Crack jins vie for Phl slots in Smart CPJ tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Crack jins led by Paul Lizardo, Kirstie Elaine Alora and Camille Manalo will vie for slots on the national team in the SMART CPJ (Carlos Palanca Jr.) taekwondo championships on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

According to organizing chair, Grandmaster Sung Chon Hong, around 1,000 bets will display their wares in sparring and poomsae competitions.

Free sparring events will be conducted in the senior, junior and grade school divisions, while poomsae action will be divided into three divisions – individual, team and mixed pair in the grade school, junior, first senior A, first senior B, second senior B, first Master, second Master, junior pair, senior pair, first team and seond team.

Hong said the PSS (protector scoring system) will be used in the senior competition.

He added that those who make the Philippine team will carry the national colors in the 20th Asian taekwondo championships in Vietnam, the 12th World University championships in Pochean , Korea and the World Cup competition in Sta. Cruz, Aruba, while the junior national team will see action in the ninth WTF world junior championships in Sham El Sheikh, Egypt and the sixh Asian junior championships in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The poomsae national squad will vie for honors in the 2012 world poomsae junior/senior championships in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and the World poomsae championships in Medelin, Columbia.

Poomsae, also called forms, is performed by following a systematic type of movement in consecutive sequences against an imaginary or multiple opponents.  It consists of movements using hands and feet and interconnected techniques like blocking, punching, striking, thrusting and kicking.

Constant poomsae training will help improve flexibility and control in breathing, balance, power, eye focus and mental discipline.

Parents interested to enroll their children and sports buffs are invited to watch the tourney sponsored by SMART Communications, MVP Sports Foundation, PLDT, Milo and Philippine Sports Commission.  Action starts at 9 a.m.