They represent a style that in French art is referred to as the Second Empire.

Master Ung Kim Lan toured also Europe's only Gallery of the Art of Socialist Realism housed in the former coach-house in Palace in Kozlowka. This unusual permanent exhibition has a political-didactic-artistic character because it warns against art manipulated by totalitarian governments. The gallery shows the most interesting works of art from the Museum collections from the first half of 1950s. This collection contains over 1600 sculptures, paintings, drawings, posters and fabrics including the works by leading Polish artists. The supplement to the gallery are dismantled monuments of Bolesław Bierut (from Lublin) by Bronisław Kubica, Vladimir Lenin (from Poronin) by Dmitri Szwarc and Julian Marchlewski (from Włocławek) by Stanisław Horno-Popławski.

On Monday, after the Black Belt grading, Master Ung Kim Lan went sightseeing to the town of Kazimierz Dolny (50 km from Lublin), situated on the Lublin plateau, on the right bank of the biggest polish river – Vistula. Ms. Malgorzata Rogaczewska and Mr. Andrzej Piotrowski one of the pioneers of Taekwon-do in Poland kept company to Master Ung Kim Lan.

 
 

Because of its attractive position, its rich history, its picturesque medieval houses, wonderful architecture and kind climate, Kazimierz Dolny is known not only in Poland but also abroad as a sought after tourist center where guests can relax and enjoy their holidays. Since the 19th century it has become a popular holiday destination, attracting artists specially painters and summer residents.

During his visit in Lublin Master Ung Kim Lan met several times with pioneers of Taekwon-do in Poland e.g. Mr. Andrzej Piotrowski and Mr. Andrzej Kozłowski, as well as people who are interested in martial arts. The meetings were great opportunity to exchange experiences and share mutually knowledge.

More information you can find at the websites:

• Kozlowka: http://www.muzeumkozlowka.lublin.pl/amainpage!.htm
• Kazimierz Dolny: http://www.kazimierzdolny.eu/
• Kazimierz Dolny: http://www.kazimierz.kazimierz-news.com.pl/english.html