Malaysian Federation / Jul 2003 Contributor: Ryoko Takeda, Kota Kinabalu Branch

1st Malaysia Shorinji Kempo Federation Summer Camp
Inobong Visitor & Research Station 7- 8 June, 2003

Renown for Dr. Mahatir, Malaysia consists of Peninsula Malaysia and East Malaysia, Northern Borneo. The size of Malaysia is almost 90% of Japan, its population is approximately 25 million. In East Malaysia, there are two states namely Sabah and Sarawak. Sarawak alone is equivalent to Peninsula Malaysia in its size, yet only 20 % of total population resides in East Malaysia.

Sandakan, the old capital city of Sabah, is the birth place of Shorinji Kempo in Malaysia when Sensei David Wang met for the first time Mr. Kunimoto, 4th Dan in early 1966. Its evolution is detailed in Sensei Wang's recent book "from the fist to the heart" (Japanese translation is available).

In Malaysia Federation of Shorinji Kempo, nowadays seven Branches are registered; five Branches in East Malaysia, and two in Peninsula Malaysia of which one Branch belongs to the Japanese Club of Kuala Lumpur. The registered members since the formation of Malaysia Shorinji Kempo Federation (MSKF) in 1993 total to some 2,000. Active members in the region is 500 in the seven Branches. Even today, 150 new members join each year to the Federation.

Sabah, once the richest state of Malaysia, exported timber (one of the major importer was Japan). Now oil palm plantation takes place for state economy. Today, tourism is much encouraged for foreign currency earning. Population of Kota Kinabalu, the state capitala of Sabah is approximately 700,000 to 800,000 or even close to one million. This ambiguity is due to the overwhelming illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries such as Indonesia and Philippines.

Kota Kinabalu Branch was first established in 1970. Active blackbelters today are approximately 40 and Kyu-Kenshis are also about 40 here.
In Kota Kinabalu Dojo, adults Kenshis meet three times a week where junior Kenshis meet once a week on Saturday afternoon. Though their practice hour ends at 19:30, many remains another hour or so to keep practicing in pairs, alone at the mirror, or chatting with Sensei Wang. Kota Kinabalu Dojo is twice as big as normal size, yet when all these Kenshis gether, it sure looks small.
WSKO Headquarters sends instructors every two years or so. This year 2003 happens to be one of them.
Sensei Nagata, Masanori (8th Dan) and Sensi Sawamura, Hajime (7th Dan) came to teach us this year: there were practical instruction, besides exam for branch masters to be, and 2nd and 4th Dan promotion tests. There were some 20 participants from the Peninsula Dojos, altogether 85 Kenshis participated this year.

Besides normal practices, sometimes MSKF are invited to perform demonstration at University Malaysia Sabah, some local highschools, and other institutions. This year,
Kota Kinabalu Branch took part of the Japanese Cultural Week on 9th of March, along with Karate and Kendo. We performed in public for about 40 minutes at a shopping complex.

This time, MSKF decided to organize the 1st summer camp at Inobong Visitor & Research Station (IVRS) of Sabah Parks at Crocker Range Park for two days, Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th of June.

1st Summer Camp of MSKF
On the first day, 14 participants gathered at the Dojo by 07:00. Some of them still had sleepy faces. Then two mini buses arrived to transport us the IVRS in 30 minutes. This facility was provided by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) a sole Agency to carry out Japan's Official Development Assistance, because Sabah Parks is one of the leading organizations of Bornean Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation Programme of JICA. IVRS has a nice wooden floor observation platform which served as an open-air Dojo for 14 Kenshis.
After a warm welcome of Sabah Park staff, every Kenshi left their name in the registration book. Then Justinus, the officer-in-charge of IVRS gave us a general orientation about the Crocker Range Park (CRP) where IVRS is located. Meanwhile,
Alim Bium arrived. He is a senior researcher of Sabah Park, and demonstrated a 30 min. slide show where Bornean biodiversity and ecosystem of CRP was explained.

Open-air Dojo at IVRS
After the slide show, all the Kenshis changed into Dogi and started to clean up the Observatory Platform which later used as an open-air Dojo. When warming-up was finished, Kenshis enjoyed fresh mountain breeze, so nice to feel on the sweaty cheek. One hour practice was led by the leading 4th Dan to be Lee Siaw Yung as usual.
Pot-luck lunch
Every Kenshi brought one dish, a pot-luck lunch. There were variety of food, most of all, so many egg sandwitches!

Nature education
In the afternoon, Sabah Park staff guided us to the nearby Kibambangang waterfall. On the way, Alim Bium explained stopping here and there, showing the wonder of Mother Nature: medicinal herbs, useful plants, tropical rainforest, etc. So adventurous trailing did not seem so hard afterall, because we stopped every once in a while to listen to his explanation. This trailing certainly served as a good additional exercise before the day's highlight, barbeque dinner.

Barbeque dinner
Sabah Park staff helped us to set up fire. During barbeque, under different atmosphere than at city Dojo, Kenshis got to know each other even better than before; there were singings, guitar playing, ghost stories, etc. Some of them went to bed early, others stayed up late. All are tired but fell into sound sleep on camping beds.

Early next morning around 06:00, the majestic Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in the Southeast Asian Region, was seen from IVRS so clearly. From IVRS, we could observe just within a few meters away some birds eating their breakfast at nearby trees. Kenshis started the day late, contrary to what was planned. A few early bird kenshi went for bird-watching. After breakfast prepared by ourselves, another guided trailing was waiting for us where medicinal herbs, insects, birds and food chain of the Crocker Range Park were explained on the way.
Before closing the camp, Kenshis cleaned up the IVRS and picked up trash. We thanked the Sabah Park staff and departed by mini bus back to the Kota Kinabalu Town by 13:00.

The following day, after Monday practice, a token of 1st summer camp was given to the participants by Wang-sensei, the President of MSKF. Then the camp slide show followed and viewed by many kenshis that led to an aspiration of going again to 2nd summer camp.



Consequences:
In one week time, a Social Club of MSKF was quickly formed for the first time in our history. Eight members were elected among the first 14 camp participants, ready to continue more social activities like blood donation, visits to other Branches, among others. The first fourteen summer camp participants, as if charmed by the holy Mt. Kinabalu, had become leading members; many of them are Kyu kenshis, some are young black-belters. It is expected to further enhance the quality of our practice, discipline and through social activities in our community to construct an improved life (end).

 

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