In August 1972 Jenny Tsen made history in becoming the first lady in Sabah to achieve the black belt graded by Michael Chin and presented by the President of SKA then, Tuan Haji Abu Bakar Titingan.
Jenny Tsen in action
Through the rapport of Mr. Habu, SKA also enjoyed many visits from Japanese instructors and the most prominent was a team of 7 top instructors from JKA, namely founder member Masatomo Takagi (10th Dan), Chairman Shoji Takahashi (8th Dan), Chairman of International Affairs Hirokazu Kanazawa (7th Dan) and with other instructors including Mrs. Minako Kobayashi.
Kanazawa at airport
This visit also coincided with SKA first State-wide Open Championships held on the 17th February 1973 at the Kota Kinabalu Community Centre drawing 13 teams throughout Sabah and a huge gathering of more than 3000 spectators. Tawau A Team took the Champion with Tawau Police and Labuan as 1st and 2nd runner-ups respectively.
The highlights were demonstrations by the legendary Hirokazu Kanazawa with Mr. Habu and a Chinese Chi Kung (Internal Force) by Michael Chin.
Pics of demonstrations
Tawau Team
In the same year, SKA also sent a team to the JKA International Championship held in Tokyo.Kanazawa Sensei came back again with his team of JKA chief instructors in the Asia region in 1974 for the 2nd Sabah State-wide Karate-do Championship held in Tawau. The writer recalls a packed Tawau Dewan, so packed that their coloured clothing was seen as colour dots. Tawau won the Men’s Team Kumite for a second consecutive year. Most remembered was the breaking of two one-inch boards by Kanazawa’s front kick when earlier attempts by a fellow Japanese instructor failed.
Japanese Instructors
In 1975 KK Main Dojo organised the 3rd Sabah State-wide Championship in Kota Kinabalu Community Centre and this time Kanazawa Sensei came alone as Chief Referee. This championship was restricted to only Shodans and below.The 4th Sabah State-wide was again held in Kota Kinabalu in 1976 inviting the Chief Instructor from Brunei, a Singaporean to be the Chief Referee.Subsequent years saw a slow down in SKA’s activities but continued participation in international championships like the Asia Oceanic in Hong Kong in 1977. Datuk Lim Guan Sing was appointed as Patron of the Association. (to verify the date)
Team in Hong Kong with Penang Team
Sabah also sent a team to the International Amateur Karate Federation (IAKF) in Tokyo, Japan in 1977. (Pic – Habu Sensei, Kanazawa Sensei, Eddie Chin, Liew Chee Kiong, Taskalis Lim with Indonesian team.Perhaps without follow-ups of State-wide championships the popularity of the Association declined. It was said that SKA was in doldrums and at one point at the verge of being deregistered.
Likas dojo training
The Sabah State-wide Championship was revived and the 5th was held at the Likas Sport Complex in 1982. Whilst providing the breath of fresh air into SKA, this group of young seniors quickly dominated and captured many titles in state championship in 1982 together with Alex Sham who was seen as the new driving force in Association. In the same year James Lo, who had taken over as Chief Instructor of SKA before mid 70s and Alex Sham attended the 6th WUKO Championship in Taiwan where they made contact with Sheik Nasir, Secretary General of the Malaysia Karate Federation (MAKAF). A formal application was made and SKA was officially admitted as a MAKAF member in 1983, a call of “high time for many Karate groups in both East and West Malaysia to unite into one formal organization” (Quote Habu Sensei 1974) fulfilled.
Token medal of WUKO Taiwan
1983, SKA represented Sabah for the first time in a National Karate Championship under the new leadership of Datuk Henry Chin as the President. Together with James Lo, known for his eagle-eye sharpness and the memory of an elephant brought the underdog Sabah team to win 2 silvers and 1 bronze medal from Paul Chin, Patrick Ramp and Andrew Wong respectively. More importantly however was that Sabah made a formidable impact in the national karate arena. A moment remembered by some of the team members of Mr. Lo commenting “Mmmm…this is my best trip so far…that my boys can bring back some medals”.The dream of “competing under the Malaysian flag in the international arena” (Quote James Lo 1974) was accomplished when Patrick Ramp became the first Sabahan to represent the country in the Asia Pacific Karate-do Championship (APUKO) in Nagoya, Japan in 1983.
Malaysia team with Patrick Ramp
Paul Chin unfortunately dropped from the national team due to an injury sustained during centralized training was however sent by SKA to observe the same tournament. Ironically he took the referee exam and passed as Sabah’s first internationally qualified Asia Pacific Kumite Referee and Kata Judge. Alex Sham also passed as Kumite Judge.Having tasted the “blood” of a national championship, Sabah rose to the occasion to become the national over-all champion by winning seven gold, one silver and two bronze in its second national outing in Penang in 1984.
SKA’s contribution to the national karate growth was not only limited to competition but also in organization of championships. In 1985, SKA hosted both its first national karate championship, the 7th National Karate-Do Championship in August and Malaysia’s first international championship, the 6th APUKO Championship in December. The latter was “the biggest single sporting event to take place in Sabah yet”. (Quote Datuk Henry Chin) This APUKO was also the first time when Sabah won Malaysia’s 1st medal at Asia Pacific level through the Men’s Team Kata comprising of Paul John Chin, David U Ka Hong and Andrew Wong. It was also Malaysia’s first medal on an international level followed later by Ang Lye Hong and Chan Enn Gee winning their individual kumite bronzes in the afternoon.
APUKO 6 Team Kata winner
In 1986 not only did SKA participate in its first world championship under World Union of Karate Organization (WUKO) in Australia but represented the majority of the Malaysian team. Subsequently the Association was honoured with the Patronage of Datuk Pairin Kitingan. (to verify the date) Also in 1987 SKA formed the bulk of the Malaysian team to compete in karate’s first inclusion in the South East Asia Games (SEA Games) in Jakarta hauling a string of medals.SKA suffered a minor setback when a team of seniors formed their own traditional organization, the Association of Shotokan Karate (ASK) citing difference in administrative and training methodology but it did not affect SKA’s momentum in sports karate. The winning of the national over-all champion went on for ten consecutive years through hard work and effort of all contestants, coaches and officials … development is very important … champions cannot be always be champions so we came up with back-up fighters and even more reserves in standby.” (Quote Alex Sham 1994)
Then coach T Ponnaiah, Cynthia Lo, Paul Chin, George Tan, Andrew Wong and Alex Sham.
Earlier names like Patrick Ramp, Paul Chin, Andrew Wong, Cyril Yapp, David U Ka Hong, Loh Beng Hooi, Cynthia Lo, Charlotte Lo, Julian Chin, Kevin Liew, Makedoline Ripin, Mak Chee Ghee, Mak Lai Fong, Chong Fui Mei and several others were replaced by Michelle Koh, Ramlah Hamid, Aini Patrick Ramp, Awang, Adelyn Prudente, Jennifer Lingam and Lily Linus in the late 80s and early 90s. Amongst the most outstanding contestants were Johnny Chong, a straight 7 times national kumite champion and Mohd Fairuz winning bronze in the APUKO and AUKO respectively. However receiving the most media buzz was none other than Michelle Koh’s gold medal in the SEA Games. Being the first gold of the Games it captured national limelight and making her not only the darling of Karate but also boost karate’s standing in both the State and nation’s sporting arena.By 1994, eight years under the presidential ship of Datuk Wilfred Bumburing, SKA’s reputation of being the nation’s karate powerhouse and successful organiser of two Kinabalu Internationals Karate Championships and Asia Pacific Shotokan Karate Championship was stale and ambition was pushed higher. Putting their heads together, the trio of Datuk James Lo and Alex Sham under Datuk Wilfred’s leadership and blessing put to gear the highest honour of hosting the WUKO championship. So awesome was the drive, assistance sought were given from all quarters, from State to Federal governmental authorities, NGOs to private sectors, SKA through MAKAF made the bid and won the job to host the 12th WUKO not only in Malaysia but in SKA’s own home ground, Kota Kinabalu in December 1994.
Front cover of WUKO souvenir programme in KK
“… numerous benefits; some of which cannot be seen immediately. The spin-off effects of this World Karate event in Sabah, Malaysia, is huge. … Malaysian Karate would also benefit as there would be added interest in this sport.” (Datuk Henry Chin, Deputy Chairman of Main Organising Committee, 12th WUKO C’ship) Datuk Henry was then the Deputy President of MAKAF. Datuk Henry is currently the Life President of the Asia Karate Federation (AKF).Interest certainly did arise to an all time high boasting a figure of no less than 10,000 memberships and with the Association having its own premises at Jalan Tuaran.In 1997 SKA had a Highest Award presentation during an anniversary dinner to commemorate the high achievers, donors, supporters and contributors at the Promenade Hotel.With such a track record of results at the national levels as well as internationally, SKA was honoured with several awards from the State Government. As late as the year 2000 the association managed to garner 5 out of 8 possible Sabah State Sport awards. Among them were Best Sportswoman to June Moinjil, Most Promising Sportsman to Hisham Michael, Best Coach to Loh Beng Hooi, Best Leadership to YB Datuk Wilfred Bumburing and Best Sports Association (a 2nd time after winning in 1999 as well).
Photo of award recipients
SKA had by then its own stable of internationally qualified referees but none as high as Loh Beng Hooi and Johnny Chong who reached who first attained WKF Kumite Judge in 1992 and 1999 respective. To-date Loh Beng Hooi has risen to not only to WKF Full Referee and Kata Judge in 2000 but in 2001 he was taken in as the WKF Referees Commission and in 2004 is now the Assistant Secretary for the WKF Referee Council.
Loh Beng Hooi with Tommy Morris, Chairman of WKF Referee Council
In December at the eve of the 2000 millennium, SKA suffered one of its greatest losses, the untimely demise of its long serving Chief Instructor Datuk Hanshi James V.C. Lo. A mention in this history page is simply insufficient to pay homage to this man who has given so much to karate and so respected by many not only in Malaysia but throughout this South East Asia region. A void left so great that the President, Datuk Wilfred had to take upon himself to head the technical aspect of the Association through three Boards, namely Technical and Development, Black Belt Up-grading and Referee under Johnny Chong, Patrick Yap and Loh Beng Hooi respectively. To pool the strength, Datuk Wilfred had also successfully merge the ASK back into SKA, an attempt failed twice before.A veteran politician and with many years of public administration in the Government as a Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred M. Bumburing who was a strong traditional karateka himself had also made history as being the longest serving President of SKA since 1986 and running. A contribution made to Karate that was recognized by the Honorary award of Hachichi Dan (8th Dan) by Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa of SKIF in 1996.
8th Dan Certificate
The different emblems of SKA
This humble narrative on the History of SKA, highlighting the “first and most outstanding” is only scratching the surface of the so many achievements of both karatekas and officials’ unselfish contribution and hard work through all these years. It is hoped that this would start the ball rolling for all to contribute and add on to document a true and complete running history of the Association we are all proud and part of.
This is interesting. Thanks for sharing. :D
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