MANILA – Ilonggo and Negrense taekwondo jins will be showcasing their wares in the 2020 Smart/MVP Sports Foundation National Online Poomsae Taekwondo Championships starting today until May 31.
Flora Navales, head coach of A. Diasnes Taekwondo, told Panay News that she has 40 taekwondo jins competing in the three-day tournament backed by the Philippine Taekwondo Association.
“So far so good naman ang preparation namin,” Navales said. “Mas matrabaho itong online poomsae compared to live competition (because) we had to shoot or reshoot the players and then upload sa Youtube.”
Negrense Leigh Andee Rodriguez of the Negros Taekwondo Union-Tigers New Gen also announced her participation in the online tournament.
“Two weeks ago, my mom and dad were encouraging me to join. I finally came to my senses na I won’t lose naman anything if I do. It made me realize that I need the experience. I have to try and become more of a person who loves the entirety of taekwondo,” Rodriguez said.
“Since I was blessed to also learn and become better in poomsae, I would love to do it as well,” she added.
The country’s first-ever online poomsae tournament came in the heels of the Filipino’s three-gold haul in the Online Daedo Open European Poomsae Championships earlier this month.
There are six age group categories in the men’s and women’s divisions. The following are
* toddler – Eight years old and below
* grade school – Nine to 11 years old
* cadet – 12 to 14 years old
* junior – 15 to 17 years old
* senior 1 – 30 years old and below
* senior 2 – 40 years old and below
The performance video of the participants can be recorded indoors or outdoors, and they are reminded to strictly follow the instructions provided by the national and local health authorities with regards to social distancing and proper hygiene.
The video recordings shall be done while the athletes are facing the cameras in the start position. At all times, the participants full body shall be inside the video screens as they may be disqualified if not.
Just like in regular poomsae competitions, the scoring criteria will be on the jin’s accuracy (4.0) and presentation (6.0). Speed and power, control of power, speed and rhythm, and expression of energy are crucial in their performances./PN
