From Taekwondo, Judo, Aikido to bodybuilding

To Vacqur, bodybuilding seems to be a really good ground for him.

The ex-junior judoka slugging it out during a state-level MMA preliminary round in Kuching.

FORMER Malaysia Games judoka Van Vacqur Cotter is now focusing on another arena far different from what he has been training in since he was 15.

So far, things have been turning out quite well for the 22-year-old.

“Many think it’s rather strange for me to get involved in bodybuilding, which seems to be a whole world apart from judo.

“At least if I joined karate or other forms of martial arts, there would have been some connection,” he told thesundaypost during a weightlifting session at MSNS Gym Kuching recently.

Still, his venture into bodybuilding has not been fruitless, finishing fourth at this year’s Mr Fitness Boulveard Kuching and being listed among the top 10 best fitness contestants at the recent Mr Iron Hardcore Sarawak Open.

Standing at 174cm, Vacqur’s lean muscular frame did suit his preference for the fitness category of bodybuilding – also known as aesthetics.

“As much as I’d like to enter bodybuilding competitions, I have trouble bulking up as I have super-fast metabolism. To many, this is a great problem to have, but not so for me,” he laughed.

On his move to a sport other than judo, Vacqur said bodybuilding was not the first.

“After I reached 21, I was automatically no longer eligible for Malaysia Games. That was when I embarked onto new sports. I entered mixed martial arts (MMA) during a state-level challenge earlier this year and got selected for the national try-outs which sadly, I had to forego due to work commitment.

“Still, bodybuilding seems to be a really good ground for me as just like judo, it requires discipline and hard work,” he said.

Vacqur says as much as he wants to enter bodybuilding competitions, he has trouble bulking up due to his super-fast metabolism.

The 22-year-old in action at the recent Mr Iron Hardcore Sarawak Open, where he finished among the best 10 in the Fitness category.

How it started

Ironically, it was judo that got him interested in bodybuilding in the first place.

“I watched this YouTube clip showing a judo master, Sensei Taihei Ori – who is in his 70s – performing 3,000 push-ups every day.

“I was immediately inspired. I told myself: ‘If he could do it, so could I’. So I followed that routine, but ended up managing only 800 reps (laughed).

“Still, I wasn’t discouraged.

“Now, I make it a point to do 300 push-ups every day to maintain my stamina. To me, Sensei Ori’s message on that video was not all about strength; rather he also wanted to stress on the importance of discipline, spirit of competitiveness and self-determination in achieving one’s target,” said Vacqur, who speaks fluent Mandarin.

Vacqur (second left) with his Malaysia Games team-mates after training in this file pic.

Self-defence streak

Apart from judo and bodybuilding, this Bidayuh lad from Kampung Sagah has begun to explore aikido.

“You can say that some of the influences come from watching Steven Seagal (Hollywood action movie icon) in the movies,” he quipped. “Truth is, I have a penchant for martial arts – I took up taekwondo when I was still in primary school.”

Currently, Vacqur follows his cousin, Sullivan Cotter, 41, who is a sensei at Aikishuren Dojo Kuching and his former teacher Andrese Ridu, who teaches in SMK Bau.

“Interestingly, judo and aikido are not much different from one another – both stress on discipline and hard work. Perhaps judo is slightly more competitive, while aikido focuses more on self-defence,” he said.

Nevertheless with all the different hats that he’s wearing, Vacqur said he would never, ever forget judo.

“Now that I have become a senior judoka, my all-time desire to enrol in the Kodokan Centre of Excellence is still burning.

“I want to learn more from the Japanese masters, like Sensei Kawamoto who coached Olympics judo players. I met him during a judo workshop at Chung Hua Middle School No 1 several years ago. That would be awesome.

“Nonetheless, to reach there, I know that I must work hard,” he added.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/11/09/from-throwing-body-to-building-body/#ixzz3IWoPPdMq

Chee Wei bags gold for Malaysia in karate

INCHEON: Like a knight in shinning armour, Lim Chee Wei came to Malaysia’s rescue with a gold medal on the first day of the karate competition.

The 23-year-old Asiad debutant rose to the occasion to emerge victorious in the men’s individual kata event at the Gyeyang Gymnasium for Malaysia’s fourth gold in Incheon on Thursday.

He also kept the gold in Malaysia’s possession for the second straight Asiad as his coach and mentor Ku Jin Keat was the gold medallist in Guangzhou in 2010.

Chee Wei, who hails from Penang, dedicated the gold to his two coaches – Patrick Lim Chee Jin and Jin Keat.

“This is my first time at the Asiad and to start off with a gold is amazing. I did not expect it although I was confident of a medal.

“But I would not be able to achieve all these without the dedication and commitment of the two coaches who have sacrificed their time and money to groom me.

“This is a big win and I am now hoping to strike more glory for the country,’ said Chee Wei, a double gold medallist at the Myanmar SEA Games last year.

Chee Wei had a first-round bye and proceded straight to the quarter-finals.

He started off by demolishing Nepal’s Ram Bastolai Parshu 5-0. In the semi-finals, he was again in devastating form with a 4-1 win over Japan’s Issei Shimbaba.

There was no stopping Chee Wei although Indonesian Fidelys Lolobua provided him with a stiff fight. Chee Wei won 3-2 to nab the gold.

Jin Keat, who took over as the national kata team coach, was full of praise for his protege.

“We did target a medal from him. But to start off his debut in the Asian Games with a gold is good. I am sure he will improve along the way.

“He has been my student all the time and we all come from the same club. But more importantly, the win has given the whole team a boost and we have reached our target. But that does not mean we will stop here,” said Jin Keat.

There was, however, no joy for R. Sharmendran, the other Malaysian in action on Thursday.

Competing in the men’s kumite below 67kg category, Sharmendran started off promisingly with a 4-0 first-round win over Mukhammadzaid Iminov of Uzbekistan. But he was beaten 1-4 by Kuwait’s Abdulaziz Ali in the quarter-finals.

The karate team had arrived at the Games on Tuesday under pressure to deliver with Malaysia having only three golds to show and the gloom caused by first-day gold medallist Tai Cheau Xuen’s positive drugs test.

Now, hopes are up again and there is optimism that karate may well get a second gold in the kumite events. Four more Malaysians - S. Senthil, Syakila Saini, Nisha Alagasan and Shree Sharmini Segaran - will go into action on Friday.

The Star

Karate once again delivered when it mattered

INCHEON: Syakilla Salni Jefry Krisnan crowned her Asian Games debut with a gold medal after a dominating display in the women's kumite below-61kg final today.

The 22-year-old exponent from Klang stopped the clock with 30 seconds remaining after the mercy rule was enforced once Syakilla reached an eight-point lead against Barno Mirzaeva of Uzbekistan.

Syakilla's 10-2 win was the perfect way to mount the top step of the podium in what is the biggest win of her fledgling karate career.

"I am so happy, I can't tell you how happy I am," said Syakilla, who also won gold at the 2013 Sea Games, in between sobs at the Gyeyang Gymnasium in Incheon.

"This is the best result of my career. I want to thank my coach (Andris Vasiljev), the national karate association, National Sports Council, National Sports Institute, my family and friends for all the support they have given to me."

Syakilla became only the second Malaysian female karate exponent, after S. Premila in 2002, to win Asian Games gold.

Karate has now surpassed badminton and moved level with athletics in having contributed eight gold medals for Malaysia in Asian Games history.

Earlier, S. Senthil Kumaran won bronze in the men's kumite below-55kg category, the event in which R. Puvaneswaran won gold for a second time in 2010.

Senthil won a judges' decision after his bronze medal bout with Indonesia's Suryadi ended 4-4.

Later today, A. Nisha and S. Shree Sharmini take to the floor in the women's below-55kg and below-68kg respectively.

Karate centre selects athletes for Games

by Jenifer Laeng, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on July 28, 2013, Sunday

WE ARE READY: Athletes from Miri Karate Excellence Center picked for the upcoming Borneo Games in Labuan.

MIRI: Several athletes from Miri Karate Excellence Centre here have been selected to represent the state for the September Borneo Games to be held in Labuan.

Head coach, Al Harir Muhammad, disclosed that the athletes were chosen during a recent karate selection here.

They faced top picks from Sarawak Shitoryu Karate during the selection trial.

In the individual Kata event, Dayangku Nurdiyana won against Nadzirah Tuwah.

However, Nadzirah Tuwah’s win over a male competitor from Sarawak Shitoryu Karate impressed the panel judges and her coach.

“One of the panel selection judges, Shihan Edward, commented that it was the first time he saw a very impressive kata performance from a female athlete against a male athlete,” Al-Harir said.

Meanwhile, in the male under 75kg kumite, Mohd Ariffin won with a clear advantage over Danstance Tang from Sarawak Shitoryu Karate.

Al-Harir also said that training sessions have been reduced during the fasting month as most of the athletes are Muslims, but added that they will have intensive training soon after the fasting month is over.

“We need to stay focused and do all we can to prepare for the upcoming Borneo Games. We hope we will not only bring more medals back but we hope, through this games, our athletes will be able to learn new things and gain more experiences,” he added.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/07/28/karate-centre-selects-athletes-for-games/#ixzz2aIeqC6F5

Tough task awaits karate exponents in Myanmar SEA Games

By ASHREENA PILLAI

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s karate squad suffered a double blow when R. Loganesha Rao and Kam Kah Sam quit the national team last month – just seven months before this year’s SEA Games in Myanmar.

Malaysia Karate Federation (MKF) secretary general Vincent Chen said that 2011 SEA Games men’s kumite below 55kg gold medallist Loganesha, who is still undergoing rehabilitation for an unspecified injury, has yet to hand in his resignation letter while 23-year-old kata exponent Kah Sam cited studies as his reason for quitting.

“It’s definitely disappointing. “The first time they came to see me, I managed to talk them out of quitting. But three months later, they came back feeling the same way,” said Vincent.

“It’s their choice. There’s nothing much I can do if their heart is not in it.

“It’s going to be difficult as we still have some fighters still undergoing rehabilitation, like G. Yamini (knee) and K. Teagarajan (unspecified injury).”

Vincent, however, is pleased that the elite and back-up squads’ exponents are progressing well.

At the recent South-East Asian Championships in Manila, Malaysia bagged 11 golds, eight silvers and seven bronzes. Eight of the 11 golds came from the elite exponents while the back-up squad delivered the other three.

Malaysia’s biggest rivals in the region, Indonesia, have also improved tremendously over the years. In Manila, they garnered nine golds, five silvers and 10 bronzes and could pose a real threat to our exponents come December.

“We have a great pool of talent in the back-up squad. They’re just not mature enough to make the transition into the elite squad yet,” said Vincent.

“Unlike us, Indonesia have at least four exponents for each category.

That offers them the flexibility of fielding their strongest line-up at every event.

“That’s why it’s crucial that the National Sports Council (NSC) support the back-up programme ... we have a credible crop of youngsters who are capable of making the grade to the elite squad.

“Ideally, we’d like to be in the same position (as the Indonesians) and rotate our fighters ... switch things up and keep our opponents guessing.”

Karate academy exponents competing

MIRI: Nine young karate-kas aged seven to 11 years, from Kinnotaka Karate Academy (KKA) are participating in a two-day championship at Likas Sports Complex in Kota Kinabalu today.
They are Muhammad Zakaria Hulba, Max-Alexander Simon, Alfred Falco Fernando, Abdul Rahman Hulba, Chris Ling, Cassandra Sonia, Rueben Thiyaga Rajan, Ronaldo Thiyaga Rajan and Aric Chong.
The `14th Sabah State Primary School Karate Championship 2011’ is organised by Sabah Karate Association (SKA).

According to Edmond C. Fernando, KKA team coach, the championship was infact only for primary schools pupils in Sabah.
“We are invited as guest teams to the annual event.
“We appreciate the invitation very much because this allows us, especially our young exponents to get exposure and interact with others from other places,” he added.


Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/10/08/karate-academy-exponents-competing-in-sabah/#ixzz2GCpLX5ye

Malaysian Karate Trio Strike Three Gold Medals

From Nursyabiha Sukri

VIENTIANE, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- Karate exponents added another three gold medals to the Malaysian contingent's Asean University Games medal tally at the Chao Anouvong Gymnasium in Vientiane Friday.

Mohd Hatta Mahamut, K. Teagarajan and M. Mathivani stamped their class in the men's kumite 84kg, men's kumite 75kg and women's kumite 61kg to win their respective events.

Experienced Mohd Hatta had no trouble disposing Trinh Vo Hao from Vietnam 5-2 in the kumite 84kg while Teguh Ganeswara Umar from Indonesia and Watchara Charoenpachok from Thailand were awarded bronze medals as losing semifinalists.

"I was cautious with my opponent during the bout since the Vietnam exponent was also experienced. Tomorrow I hope to maintain my performance in the men's kumite team event to win another gold," Mohd Hatta told reporters here.

The days second gold medal winner Teagarajan disposed Alin Sukma Pranata from Indonesia 5-2 while Songvut Muntaen from Thailand and Nguyen Van Su from Vietnam were awarded bronze medals.

Mathivani on the other hand was in supreme form as she whitewashed her opponent Arm Sukkiaw from Thailand 8-0 to claim the gold medal while Selitha Palalangan from Indonesia and Le Thi Thuy from Vietnam were bronze medal winners.

Apart from the trio, Uriel Yu En French contributed a silver medal in men's kumite 67kg category while V. Jayaseelan (men's kumite above 84kg) and M. Yokonanthini (women's kumite 55kg) added to the bronze medal tally.

Competitions in the AUG will continue Saturday.

-- BERNAMA

Karatekas bag gold and bronzes in KK

From The Borneo Post

Posted on April 1, 2011, Friday

FRUITFUL OUTING: Muhd Zulfikar (right) with other medal winners.

KUCHING: Karate-Do Association Sarawak (Asahi) karatekas bagged one gold and seven bronze medals in the Karate-Do Championship held in Kota Kinabalu in conjunction with the City Day recently. T

The gold and a bronze were won by Muhd Zulfikar Firdaus Arman of SMT Sejingkat in the individual kumite. Other bronzes bagged by the boys in individual kumite were by Elmer Bori and Baniela Lihim (SMK Penrissen). Baniela and others (Albert Edmond- SMK Bau and Alplian Zoe Lambung – SMK Tae’e, Brendan Johnny and Vennedick Wilson Charlie-Asahi) also bagged bronzes in the team kumite. 

Brendan broke his tooth in the tussle with his opponent. Meanwhile other bronze medallists in the girls’ individual kumite were Martina Azelin Dirum – SMK Bau and Jane Florise Cia Jewis – SMK Tae’e. Jane also won bronze in the team kumite. The event attracted karatekas from Indonesia, West Malaysia, Sarawak and hosts Sabah. It took the team an arduous 28 hours to travel by bus from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu. 

The association is also planning to organise the first inter-primary and secondary schools karate-do championship on May 27 to 29. Athletes from Sibu, Bintulu and Miri, with invitations extended to Sabah, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Indonesia are expected to participate.

Shito- Ryu Dojo in Kuching

Shito Ryu Dojo in Kuching operated by my friend Sepai Harem Peri

Goshinryu team overall champs in Zone Karate C’ship

by Jacqueline Raphael. Posted on December 4, 2010, Saturday

MIRI: Goshinryu Karate Negeri Sarawak has emerged as the overall champion in the Fourth East Malaysia Zone Karate Championship which was hosted by Malaysia Association Shitoryu Karate held at the Hills Shopping Mall in Kuching recently.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: Goshinryu Karate Negeri Sarawak’s team members in jubilation after emerging as champions in the Fourth East Malaysia Zone Karate Championship recently.

With 28 gold medals at stake, Goshinryu Karate Negeri Sarawak bagged 12 gold, nine silver and 17 bronze medals making them the overall champion.The 33-member contingent comprises mostly participants aged between eight to 15 years old who are new to the championship while most of the senior athletes were being rested for their SPM examination or in preparation for Sukma XIV 2011 training.

“This is our second participation to EMZ Championship and it is quite encouraging to see the athletes are getting slightly better.“Except for the poor judging and refereeing which need to be improved so that we will have quality athletes being produced,” says team manager Shihan Al-Harir .The 12 gold medals came from Syed Mohd Aliff (Boy Individual Kata 8-9 years old), Syaza Darmanto (Girl Individual Kata 10-11 years old), Mohd Suffree Mohd Ali (Male Individual Kata 18 years and above), Mohd Haiqal bin Roslan (Boy Individual Kumite 8-9 years old), Muhd Haziq bin Roslan (Boy Individual Kumite 10-11 years old), Syaza Darmanto (Girl Individual Kumite 10-11 years old), Sharifah Nur Antasya (Girl Kumite 12-13 years old), Dayang Izzah Abg Sharkawi (Girl Individual Kumite 14-15 years old), Darnizan Darmanto (Female Individual Kumite 55kg & below), Mohd Afiq Darmanto (Male Individual Kumite 67kg & below), Abdul Rahim Omar (Male Individual Kumite 85kg & below) and Female Team Kumite.

Shihan added that Goshinryu Karate Negeri Sarawak is in the process of doing Talent Identification (Talent ID) as requested by Sarawak Sports Commission (MSN) because GoshinryuKarate Negeri Sarawak in Miri is the only karate centre identified as centre of excellence by the Sarawak Sports Commission.

“As for Sukma XIV 2011 to be held at Bukit Jalil, currently the athletes mostly comprising of Goshinryu Negeri Sarawak athletes under the shadow team are undergoing intensive training five times a week at our base Kelab Rekreasi Petroleum Miri.“Their training regime is being monitored by the Sarawak Sports Commission and currently they are in general phase period,” said Shihan.

With the theme ‘Healthy lifestyle through Karate’, Shihan welcomes the public especially those 21 years old and below to join karate for fun, sport or Sukma programme.Those interested can contact the association’s treasurer Salbiah (016-8542151) or president Nurliza Hj.Talhah (012-807597) for further detail on training days at Kelab Rekreasi Petroleum or the association’s Honbu Dojo at Lot 795 Lutong which is next to Harmoni Clinic (Opposite Kelab Rekreasi Lutong).

Shito Ryu VS Asahi Karate

Karate Do Championship 28 Nov 2010, The Hills Megamall Kuching, Sarawak

Shitoryu Karate-do team bagged nine medals

by Eric Edward. Posted on July 30, 2010, Friday

MIRI: The Shitoryu Karate-do state team bagged nine medals at the recent 2010 National Self-defence Martial Arts Championships organised by Ministry of Youth and Sports recently in Ipoh, Perak.

GOOD MEDAL HAUL: Shitoryu Karate-do team manager Harem Peri (third right) with team members and coaches (from right) Ngui Siou Fong and Michaelangelo.

The state team won two gold, five silver and two bronze medals in the tournament. A total of 16 state karate exponents took part in the championships of which eight members were from Miri, four from Sibu and two each from Bintulu and Kuching respectively.

The gold medallists were Miri’s Sukma exponents Ngui Xin Ru in the 15-17 years Individual Girl Kata event and Miraz Ho Chiang Hoi (Bintulu) in Individual Boy Open Kata event. Daniel Yap Chung Kiat from Miri won silver in the 15-17 years in individual Boy Kata event.

He took home another silver in the team Boy Kata event with fellow Mirians, Koh Ee Jeung and Cheng Chim Hong.

The other winners were Noor Surya Sikong from Bintulu in the Individual Girls Open Kata event and Sibu duo, Nur Fazila Bahak and Yvonne Ying in the Girl Kumite event above 53 kg and below 53kg respectively.

Collymore Lau Li Kai from Miri won a bronze medal in the 12-14 years Individual Boy Kata event. Another bronze medal came from the team Girl Open Kata event won by Miri/Bintulu trio of Ngui Xin Ru, Ngui Xin Yu and Noor Surya Sikong. 12 teams from various states took part in the annual martial art championship.

Shito Ryu Dojo in Kuching

My friend Senpai Mr Harem Peri has opened his new Karate Dojo (Shito Ryu) at Tabuan Jaya not far from Stutong Market.

Isshinkan Dojo in Kuching, Sarawak

The Karate Kid 2010 Trailer with Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith

Karate Kid In The Making

I dedicated myself for  5 years to master this art.

How To Learn Karate-Do

If you interested in Karate-Do , you need to enrol yourself to any of the dedicated Karate Dojo. From there you have to practice at least  two times per week for 2 hours. I obtained my 1st Dan after 4 years of  training. There is no short cut.

Shito-Ryu Karate-do

MASK History in Malaysia

Shito-Ryu was founded by the late Grandmaster Kenwa Mabuni (1889 - 1952) who originated from Shuri in Okinawa, Japan. Kenwa Mabuni was the 17th generation of Kenyu Oshiro, one of the bravest warriors of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Mabuni learnt from 2 renowned masters in Karate-Do history, Ankoh Itosu of Shuri and Kanryo Higaonna of Naha. From Itosu, he mastered the quick lightning-like techniques and from Higaonna, he mastered the slow techniques emphasising dynamic breathing and muscular control. He also learnt from Aragaki and Matsumara as well as the Gokenki (White Crane) system from China.

Malaysian Karate Exponents-Five Gold

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s percentage of gold medals won in the last five SEA Games has seen a marked improvement, averaging 10 to 15 per cent of the medals at stake, compared with just 8 per cent before 2000.

FIVE-GOLD OUTING: Malaysian karate exponents with their gold medals at Chao Anouvong Gymnasium in Vientiane during the 25th Laos SEA Games, in this Dec 12, 2009 file photo. — Bernama photo

A report released by Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) said Malaysia’s best haul was in the 2001 SEA Games, when Malaysia were the hosts and the percentage of gold medals won was 28.3 per cent or 111 of the 392 gold medals offered. In the 2003 Vietnam SEA Games, Malaysia collected 9.7 per cent of the gold medals or 43 of the 444 offered but that increased to 13.7 per cent at the 2005 Manila SEA Games with 61 golds from 444 offered.

The Malaysian contingent, further improved on the achievement during the 2007 Korat SEA Games with 14.2 per cent or 68 of the 477 offered by host Thailand. The recent SEA Games hosted by Laos last December, saw Malaysia achieve 10.8 per cent or 40 gold medals from the 372 total offered. According to OCM honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi, Malaysia’s performance in the SEA Games had improved over the last decade.

Since the SEAP Games was expanded to be the SEA Games, Malaysia’s percentage of gold medals won has risen from an average of below 10 per cent from 1977 to 1997 (7.11 per cent in 1981 and 7.66 per cent in 1983), to an average of above 10 per cent since then.
This was the legacy from hosting the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, he said.
“Many intensive programmes were implemented in the run-up to the Commonwealth Games and that had helped improve the performances of athletes in the SEA Games,” he told Bernama here yesterday.

Sieh added that the impact of the Commonwealth Games programmes was evident during the 2001 SEA Games hosted by Malaysia, since 111 gold medals were won, en route to clinching the overall champions title. However, Sieh warned that Malaysia must be careful with the emergence of Singapore and Vietnam.

Singapore, who started their surge since 2000 by collecting 22 (5.6 per cent) of the 392 gold medals in Kuala Lumpur (2001), improved on that figure significantly in Laos by accumulating 33 gold medals (8.9 per cent) from the 372 at stake, he said.

Vietnam have shown great progress since hosting the 2003 SEA Games, when they finished in first position and since then Vietnam have finished in second place once (2009) and in third place twice (2005 and 2007). Indonesia, the powerhouses of the SEA Games in the 1980s and 1990s, have suffered a decline in the last five SEA Games, but as the hosts of the 26th SEA Games in 2011, Indonesia were expected to bounce back, he said.

In terms of percentage of gold medals won, Thailand have been consistently scoring over 20 per cent for the last five SEA Games, with the highest at 38.1 per cent at the 2007 SEA Games, when Thailand were the hosts. — Bernama

Malaysia fourth biggest contingent in Laos

December 5, 2009, Saturday
VIENTIANE: Malaysia is sending 469 athletes and officials to the 25th SEA Games here, making it the fourth biggest contingent in the biennial meet which officially opens on Dec 9.According to the Games organising statistics, Malaysia is sending 348 athletes and 121 officials to the Games.

MALAYSIA BOLEH!: Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Datuk Wee Jeck Seng (centre) with the Malaysian Laos SEA Games contingent after the Jalur Gemilang presentation in Putrajaya.

Except for shuttlecock juggling, muay thai, fin swimming and wrestling, Malaysia will take part in another 21 sports offered in Vientiane. The sports are athletics, aquatics, archery, badminton, snooker & billiards, boxing, cycling, football, golf, judo, karate, sepak takraw, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, wushu, silat and petanque. The 2007 SEA Games defending champion Thailand, who is determined to defend its crown, is sending an 842-strong contingent, comprising 550 athletes and 292 officials, making it the biggest team in the Games.

Second is host Laos with 743 contingent members (482 athletes and 261 officials), followed by Vietnam (671), Malaysia, Indonesia (465), Philippines (413), Myanmar (400), Singapore (392), Cambodia (204), Brunei (79) and Timor Leste (77). The smallest contingents are Brunei and Timor Leste with 30 and 37 athletes respectively. Brunei will contest in six sports and Timor Leste, seven.

A total of 4,869 athletes, who will vie for 370 gold, 370 silver and 539 bronze medals, with athletics being the most popular sports with the participation of 288 athletes, followed by football (280), shooting (169), sepak takraw (167), swimming (140), karate (130), cycling (116), archery (114), badminton (114) and judo (101).

Shuttlecock juggling, which is popular among the Indochina nations, received the lowest participation among the 25 sports offered here. It recorded 22 participants from Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. — Bernama

Shito-Ryu VS Tae Kwon Do

My son Alvin 12 years old is testing his skill on mawashi geri.. He got his red and black belt last year in Tae Kwon Do