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Chinese immigrants brought wushu—the term encompasses martial arts as well as activities such as Lion Dance and qigong—to this country where it is still practised as a form of recreation and exercise. Malaysians have also excelled in competitive wushu, with world champions in Ho Ro Bin, Lim Yew Fai, Pui Fook Chien and Chai Fong Ying.
Silambam, the art of stick fighting, is believed to be 5000 years old. Indian immigrants are responsible for introducing it in the country. Another ancient Indian martial art originating from Kerala, kalari payat, is a form of combat primarily directed at self defence. It too has an increasing number of Malaysian practitioners.
In fact a whole host of martial arts have taken hold and are practised here including aikido, ninjutsu, kendo and various forms of kickboxing. Judo was introduced by occupying Japanese forces during World War II and became established in the early 1950s. Its popularity grew to the point where Malaysian judo exponents participated in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, where the sport was contested for the first time. The Japanese also introduced karate here. Malaysians who studied karate in Japan helped to spread the art when they returned home and set up karate schools. Competitively, Malaysians have achieved international success at the Asian Games and the World Karate Championships. The martial art of taekwondo was introduced to Malaysia in the 1960s by the then Korean Ambassador to Malaysia General Choi Hong Hi. National and inter-club championships are held regularly, while national exponents have succeeded at all levels all over the world.
The country’s national fencing body was formed in 1959 and succeeded in sending a fencer to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Local fencers have had success at the regional level, particularly from the 1980s. Fencing has been included in Sukan Malaysia since 2002.
Boxing is a riveting spectator sport which tests the skill, speed and mental tenacity of its participants. The most significant boxing event ever held in Malaysia was the heavyweight title fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Bugner in 1975. Malaysian amateur national boxers have punched their way to glory at the Commonwealth Games.
