WELCOME: Talib greets one of the Tae Kwon Do participants as Sim looks on. — Photo by Tan Song Wei
KUCHING: A colourful Tae Kwon Do, Wushu and Tai Chi display took place under a beautiful night sky recently in Kuching, participated by some 1,000 martial artistes and practitioners.
Held at the State Hockey Stadium at Padungan here, members of the Sarawak Tae Kwon Do Association; Wushu, Lion and Dragon Dance Federation of Sarawak and the Sarawak Tai Chi Qi Qong Sibashi Association showcased a stringent display of self-defence movements.
The event, Cash Martial Arts Display 2011, was
held in conjunction with the on-going Kuching Festival.
Among those present were Assistant Tourism and Heritage Minister Datuk Talib Zulpilip who, in his speech, defined martial arts practitioners as a patriotic community.
This was because of the high discipline, tolerance and respect they possess in order to master the art of self-defence.
He explained that such attributes were very important especially when preserving the peace and harmony of a multiracial country.
“Patriotism is an
attitude. High discipline, respect and tolerance for other people are the attributes one needs to establish and strengthen peace and racial harmony.
“When we have peace and harmony, we will have political stability,” added the Jepak assemblyman.
Talib stressed that political stability would ensure economic growth and prosperity for both the country and people.
The biggest contingent of the night, the Tai Chi association, with more than 800 members, displayed a series of exercises and dance patterns before the Tae Kwon Do members took centre stage.
The Tae Kwon Do team’s excellent display of
self-defence and team pattern steps won them gold in a recent national competition in Perak and the Majlis Sukan Sekolah Menengah (MSSM) competition in Negri Sembilan.
Their wonderful demonstration of multiple breaking techniques, self-defence for women, mix (open situation), knife attacks and even the jumping flying kick technique awed the almost 1,000-strong crowd.
Next came the Wushu contingent that did not fail to mesmerise the audience with their sterling display of multiple defence and weaponry discipline.
Also present were Kuching South City
Council (MBKS) deputy mayor Abang Affendi Abang Annuar and organising chairman Sim Thong Poh.
Sim, who also spoke at the event, called for more participation in martial arts, stating that it could be seen as a form of exercise that would enhance the health and well being of its practitioners.