A Pinoy Sporting Feat: He can really foot it
Diario Filipino Aug-Sep 2004
He
may be small in stature but he's got plenty of kick.
Randy Javier, better known as RJ, 10 of Western Heights has just won his third New Zealand Taekwondo Federation national title.
His win follows the NZTT national competition in South Auckland.
RJ, followed his Dad into the sport at the age of six and was hooked, though he threw up his first fight as an inexperienced yellow belt.
He was graded in his native Philippines in 2001 and later that year came to New Zealand with the family.
At only 135cm tall, he is one of the smaller fighters in his division, which is classified on height. The boy he beat to claim the title was taller than him even on the podium, standing one rung down.
His older sister Kim also took a bronze medal at the competition, and his younger sister is even showing interest in taekwondo.
Coached by Mike Asari at St Lukes, but with his father as mentor, RJ trained three times a week in the lead up to the nationals. But he works on his technique every day away from sparring.
He is now regularly fighting boys older and bigger than him, especially now that he is in the under 12 ranks.
"Its becoming harder because I'm fighting guys bigger than me."
RJ was too young to qualify for the world junior championships in Korea, but he is keeping that as one of his goals, along with one day going to the Olympics.
He has already trained with the Philippine team, before he emigrated, so has tasted the international squad environment. In fact, his favourite kick, a spinning roundhouse is known as "The Filipino Kick."
RJ says his wisest advice comes from his mother Maria, "Mum says, never give up when you are down."
She admits to nerves during fights, "I get tense watching RJ and now my daughter who used to do ballet."