Batangas Warriors Taekwondo Team

Ok lang mahilamos ng paa sa mukha kung si Lee Dae Hoon ang hihilamos. 😅

Great learning opportunity 🫡

The only thing I regret in my sport career is not being conscious about how time come to everyone. The happiest moments of my life were not awaiting me in the future, the best moments of my life were awaiting me in my day to day process ❤️

Congratulations Sabunim Harrold Aguas Magracia 🇵🇭👏🥉🥋

KICK IT WITH PRIDE 🥋🇵🇭

The Philippine Masters Taekwondo Team delivered a powerful showing at the 2025 World Masters Games in Taiwan, headlined by Rodolfo Reyes Jr. who captured gold in the Men’s Under 40 division.

Adding to the country’s medal count were bronze finishes from Jeffrey Ysmael (U40), Harold Magracia (U50), and veterans Joel Lacsamana and Jojo Ninobla in the Men’s Under 60 category.

“Bakit nagta-Taekwondo ang anak mo? Gusto ba niya talaga ‘yan? May mapapala ba siya diyan? Gastos lang naman ‘yan.”

Madalas ko ‘yang naririnig kapag may nakakakausap ako.
At lagi kong sagot:
Oo, gusto niya. Pangarap niya ‘yan.
Simula pa noong maliit siya, ‘yan na ang isinusulat niya sa mga “About Me” at “My Dream” sa school.

So anong ginagawa ko bilang magulang?
Siyempre, suportahan.
Kasi ako mismo, lumaki akong may mga pangarap na hindi nasuportahan—dahil sa ibang paniniwala o dahil sa kakulangan.
Ayokong danasin ng anak ko ‘yan.

Kaya ngayon, lagi kong sinasabi sa kanya:
“Basta may magandang naidudulot sa’yo, naka-support ako.”

Naalala ko pa ‘yung first competition niya—nasaktan siya, akala ko aayaw na. Pero kinabukasan, ang aga niyang gumising para mag-training.
Sabi niya:
“No pain, no gain.”
Sino ba naman ako para pigilan siya?

Magastos ang Taekwondo—training fee, gear, uniform, competition fee, promotion test fee, at marami pang iba.
Pero ‘di ba, kapag may gusto at pangarap ang anak mo, gagawa ka ng paraan?

Kaya sa mga nagsasabi na pinipilit lang ng magulang ang bata… minsan kasi, ang totoo—yung mismong bata ang may gusto.
At ang role natin bilang magulang ay hindi pigilan, kundi samahan sila sa pag-abot ng pangarap nila.

Sino yun ayaw maka-train ang bagong coach❓️🤔😅

Tepi dik, turn akak pulak☝️ A viral TikTok video shows a taekwondo coach patiently comforting a sulking little girl during practice. Each time he tries to face her, she turns away, refusing to engage. According to the TikTok user who shared the clip, the little girl was upset because her usual coach wasn’t there that day — so she adorably refused to train with anyone else. Follow @saysdotcom for more fun stories! 🎥: @/koryomarvelous (TikTok) #SAYScomel

OPINION: Student-athletes are gambling their future
By Rian Gabriel Fuentes

“What will happen if I do not succeed in what I am doing right now?” This question is often neglected by student-athletes during their prime. The shining medals and full-pledged scholarships are tempting as they shimmer opportunities for a bright future. The instant fame once selected for the national team and international competitions. However, what happens if an injury strikes or no university would provide them a scholarship grant? Is this the end for them? Student-athletes need to realize that their alluring title equates to a gamble and risk in their future.

More often than not, student-athletes have a demanding lifestyle where they do not have time to explore their other interests, strengths, and hobbies. Student-athletes spend hours studying all day, followed by demanding training sessions that stretch into the night. Lucky are those that are gifted with knowledge or are equipped with the value of being responsible and time management as they can find time in pursuing other things such as journalism, knitting, or drawing. Their bodies are already tired after training and to properly recover their muscles, they need to sleep at least eight hours. Being a varsity limits time for self-discovery that could benefit future career prospects.

Student-athletes have a tendency to revolve around their sport, they forgot the word “student” in their title. Some schools can indirectly contribute to this mindset as they prioritize their student-athlete’s athletic career by having a system where when they are in a competition, they will acquire the highest score by their classmate. The strive and hunger for the medals, awards, and recognition during competition season requires week-long absence which can hinder their learning development. This is not necessarily an act of exploitation, but schools may jeopardize the future of their student-athletes by prioritizing sports over academics.

Unlike other learners, many student-athletes have the tendency to be known for having superior abilities in their respective sports. However, that is it—only their athletic capability that is recognized—not their other accomplishments. There is a stereotype that student-athletes have physical attributes rather than intellectual capability. In return, they are only labelled by their influence on sports rather than recognizing their ability as an individual. Some athletes are also good in mathematics or eloquent in public speaking, but it is often overlooked and undervalued because their athletic career overpowers their other abilities. This can result in the student-athlete centrically aligning themselves as being only known as an athlete and abandon improving and expanding their different skills.

Critics would point out that I have a pessimistic viewpoint towards the future of student-athletes as it directs to their identity crisis after retiring or quitting their sport. After all, well-known sportsmen that have inspired the country through winning both international and national tournaments such as the Olympics and Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) were once student-athletes. Although some schools actually provide opportunities for the less fortunate to study in their institution, they are not gaining the same academic education as their peers; focusing only on sports. Nonetheless, there should also be consideration that joining the national team is nearly impossible unless you have connections, resources to cover your fees, or are extremely talented. In every Alyssa Valdez, there were hundreds of girls who sacrificed the same amount of time, effort, and personal life dreaming of having the same caliber and recognition as her but were left hopeless after no universities or scholarship opportunities were provided after high school.

The glitter and glitz of dreaming to compete in national and international tournaments to be recognized, gain fame, and earn a living has been long embedded by every student-athletes as their ultimate dream. Reality-wise, in every successful and multi-millionaire player lies hundreds and thousands of retired athletes who focused too much on their sport that they forgot to invest in other aspects—leaving them with an uncertain future. Being a student-athlete should not be too romanticized as you are sacrificing your personal life, academic responsibilities, and extra time for a dream that is also dreamt by thousands of athletes. That is why schools should provide seminars to their student-athletes about the risks and consequences of their lifestyle. Aside from general seminars, educational institutions need to focus on assessing the mental health of their athletes and help them develop the value of resilience in both their sports and personal lives. Student-athletes should also take time to think and reflect on their future if their athletic career does not flourish as what they had expected. The system is not perfect, but one thing is clear, a student-athlete can learn so much from one's experience about hard work and sacrifice that he will apply for the rest of his/her life./The Ripples

[Art by Kristine Cielo Ursua]

Yun may kapatid ka din na naglalaro. 😅

Living Room Dojo battles throughout the years. Home is where the gloves are.

QNamchang Dojang’s senior instructor, Kang Yoo-jin, made history by winning her 100th gold medal at a major championship, a world-first achievement, during the "21st Korea Taekwondo Association National Championship" held at the Gowon Gymnasium in Taebaek City, Gangwon Province, on October 27.

Kang, who is the eldest daughter of Kukkiwon Grand Master Kang Shin-chul, received a commemorative plaque and certificate from the Korea Taekwondo Guinness Center through Mudo Magazine in recognition of this achievement. Following this milestone, she won her 101st gold medal in the Senior Pair Poomsae competition, partnering with instructor Lee Dong-ho. They demonstrated seamless synchronization in the forms of Keumgang and Cheonkwon, defeating competitors from Chungju Taekwondo to claim victory.

In the individual Poomsae semifinals of the Taebaek division, Kang faced national representative Jo Da-hye from TS Taekwondo. Kang performed flawlessly, scoring 7.999-8.066 and advancing to the finals, where she met competitor Lee Jin-young. She delivered a perfect rendition of Koryo and Cheonkwon, winning with an aggregate score of 8.099-8.333.

Born in 1989 in Tehran, Iran, Kang graduated from Kyung Hee University with degrees in Taekwondo and English-American Studies and later obtained her master’s and doctorate from Seoul National University, where she now serves as an instructor, in addition to being an adjunct professor at Hwasung University of Medical Science.

Kang began competing in Taekwondo in 1997 at the age of eight, and over 27 years, she has risen through all levels, from elementary to graduate school, and into the general division, becoming the world’s most awarded Taekwondo Poomsae athlete with over 100 gold medals, including six at world championships.