Phl's leading jins compete in Smart-CPJ elite tourney

MANILA, Philippines -  The country’s finest jins will vie for slots on the Philippine team pool for 2011 in the Smart Carlos Palanca Jr (CPJ) taekwondo championships on Feb. 6 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

“The best blackbelts will display their talents and skills in this prestigious tournament,” says Philippine Taekwondo Association president Robert Aventajado.

Around 700 participating jins are also expected to show their stuff in the sparring and poomsae events of the tournament sponsored by SMART Communications Inc., PLDT, Milo and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Senior, junior and grade school entries may see action in free sparring while poomsae events will be contested in three categories, namely, individual, pair and team (men and women) in six divisions – grade school, junior, first senior A, first senior B, first pair and first team.

Poomsae or forms is performed by following a systematic time of movement in a consecutive sequence against an imaginary opponent or multiple opponents.

It consists of movements using the hands and feet and interconnected techniques like blocking, punching, striking, thrusting and kicking. Constant training of poomsae will help improve flexibility and control in breathing, balance, power, eye focus and mental discipline.

According to organizing chairman Sung Chon Hong, members of the Philippine team this year will compete in the world taekwondo championships in Korea and the Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Members of the National junior team will see action in the Asian junior taekwondo championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia while those making the poomsae team will participate in the world poomsae championships slated in Vladivostok, Russia.

Parents who are interested to enroll their children in taekwondo classes and sports enthusiasts are invited to watch the competition, which starts at 9 a.m.