Message From Soke Clement Soo

I am indeed glad to say a few words in this year's bulletin as this year we are celebrating our Silver Jubilee. So many years have passed and Goshin-Ryu is growing stronger and stronger. Today Goshin-Ryu is not only recognized worldwide, but has spread to many countries. I would briefly like to say something about my Karate training in the early days.

The success of Goshin-Ryu is the doing of many die-hard instructors and the hard work they have put in. We are proud to say that many have come to join us, but sad to say that not many could last. When I first started the style in April 1974, many of my Karate friends doubted my capabilities, but would you believe that I started with 30 black belters and up to date, not less than 1000 black belters have been graded by me.

Karate has helped me in many ways and I have spent most of my time in karate. Karate was first introduced commercially in Petaling Jaya by the late Mr. Chew Choo Soot on 23 June 1966, practicing the Shito-Ryu style of Karate. Sensei K. Ishikawa was the first instructor to come to Malaysia under Budokan. I was among the first twenty students to enroll in the first intake and now I am the only one still involved in Karate. Shito-Ryu style lasted only one year and was replaced by Shotokan in 1967. Keishin-Kan was subsequently introduced in 1968 and lasted until 1971.

I won the first Malaysia Karate Championship organized by Karate Association Malaysia held at Stadium Negara in 1967. During the early days there were no weight category or control techniques, just one category and no control in punches or kicks. Later in 1968 and 1971 the categories were increased into three heights and one overall which I managed to win the below 5'9" and the overall champion in both years.

During my college days in Australia from late 1968 to end 1971, I was training under Sensei Takasaka who was well known for his kicks, reverse punch and weapons. Sensei Takasaka taught me many things over the two-year period while he was staying in my place in Melbourne. I have learnt Nunchaku, Sai and Bo with Sensei Takasaka, but I preferred Karate. This is why I do not teach my students any weapons.

My training with Soke Teruo Hayashi started in 1975 and this is how some of our advance katas are Shito-Ryu. Our basics are mainly Shotokan and part Shito-Ryu, making our style unique. We emphasize more on thrusting kicks, this can be seen in our side and back spinning kicks. We are still an associate member with Hayashi-Ha Shitoryu-Kai under Soke Hayashi. Shihan Lim Chee Jin and his students train with Soke Hayashi in Osaka regularly. With all the planning and the hard training given by Shihan Lim Chee Jin, the kata atheletes have made tremendous achievement in the last AKF Championships in Singapore this month. Lim Lee Lee won the silver and Ku Jin Keat, the bronze in the Individual Kata events.

I would like to thank Sensei Yeap Thiam Huat and his organizing committee for organizing this year-end dinner. Last, but not least, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thank you.

Soke Clement Soo

Grandmaster

Goshin-Ryu Karate Federation

Message From Shihan Lim Chee Jin

Warm greetings to all Goshin-Ryu members! I would like to extend a warm welcome to our outstation members who are here for the annual training camp cum dinner. This year-end issue of the Penang Goshin-Ryu Black Belt Club is also the most significant one as the century draws to a close and the beginning of the new millennium. We had another fantastic year! Read on……

Top on the list of achievements is our Grandmaster, Soke Clement Soo's appointment as a member of the World Karate Federation Refereeing Commission. This is indeed an honour not only for Goshin-Ryu but also for Malaysia and Asia as a whole. Next of course, yours truly has finally made the grade as a WKF Referee 'A'. Take it from me, it was a long hard climb! Shihan Ang Lye Hong and Sensei Teo Kok Seng also passed as WKF Judge. Not forgetting our local instructors, Mr. Loo Pey Huat, has passed as Asia Karate Federation Judge 'A' and Mr. Tan Jin Keat as Judge 'B'. Congratulations to all of them.

Our athletes also did us proud this year at the state, national and international scene. In the Brunei SEA Games, Malaysia for the first time swept four silver medals from all the Kata events featured. Ms. Lim Lee Lee and Mr. Ku Jin Keat won the Individual Kata silver medals. Together with Anita Ooi, Jaclyn Ch'ng, Yeoh Swee King and James Ch'ng, they picked up the Men and Women Kata silver medals as well.

At the recently concluded Asia Karate Federation Championship, Ms. Lim Lee Lee won the Individual Kata silver medal and together with Jaclyn Ch'ng, and Ng Suet Fen, they managed to win the bronze for the Tem Kata event. Mr. Ku Jin Keat won the third place in the Men Individual Kata event. I am proud of them. It is indeed an achievement for them as they were pitted against the best in Asia.

On the local front, as we know, Penang will be hosting the SUKMA 2000 and karate has been selected as one of the competing sport. Our Goshin-Ryu members selected by PKF in the SUKMA squad are:-

1. Yeoh Swee King

2. James Ch'ng

3. Kelvin Goh

4. Ng Song Kee

5. Yep Beng Keong

6. Wong Kong Yew

7. Agnes Tan

8. Lee Phei Sze

9. Mahanah

We wish them success in bringing honour for Penang and Goshin-Ryu.

Not forgetting our Asian Junior Champion, Agnes Tan, and National Junior Kata champion, Prissy Soo, represented the country at the World Junior and Cadet Karate Championship in Bulgaria last October. Agnes Tan managed to reach the semi-final before bowing out to the eventual champion. To both of them, keep on training, I am sure you will succeed one day.

As we can see, Goshin-Ryu is not short of her successes. However, these are not achieved within a short period of time. Today we are 25 years old! I must say, a lot older than most of you here and as old as some of the young leader in Goshin-Ryu too. It is the guidance and vision of our Grandmaster that has taken us to where we are today. Yours truly and Shihan Ang has always strived diligently to make Goshin-Ryu strong and successful.

To the young and up coming aspiring leaders, persevere and humble yourself and also train hard. Goshin-Ryu must be strong not only in management but also in the art! Only with these qualities will you grow and succeed. There is no short cut to the top!

As we approached the new millennium, there will be many improvements and projects to be implemented, such as the setting up of the Malaysia Goshin-Ryu Karate Academy - a center of excellence. Courses, seminars and technical training will be conducted professionally there for the benefit of our members.

We would like to see Goshin-Ryu soar to greater heights in the new millennium. I sincerely believe that with a united heart, "Goshin-Ryu", we shall overcome and grow.

Thank you, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - 2000!

Shihan Lim Chee Jin

1^st Vice President cum

Penang Chief Instructor