By Angeline Khor
IPOH: The exceptional performances by Hanshi Hiroshi Hisataka from Japan and Sensei Ketut from Indonesia successfully ignited the spirits of participants during the opening of the 2024 Perak Open Koshiki Karatedo Championship.
The two international athletes showcased their skills in Koshiki Karate-Do at the event held at SJKC Hing Hwa, Tambun, organized by the Perak Koshiki Karatedo Association (PKKA) recently.
According to Neoh Then Hock, the Chief Technical Director of Koshiki Karate Malaysia, the tournament saw the participation of 108 competitors, ranging from 4 to 53 years old.
“Participants represented various martial arts disciplines, including Tae Kwon Do (ITF), Kyokushin, MMA, Kickboxing, and several styles of Karate.
“There were competitors from across Malaysia, including Perak, Johor, Penang, the Federal Territory, Selangor, and Kedah, as well as international entries from Japan,” he said.
The tournament was officiated by Mohd Syaiful Fahmi, Assistant Senior Director of the Perak Youth and Sports Department.
Neoh also emphasized that Koshiki Karate has the potential to gain national recognition and compete internationally if it receives full support from the government.
“Koshiki Karate, known as ‘Hard Contact Karate,’ is gaining international recognition due to its intense sparring style and is rapidly growing in Malaysia.
“This full-contact style uses advanced protective equipment called Anzen Bogu, which allows for stronger and safer sparring, unlike traditional Karate, which focuses on controlled techniques with minimal protection,” he explained.
However, he noted that the sport faces significant challenges as the specialized equipment must be imported from Japan, which comes with high costs, affecting the organization of tournaments.
As a pioneer of Koshiki Karate in Malaysia, Neoh is confident that the sport can achieve national recognition and compete internationally with full government support and official recognition.
After the tournament, PKKA was named the best team, earning the most medals across various categories, and was recognized for its excellence throughout the event.
