With kickboxing included in the upcoming 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, the Samahan ng Kickboxing ng Pilipinas is focused on building its athletes for the biennial games as well as for other indoor games.
Coach Bryan Olod, chairperson of ring sports of the SKP, said the Covid-19 pandemic has stalled various kickboxing events this year but preparations are ongoing for SKP’s athletes, particularly those competing in the SEA Games and Asian indoor martial arts games expected next year.
Olod, who recently joined the World Association of Kickboxing Organization or WAKO International Federation Ring Sports Refereeing Webinar, said new rules will be applied in upcoming kickboxing games, especially the SEA Games.
He said the rules were supposed to be observed in the Juniors World Championships in November but the tournament was canceled due to the pandemic.
On July 12, Olod joined the webinar hosted by WAKO International Federation President Roy Baker of London, England and joined by a hundred WAKO technical officials all over the world.
Olod, founder of Kafagway MMA, is the only licensed Filipino international technical official for kickboxing and has assisted SKP Northern Luzon Kickboxing area governor Mark Sangiao of the famed Team Lakay in training Cordilleran athletes.
With him during the webinar are Roselyn Hung, technical director of SKP-National Sports Association and also the competition manager of kickboxing in the 2019 SEA Games from Cagayan De Oro City; and Noriel Acquisio of La Trinidad, Benguet, chairperson of SKP mat sports of kickboxing and national technical official and also the founder of MAX Fusion Martial Arts.
SKP President Sen. Francis Tolentino and SKP Secretary General Wharton Chan have endorsed the trio to join the webinar.
The kickboxing team from the Cordillera powered by Team Lakay fighters led the medal haul for the SKP team with three gold, two silver, and one bronze medals during the 30th SEAG. – Ofelia C. Empian
April 27, 2024
