Poomsae takes spotlight at NAS

MANILA, Philippines - Practitioners of another taekwondo event called “poomsae” will take the spotlight on Sunday with the staging of the Smart national championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Poomsae, explains Philippine Taekwondo Association president Robert Aventajado, means “forms”.

Participants in the event follow a systematic time of movement in consecutive sequences against an imaginary opponent or multiple opponents. It consists of movements using hands and feet and interconnected techniques like blocking, punching, striking, thrusting and kicking.

Through the movements of poomsae, Aventajado says a practitioner develops his sense of balance, speed, timing, coordination, power in an artful and most especially martial spirit or life force.

The PTA chief adds that poomsae, now integrated into the sport of taekwondo and quite popular in the global scene, helps improve flexibility and control in breathing, balance, power, eye focus and mental discipline.

Organizing committee chair Sung Chon Hong expects around 1,000 competitors from 12 regions including ARMM, CAR, CARAGA and the National Capital Region to vie for honors in three events – individual standard, team standard and team freestyle synchronized poomsae.

Age classifications are 13 years old and below for children, 14 to 17 for junios and 18 and above for seniors.

Among the teams, which have signed up in the one-day event sponsored by Smart Communications Inc., PLDT, Philippine Sports Commission, Adidas and Milo are Powerflex, Ateneo, San Sebastian College, UP, San Beda, DLSZ, More Than Medals, LCC-Novaliches, DLSU, Team Baguio, Pangasinan, R3 Strikers, Isabela, Cebu, bacolod, Iloilo, Gen. Santos, PNP and AFP.

Competition starts at 9 a.m.