Karate targeting foreign expertise

Karate Pilipinas is looking to bring in foreign coaching expertise to strengthen the country’s kata program, with Japan and Spain emerging as possible sources of technical support.

Karate Pilipinas president Richard Lim said the federation wants to build on the Philippines’ success in the discipline by securing the services of an overseas coach who can help raise the level of competitiveness of the local talent.

Lim pointed out that the Filipinos had managed to win without the guidance of a foreign coach, a result he believes should encourage the national federation to invest further in the program.

“We won (a medal) without even having a foreign coach. So let’s boost it some more so that we can get the coach,” Lim told DAILY TRIBUNE.

“We’re working on it. Maybe one from Japan or another one from Spain.”

The Philippines clinched a bronze medal in the women’s team kata in the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan courtesy of Ysabielle Arrogante, Rebecca Cyril Torres and Emmanuelle Vegullas.

The federation is considering Japan and Spain as possible destinations for coaching expertise, recognizing the two countries as potential sources of technical knowledge that could help Filipino karatekas improve their execution and competitiveness in kata.

Spain, in particular, has drawn attention because the reigning Olympic champion in women’s kata, Sandra Sanchez Jaime, is Spanish, giving the federation another reason to explore the country’s coaching system.

Lim said the Philippines could benefit from learning from established programs abroad as it seeks to develop its athletes further.

Bringing in a foreign coach could provide local athletes with additional technical guidance and expose them to training methods used by countries that have established themselves in the discipline, Lim noted.