John Paul Lizardo (born June 8, 1986), also known as Japoy Lizardo, is a

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

taekwondo ''Taekwondo'', ''Tae Kwon Do'' or ''Taekwon-Do'' (; ko, 태권도/跆拳道 ) is a Korean martial arts, Korean form of martial arts involving punching and kicking techniques, with emphasis on head-height kicks, spinning jump kicks, and fast k ...

practitioner, actor and

commercial model A model is a person with a role either to promote, display or advertise commercial products (notably fashion clothing in fashion shows) or to serve as a visual aid for people who are creating works of art or to pose for photography. Though ...

Education

Lizardo attended

Pasig Catholic College Pasig Catholic College ( fil, Kolehiyong Katoliko ng Pasig), also referred to as PCC, is a private Catholic coeducational basic and higher education institution located in Pasig, Philippines and was founded by CICM fathers in 1913. It is consid ...

and studied college at De La Salle University - College of Saint Benilde.

Career

At 11 years old, Lizardo took up taekwondo, the year later he earned black belt. He joined the Philippine Black Belt contingent, the national team for students pursuing their elementary and high school studies, at age 12. When he was two years older, he joined the Philippine junior national team and began to compete in international tournaments such as the Korean Open and the Asian Junior Championship. By age 18, Lizardo was already a member of the senior national team. Lizardo first garnered attention at the 2001 Asian Junior Taekwondo Championships where he captured the silver medal in the men's finweight. He has won three medals (two silvers one bronze) at the senior stage of the Asian Taekwondo Championships and competed in the

World Taekwondo Championships The World Taekwondo Championship is held every two years by World Taekwondo. Competitions 1 Wuxi, China, was originally selected to host the 2021 World Taekwondo Championships. Due to the impact of the Global COVID-19 pandemic, Wuxi gave u ...

in 2007 and 2009. He ended his competitive career when he quit as a member of the Philippine men's taekwondo team in November 2015 due to his leg injury. Lizardo was among the 14 scholar-athletes who have scholarships from the Olympic Solidarity Movement under the Philippine Olympic Committee. By 2016, Lizardo now serves as head coach of the Philippine national taekwondo team.

Personal life

He is married with co-taekwondo artist Janice Lagman since May 8, 2016. On August 11, 2016, the couple announced on Instagram that they are expecting their first child. They announced the birth of their first child on February 25, 2017.

References

External links

* Interview on Japoy Lizardo fro
World Taekwondo Federation
(official website) {{DEFAULTSORT:Lizardo, Japoy Living people 1986 births Star Magic Filipino male taekwondo practitioners Filipino male television actors Asian Games medalists in taekwondo Taekwondo practitioners at the 2006 Asian Games Taekwondo practitioners at the 2010 Asian Games Taekwondo practitioners at the 2014 Asian Games Asian Games bronze medalists for the Philippines Medalists at the 2010 Asian Games SEA Games gold medalists for the Philippines SEA Games silver medalists for the Philippines SEA Games medalists in taekwondo Competitors at the 2005 SEA Games Competitors at the 2009 SEA Games Competitors at the 2011 SEA Games Asian Taekwondo Championships medalists