Licastro tackles world titles

Local taekwondo champion Jo Licastro will represent Australia at the seventh veteran International Taekwondo Federation World Championships, which begin in Andria, Italy, next Friday.

With the helpf of coach Jason Bradley, Licastro has forged a successful career in the sport, based on discipline and respect.

“I prepared for about six months prior to the nationals earlier this year,” she said.

“And in the last three months, I’ve cranked it up. I’m a personal trainer as well, so I train myself about two or three hours a day. I don’t really have a rest day.”

ITF-sanctioned taekwondo (different to the form showcased at the Olympics) is based on three separate disciplines: patterns (individual technique against an imaginary opponent); power breaking (breaking wooden boards with hands and feet); and sparring (combat against a rival competitor).

At the championships, points are awarded for each individual category,

The overall winner is the one having the highest aggregate score across all disciplines.

Bradley said most competitors typically dominated one particular discipline, whereas Licastro specialised in all three.

“You have to go from being soft with patterns, to go hard and cardio with sparring and then go break stuff,” Licastro added.

“You go from one extreme to another — so it’s not very easy to do.”

It will also be a special tournament for Bradley, a seventh-degree master, who has been selected as an umpire (centre referee) for the tournament.

“They’ve only chosen 60 umpires worldwide and I’m lucky enough to be one of them,” he said.

“I don’t judge Jo so I will have to leave the ring when she comes in to compete.

“I won’t get a chance to coach her while we are in Italy.

“But the other Australian coaches will be able to take her on with all of the drills we have worked on.”