Taekwondo-jins vying in Smart national poomsae tilt

MANILA—The various aspects of martial arts will be highlighted on Saturday when the Philippine Taekwondo Association stages the 2011 Smart national poomsae championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

About 1,500 taekwondo athletes representing various regions and chapters are expected to see action starting at 9 a.m.

Poomsae is a pre-arranged set of movements which gradually becomes more complicated the more one learns the patterns. Poomsae should be practiced by mentally picturing imaginary opponents attacking from all sides.

“It is a way of understanding and practicing every aspect of martial art’s basic techniques, breathing control, balance, coordination and concentration. The mind and body must work together in striving for a high technical level. That’s why it is said taekwondo is meaningless without poomsae,” says PTA vice president Sung Chon Hong.

Participants aged 13 and below (children), 14 to 17 (juniors), and 18 and above will compete in five events, namely, individual standard, pair and team standard, team free style synchronized poomsae and creative poomsae.

Among the regions and chapters which are expected to join the one-day tourney sponsored by SMART Communications Inc., PLDT, Milo and Philippine Sports Commission are NCR, ARMM, CAR, Caraga, Powerflex, Ateneo, San Sebastian, UP, San Beda, DLSZ, More Than Medals Taekwondo Committee (KTC), Baguio, Pangasinan, UTA-Tigers, PNP and AFP.