Karate in Malaysia

Karate has been recognized as a sport by the International Olympic Committee since 1990, when World Karate Federation (WKF) was formed. Today, with over 10 million federated members with various karate styles, factions and clubs, in 171 countries over all five continents, WKF is gearing to bring karate into the 2016 Olympic Games.

Karate first came to Malaysia in the early 1960's when several Japanese businessmen began to practice the sport here. Today, are currently more than 60,000 karatekas spread throughout the nation.

Malaysia's first professional Japanese karate instructor - Sensei Yoshimasa lshikawa of Shito-ryu - was brought in by the late Mr. Chew Choo Soot in June 1966. Back then, the first dojo was shared with Tae-Kwon-Do on the first floor of a two-storey shop lot in New Town Centre, Petaling Jaya.

Sensei Yoshimasa had his first intake of 20 students on 25th of June 1966, one of whom was Soke Clement Soo, whose life took a different turn as his passion for karate grew. He was trained by many great karate senseis like the late Toshio Yoneda, the late Hidetoshi Mori, Emmy Querubin - Shotokan, !chi Yamazaki and Takasaka - Kei Shinkan and lastly by the most respected sensei, the late Soke Teruo Hayashi.

The growth of Goshin-ryu

Goshin-ryu grew and expanded to become a recognized branch of Karate not only in Malaysia but also in other coun-tries. In mid 1974, Sensei Koh Beng Soon - a student of Soke Clement Soo - started Goshin-Ryu Karacaretein Aof nsussteraliaei en In 1976, Goshin-ryu Switzerland was set up by the late Sense'. Chan Chak Swee and is now under the Robert Battig. Goshin-ryu India was established by Sensei T. Ponniyah in 1976 and is now run by Sensei Narasiham Goshin-ryu has also centres in Kuwait and Bangla desh. in Malaysia, Goshin-ryu karate is found in Kuala Lumpur; Penang, Selangor, Perak, Kelantan, Sembilan, Johor, Labuan and Sarawak.

Soke Clement Soo has traveled to many countries conducting karate seminars. His students have been winning medals in Asian Games, SEA Games, Commonwealth Championships, Open Karate Championships in Asia and Europe and have been dominating the &Ida competition in National Championships since 1996. One of Soke's senior students, Shihan Lin Qiee Jin, is the ainent AKF Referee Council Chairman.

Soke Clement Soo believes that their success comes from hard work, dedication, tolerance, respect and cooperation with others. It is this self-same qualities that has led him to become respected in the many roles he undertook through hisyears as a devoted and practising karaleka - Malaysia's first national Karate coach (1978), AUKO Referee Council member (1992), AKF Referee Council chairman (1997), WKF Referee Council member (1997) and Executive Council Member of AKF (2002). Currently, he is the Referee Council chairman of MAKAF (since 1996), the Vice-President of AKF and a member of Sports Advisory Panel to the Minister of Youth & Sports.