World champion coach breeds world champion jins

World Poomsae champion Glenn Lava (center), poses with his Taekwondo students during a lull in their training at the Fort San Pedro grounds.

If you’re looking for a Taekwondo champ from amongst the crowd, chances are, you’ll never find one.

Why? Because champions of this popular Korean sport don’t have a deadly stare, a ripped body, or a loud, intimidating roar. In fact, they just blend unnoticed in the crowd with their nice-guy aura, gentle eyes and kind voice whispering in the ears of the young – mentoring and guiding.

Try watching University of San Carlos Taekwondo coach and former World Poomsae Champion Glenn Lava instruct a group of kids in his Taekwondo class at the historic Fort San Pedro and you’ll understand why.

WORLD CHAMPION

The 34-year-old Lava won his first-ever world gold medal in Poomsae Senior 2 during the World Championships in Bali, Indonesia two years ago with Manila-based players Jean Pierre Sabido and Ernesto Guzman Jr. He also won a bronze in the same competition in the mixed team freestyle.

It was followed by a two-gold harvest in the following year’s World Poomsae Championship in Mexico in the Men’s over-30 and over-17 Freestyle Mixed.

Taekwondo students executes difficult synchronized routine.

He recalled feeling immense pressure to bring home a medal so as not to disappoint his sponsors who spent so much for him.

“The challenge was not easy,” Lava said. “The World Championship is very high level and very, very different.”

The “Hot Spewing” Lava also had to sacrifice a lot. He had to take a leave from his Taekwondo teaching duties to prepare for the competition and stay in Manila for six weeks to train. These took a toll on his income.

“He has so much passion and love for the sport,” Philippine Taekwondo Association Region 7 Director Tony del Prado said of Lava’s sacrifice. “He is married and is the lone breadwinner of his family. He also supports his father.”

COACH TO CHAMPIONS

At present, Lava busies himself molding a new generation of home-grown champions.

Lava started his coaching career back in 2003 after he completed his chosen course at the University of Cebu. He has a degree in Customs Administration, but his heart belongs to Taekwondo, and his burning passion – teaching the sport to young kids.

He started by opening a club for kids aged four years old and above. Some of his more celebrated pupils were World Poomsae champions Mikaela “Kokoy” Calamba and Rinna Babanto.

The stunner Calamba was awarded Athlete of the Year by the Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC) in 2013 following her gold medal performance in the Individual Freestyle Event in the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championship in December 2012 in Colombia.

Babanto recently won a silver in the Women’s Single Poomsae in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games held last June 12 to 14 in Singapore and a gold in the Korea Open Championships in Chuncheon, South Korea last August.

NATIONAL TRAINING POOL

Aside from these two, some of Lava’s Poomsae wards were recently named to the Philippine National Pool for next year’s international events where he once dominated like the World Championships, Asian Championships and Korea Open.

They include Lee Navales, Aidaine Laxa, Cheyena dela Fuente, Crystal dela Torre, Nichole Maurin and Clement Tan.

They are also joined by Babanto, Alyssa and Alexander Llenes, McAvengyr Alob and Maegan Bugarin.

Laxa and dela Fuente also hauled golds in Poomsae for Cebu City at last month’s Batang Pinoy National Championships held here. They also won bronzes in the Korea Open where Navales pocketed a silver medal.

“He is very kiat when not in training but during training, he’s on his beast mode,” Navales said of his mentor. “He is a very fun and charming coach. He always catches on to our jokes and makes jokes himself.”

“He’s very patient. But sometimes he loses his temper and gets mad at us pero we know for sure that he loves us,” he added.

Indeed a Taekwondo champ doesn’t need a dagger look, a ripped body or a jolting howl. Just a heart for the sport and a mission to share the blessings taekwondo has gifted him.

Just look at coach Glenn Lava, and you’ll understand why.