By Chris Teh
Some 111 participants from six countries competed in the Malaysia Open Koshiki Championship 2019 organised by the Perak Koshiki Karate-Do Association held at SJK(C) Hing Hwa, Tambun recently.
Present was Executive Councillor for Youth and Sports Development Howard Lee Chuan How to launch the competition during the morning session.
Organised biannually in Perak, the international championship is the second of its kind to be held in Malaysia and 15th overall, the last was in 2017.
Having made its debut in 2001, the Koshiki championship was originally exclusive to members of the Koshiki Karate-Do Association. It was only in 2008 that it became open to all practitioners of self-defence martial arts.
“When we say ‘open’, we mean no limitations and safety measures are always a top priority,” president of Perak Koshiki Karate-Do Association, Shihan Neoh Then Hock said. “Practitioners of all forms of martial arts, like muay tai and tae kwon-do are welcome to compete in Koshiki. On the shiaijou (Japanese romanisation for competition ground), participants are only judged based on their agility, strength and technique.”
Neoh said that the state government had allocated RM5000 for the competition.
“I’m really grateful for their support of sports events like this,” he expressed. “Hopefully, future championships will garner further support, as it not only promotes healthy competition but also the speciality of each martial art form.”
Once again, the Perak Koshiki Karate-Do Association emerged as the overall champion, winning 19 out of 57 medals in 19 categories.
Gold medal winners from the association include Yeep Wai Lim (Men Kumite Below 58kg), Yeep Wai Lie (Boys Kumite Under-17), Soo Kai Yan (Women Senior Kata and Girls Kumite Open), Lee Lai Mun (Girls Kumite Under-14) and Jeslyn Kaur (Girls Kumite Under-7).
