Philippine taekwondo is continuing its migration to online platforms as the country reels from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With still no vaccine for the coronavirus responsible for the current health crisis, taekwondo’s summer classes—for long a hive of activity for the sport—will move online, the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) said on Wednesday as it scrambled to find a way to help its more than 3,000 coaches.
There are about 30,000 to 50,000 active taekwondo students in the country, according to estimates, and they usually jam the training gyms during summer vacation. But because of the pandemic and the various restrictions on mobility and mass gatherings, that program has been shut down.
“Because we are not sure when it’s going to resume [and] through the orders of Grandmaster Sung Chon Hong, we devised these lesson plans for [the coaches] to continue teaching,” said PTA secretary general Rocky Samson.
The PTA has been one of the most active sports as far as capitalizing on online platforms to move forward during the pandemic.
On the heels of a successful campaign in an international poomsae tournament, the PTA began moving that discipline online locally as well by staging the First Online Poomsae National Championships, which drew the participation of 800 jins.
Now, they’re uploading fight training to virtual gyms.
The PTA has posted instructional videos on Facebook, intended to give coaches the protocols on teaching students from white belt to black belt.
The videos, running 30-45 minutes and performed by the likes of taekwondo champions Japoy Lizardo, teaches the basics for the students to meet the requirement of each belt level.And unlike actual gyms, students can benefit from the online learning free of charge.
“Then if you want to further polish your skills you may enroll for additional training,” Samson added. They also have promotion videos posted regularly, allowing students to climb the belt ladder.