CAL TKD team kicks their way on BulSU intramurals

Hope Ruiz

October 22, 2023

Taekwondo captain Alyssa Domingo gives pride to College of Arts and Letters (CAL) after cinching a gold medal on women’s Heavyweight Division last Thursday. Alongside different colleges and satellite universities, Domingo fiercely fought on Taekwondo’s Kyorugi category. In an exclusive interview, she said she is very honored to give justice to her college through martial arts.

“I am elated because I became a voice that proves CAL students are not just good at writing, our stereotype. I was able to showcase that we can give a fight and keep up on different aspects like sports.”

Despite the mixed emotions brought by the long-awaited return of face-to-face intramurals, Domingo was very excited for it. She was initially overwhelmed, but the adrenaline rush and excitement eventually took over. As a sports person, she sees TKD as a way to relieve her stress from her academic life.

“It was the bond with the team,” she says when asked what she missed, “ even though we’ve only been together for a short time, the bond we have created is so remarkable. I did not even expect that a lot of CAL students will join us.”

The TKD team brought home a total of five medals: One gold, one silver, and three bronze medals from the Kyorugi category.

The gold and pride that the team captain brought home to CAL is well-deserved as it became the fruit of exactly two-week long training within the university grounds. This includes the struggle to find an appropriate training venue for there were no allotted space designated for TKD players.

Additionally, they do not have a complete set of training materials. The CAL Taekwondo team ended up receiving the most numbers of deduction for not having a mouth guard during the contest proper, so it’s really a struggle for them to secure a medal. But lo and behold, they defied the odds.

“We will come back stronger,” Domingo said as an encouraging message for her teammates, “I hope you guys will join again and please know that your courage to step inside the court is no joke. It is a big spark of inspiration for our fellow Katalistas.”

She also confirmed in the interview that she will be the student coach for next year’s Taekwondo team. “I want to say that I will give my best from the preparations down to the actual games so that we will have a stronger comeback next year.”

Key Words: BulSU intrams, intrams/intramurals, College of Arts and Letters/CAL, TKD/Taekwondo, Kyorugi, martial arts, gold/gold medal, Alyssa Domingo, women’s Heavyweight Division, sports