Karim: Every martial arts is unique

November 24, 2013 

“Every martial art is unique and I hope all martial arts practitioners from the various and different types of martial arts continue to respect each other.” -Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

WELCOME BY WARRIORS: Abdul Karim (fifth, right) and Abdul Haris (fourth, right) being presented with an exhibition match by the Kuching Muaythai Association during the opening ceremony of the Sarawak Martial Arts Championships yesterday.

KUCHING: Fans are in for a big treat as the Sarawak Martial Arts Championships featuring six martial arts opened yesterday.

The state-level competition, organised by the State Youth and Sports Ministry, is participated by such associations as the Sarawak Lion Dance and Wushu Association, Silat Seni Gayong Malaysia (Sarawak branch), Rumpun Silat Sarawak, Kuching Tang Soo Do Association, Sarawak Silambam Association and Kuching Muaythai Association.

Assistant Minister of Youth Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was present to officiate the opening ceremony at State Youth and Sports Ministry complex.

A self-professed avid martial arts fan himself, he admitted that he was excited to see such an event combining many arts being organised.

THE FIGHT IS ON: Abdul Karim sounding the symbolic gong to mark the start of the state-level martial arts event yesterday as officials from the participating martial arts associations look on.

“Every martial art is unique and I hope all martial arts practitioners from the various and different types of martial arts continue to respect each other,” he said.

At the opening ceremony he also witnessed exhibition matches from silat, wushu and muaythai.

The wushu competition takes place at the State Youth and Sports Ministry complex while most others have theirs at the Batu Lintang Teacher’s Training Institute (IPGBL).

Muaythai boxers, on the other hand, will have their events extended until next week with all bouts scheduled to take place at Kubah Ria. According to State Youth and Sports Ministry director Abdul Harris Ishak, the event is organised to further develop martial arts in the state and country and uncover more quality talents.

“Martial arts such as silat is a Malaysian heritage which originated in this part of the world, the Malay Archipelago. There is also a need for us to get more people to learn it,” he added after the opening ceremony.