Penang Sao Lim Athletic Association 槟城少林国术健身社, founded by monk Sek Koh Sam in 1956.
With the help of disciple, Quek Heng Choon 郭逢春, Sek Koh Sam came to Penang in the middle of 1956. Sek Koh Sam was busy with the problems that came from overseeing a temple renovation. His disciple Quek Heng Choon was teaching and his classes were taught in the grounds of Siong Kheng temple. But long term they would primarily take place at the school he was been tasked with establishing, the Penang Sao Lim Athletic Association 槟城少林国术健身社. Four months later after arriving it was ready, its home a shophouse in the center of Georgetown. Sek Koh Sam was the sifu but in practice he only taught at Siong Kheng. It was the Chief Instructor Quek Heng Choon who taught at the Association.
The Penang Sao Lim Athletic Association had a Grand Opening ceremony at the New World Park and Sek Koh Sam and all his students incl. monks were there to perform various feats. “One performance by Sek Koh Sam was “contraction” of his bone structures…he was a tall man and in the feat he became quite small, this was a very advanced form of kung fu I was told.” an eyewitness reported.
“A storm was brewing and Sek Koh Sam did a “special” prayer, he had compassion on the huge crowd attending, whether it was coincidence or not the skies cleared; everyone there was able to stay for the whole occasion. Then, there was fantastic kungfu using just umbrellas etc to demonstrate one can use anything as a weapon.”
After the death of Sek Koh Sam in Singapore in 1960, the Chief Instructor became Zhuang Ke Fu (Ch’ng Kek Hock) . In 1962 he had to move to Kuala Lumpur for business reasons (he became a bodyguard for a Malaysian Sultan). In the same year, P’ng Chye Khim became the Chief instructor at the age of 23 untill his death in 2010.
The History of the Penang Sao Lim Athletic Association.
— Head Coach Dato Fang Zaiqin DSPN, DJN, AMN, AMP, PJK, PJM
The Penang Shaolin Martial Arts Fitness Club was founded in October 1956 by the highly virtuous Master Gao Can, and has been around for over fifty years. In the early days of the club, fellow practitioners from Xingzhou came to teach, and later Brother Zhuang Kefu took on the role of Head Coach. In the 1960s, it was difficult to make a living teaching full-time. In 1962, Brother Zhuang Kefu, unable to retire and balancing his career with club affairs, took over the role of Head Coach myself. ”
Actually, I didn’t dare accept this important task back then. Firstly, I was too young, and secondly, my martial arts skills were limited. Many of my senior brothers in the sect possessed profound skills, but they were often too busy with their careers to spare, leaving me with only superficial learning to fill the void. Although I had learned many routines at the time, my true kung fu wasn’t up to par with large-scale situations, both internally and externally. Fortunately, with the assistance of several senior brothers, I was able to manage many situations.
Kung Fu cannot be replaced, especially Shaolin Kung Fu, which requires practical skills. To enhance my skills, I often traveled to Singapore to study with my senior brothers. Whenever a renowned Chinese master visited, I would personally receive instruction in Shaolin boxing, Tai Chi, Xingyiquan, and other styles. To further my own development, I twice visited the Shaolin Temple Martial Arts Hall in Dangshan, China, to learn the inner principles of Shaolin Kung Fu from Shaolin masters.
Over the years, I have diligently practiced, drawing on my own experience and knowledge to study the inner principles of various martial arts schools. I have developed my own training methods, including those for Shaolin Iron Sand Palm, Shaolin Iron Bushan Qigong, internal gong, power generation, grappling, chain hand, throwing, and free fighting. After decades of continuous self-cultivation and refinement, I pass on my skills to my disciples only when I am able to apply them. I pass on my lifelong learning to those who love Chinese martial arts in northern Malaysia. Foreign disciples, drawn to my practice from overseas, also learn Shaolin boxing at our Penang club and return home to promote it.
I believe that martial arts should not be divided into different schools. I have practiced for over 40 years, practicing both Northern and Southern Shaolin styles, as well as Yang-style Tai Chi, Chen-style Tai Chi, simplified Tai Chi, and Xingyiquan. Like me, my disciples around the world, after mastering Shaolin martial arts, also practice other martial arts styles, learning from their strengths and overcoming their own weaknesses.
The Penang Shaolin Martial Arts Fitness Club’s international success and advancement in the martial arts community are a result of the combined efforts of various schools over the years. The board of directors and fellow Shaolin disciples work together to promote the association’s affairs. The coaches are dedicated to guiding and teaching the accumulated achievements. The coaching team of the association includes Dato Fang Zaiqin, Liu Hefu, Fu Senlin, Lin Guixing, Jiang Qiuqi, Li Qingzan, Wu Zongren, Su Shuishan, Chen Yuetian, Guo Yajian, Zhou Yabi, Lin Baoshan, Wang Liangjin, Dato Zheng Jianxi, Yap Mankun, Lai Binghui, Yap Shoujiang, Li Yaci, Li Jinji, Li Fucai, Lan Mulin, Chen Suyuan, Chen Yingle, Yang Shengyi, Chang Qingpei, Wang Yingtong, Zhang Shitai, Chen Yangshan, Chen Jianhua, Zhao Bingzhang, Zhuang Dehe, Zhang Zhewei, Chen Renmin, Gong Songjie, Qiu Jiaren, He Mingzhong, Luo Mini, Fang Suo, Mike, Anda, Huang Peikun, Guo Jinming, Yang Shuitian, Jiang Shunan, Yuan Cowboy, Fang Xihui, Zeng Weiguang, Feng Zhongyuan, Ding Huode, Zhang Junfa, Xie Qingfeng, and Luo Zhiming, among others.
All of our coaches regularly instruct students and frequently participate in performances and competitions both domestically and internationally, receiving acclaim. They also frequently participate in charity performances for social education with other martial arts groups. Our coaches currently teach Shaolin Kung Fu at Chung Ling High School, Chung Ling Independent High School, Hengyi Secondary School, the Northeast Penang District Police Department, and the University of Science. Our martial arts have also spread to France, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. In 1990, at the invitation of the Malaysian Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports, I, along with a Malaysian martial arts group and my student, Coach Chen Jianhua, traveled to the Perth Stadium in France to participate in the World Wushu Series. At that time, I performed my own style of Shaolin Boxing, Iron Sand Palm, and Iron Bushan Qigong, earning acclaim from fellow martial artists worldwide. In 1994, I was appointed Honorary Coach of the Shaolin Temple Wushu Hall in Songshan, China. For my active promotion of martial arts, I was awarded the Penang Youth Award in 1996. In 2001, he was awarded the Wushu Leadership Award by the Ministry of Sports. He was subsequently conferred the title of Datuk on the Penang Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s birthday, becoming the only local martial arts master to receive the honor. It is my responsibility to promote the reputation of the Society. I wish to share this honor with my fellow members and all those who love Chinese martial arts. In short, the Society has been able to flourish thanks to the assistance of the Penang State Government, the financial support of prominent figures in society, and the cooperation, guidance, and care of fellow martial artists.
檳城少林國術健身社發展史
— 總教練拿督方再欽DSPN, DJN, AMN, AMP, PJK, PJM
檳城少林國術健身社成立于一九五六年十月,是由德行高深釋高參禪師所創, 迄今已有五十年光景。本社成立初期獲得星洲同門前来任教,後再由莊克福師兄任 總教練職。六十年代全職教拳很難维持生活,一九六二年莊克福師兄因無退兼顧事 富與社務,總教練之職才由我本人擔任。”
其實當年我本人不敢接受此重任,一來年紀太輕二来武功造詣差,門上条多 師兄功夫深奥,彼等皆因工作事業缓身,分身乏術,以至我唯有濫学充數。當時的 我雖然學套學了很多,但真功夫尚不能應付大場面,無論對內對外都難應付。幸虧 有幾位師兄從旁協助,才能勉强化解許多事情。
功夫是不能够由別人來代替,尤其是講實際功力的少林功夫。當年為了充實 自己的功夫,曾常到星洲向師兄們學習研究。凡有中國名師到來,必親身討教少林 拳、太極拳、形意拳等。為加强本身造詣,本人曾兩次赴中國當山少林寺武術館, 向少林大師們學習少林功夫心法。
歷年來不斷刻苦練習,以本身經驗及所學,把各門各派功夫心法加以研究, 自創了練習法門。如少林鐵砂掌的練法,少林鐵布杉氣功心法、内功、發勁法門、 擒拿手、連環手、拋擲法及散打等。幾十年的不斷自我練習推敲,能够運用的才傳 授給徒弟們。本人把畢身所學,傳授予北馬一帶熱愛中華武術之士。越洋慕名遠道 而來的外國徒弟,也在檳城本社學習少林拳法,并携馨回國發揚光大。
本人認為武術一道不應分門戶,習武四十餘年,練習了南北少林派功夫,也 研究過楊式太極拳、陳式太極拳、簡易太極拳、形意拳。遍布世界各國的徒弟們也 像本人一樣,精通少林武術後,兼習其他門派武術,以取他人之長,補已之短。
檳城少林國術健身社今日在國際發揚光大,在武術界有進展,都是歷年來各 届理事及少林同門合作推廣會務,教練們專心負責指導教學累積之功。本社教練團 計有拿督方再欽、劉和福、傅森林、林貴興、江秋奇、李清賛、吴宗仁、蘇水山、 陳岳填、郭亞建、周亞鼻、林寶山、王良金、拿督鄭建西、葉滿坤、莱炳輝、葉首 江、李亞茨、李金吉、李福才、藍木林、陳俗源、陳英樂、楊升義、腸清沛、王鹰 通、張時泰、陳養山、陳建華、趙炳章、莊德和、張哲維、陳仁民、公松傑、邱甲 仁、何明忠、羅彌尼、方索、麥克、安達、黄培昆、郭金明、楊水田、江順安、袁 牛仔、方錫輝、曾惟光、馮忠源、丁火德、張君發、謝慶豐及駱志明等人。
全體教練平時指導學員,時有到國內外表演或比賽,皆獲嘉評。亦常有參與 其他武術團體為社會教育慈善義演。本社教練目前在鍾靈中學、鍾靈獨中、恒毅中 學、檳榔嶼東北縣警察部門、理科大學傳授少林功夫。本門功夫亦遠播至法國、瑞士、 德國、荷蘭、英國、美國、澳洲等地。1990年,本人應大馬文青體育部邀請,與馬 來武術團體,携帶高足陳建華教練赴法國柏斯體育館參加世界武術大會串。當時本 人表演本派之少林拳、鐵砂掌、鐵布杉氣功,深獲各地武術同道贊賞。1994年本人 受委為中國嵩山少林寺武術館名譽教練。由于積極推廣武術,1996年本人獲檳州青 年體育部頒發武術領袖獎。而後于2001年檳州元首單誕受賜封拿督勋衔,成為本地 單人武術界唯一獲拿督榮銜武術師傅。發揚光大社譽乃本人之職責,此次榮獲封銜, 願與本社同人及熱愛中華武術者共享之。總而言之,本社得到檳州政府的協助,社 會賢達經濟的支持,武術界同道合作、指教與愛護關照,才能發揚光大。
A visit to the Association:
On Facebook nr 1 and Facebook nr 2.