《我上报--The Star 091007 N40》

Disciples’ quest for perfection
By NG SI HOOI

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 30 wushu disciples are putting in extra hours of martial art practice to ensure that they give a first rate show at the 50th Merdeka Anniversary Cultural and Arts Performance.

The disciples, aged between 13 and 30, were busy jumping into the air with lightning-fast kicks while others were practising somersaults at the Tsun Jin High School here recently.

The disciples, who had an average five years’ experience in wushu – the art of self-defence – spend hours every week to their hone their martial arts skills under the guidance of the HYJ Wushu Academy chief instructors.


Well coordinated: The disciples practising their wushu skills at Tsun Jin High School in Kuala Lumpur under the watchful eye of Ken (inset).

“Martial art requires long hours of practice. We want to ensure that we will present a spectacular performance,” said chief instructor Ken Woo Chee.

He said his students’ performance would concentrate on the legwork, as favoured by those in the North, instead of the arm techniques, which is more a Southern style.

“We are glad to be a part of the performance. The development of wushu in Malaysia is better preserved than many other countries. Malaysia wushu masters have been invited to China to show off some of our martial arts skills,” he said.

He said martial arts would not only make a practitioner stronger but cultivate independence and personal discipline.

“Wushu is essentially a means to discipline the mind, body and character. A true wushu disciple does not go looking for fights. In fact, they are more disciplined than others.”

He, however, noted that the youth these days were not as interested in wushu compared with those in the past, who were unwilling to put up with the harsh training.

“Now, they have more sources of entertainment like video games and the Internet which keep them occupied,” he said.

However, Ken said there were still a handful of youngsters who had a passion for wushu and they spent long hours perfecting their skills.

The event, organised by the MCA and several Chinese organisations in conjunction with Malaysia’s 50th anniversary of Independence, will be held at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Oct 27 and 28.

There is a RM30 charge for those who wish to attend the gala dinner-cum-performance at 7pm on Oct 27.

Members of the public can also catch the performance at 6.30pm the next day after getting free tickets at 103 locations nationwide.

The tickets can be obtained at the MCA headquarters here, party state liaison committees, Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia, Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Malaysia, Malaysia Seven Clans Association, Malaysian Chinese Cultural Society, Popular outlets, Eu Yan Sang retail branches, CNI Distribution Centres, Purple Cane outlets, Help ICT and South City Lifelong Learning Centre.

For details, contact the MCA headquarters at 03-2161 8044.

Today, 200 tickets to the 50th Merdeka Anniversary Cultural and Arts Performance will be available (11am-2pm) to the public at Menara Star, 15, Jalan 16/11, Section 16, Petaling Jaya. Each person is entitled to two tickets on a first-come-first-served basis.