Yaw's Martial Arts Journey In Switzerland

From Adnan Jahaya ZURICH (Switzerland), Jan 26 (Bernama) -- The name Yaw Hwa Chin may not ring a bell for most Malaysians, but in Switzerland this man is a highly regarded master in martial arts. The 61-year-old from Rantau, Negeri Sembilan, is the founder and owner of the Asia Budo Center, a martial arts learning centre in Zurich. Yaw who had been learning Shorin-ryu karate, one of the oldest styles of karate, followed his instructor Master Chin Mok Sung (9th Dan) to Europe and India when he was 22 to promote the martial arts. In 1976, he decided to settle down in Switzerland and started his own training centre which he named “Asia Sport Center”. It went on to become one of the biggest martial arts centre in Switzerland. "I have been perfecting my skill in the art of self-defence since I was 13 ," he told Bernama in an interview at the Asia Budo Center. Today, in addition to the Asia Budo Center, there are several training centres around Europe and Canada that operate under the "Yaw Tai Chi and Qi Gong Organization". Yaw teaches a form of martial arts called "Tai Chi Chuan" that combines his experience in tai chi, kung fu, karate, krav maga and qi gong. SWISS-CERTIFIED Yaw, known to those in the martial arts world as Master Yaw, said he currently has some 5,000 disciples mostly Europeans. After 20 years of operation he sold the Asia Sport Center to one of his disciples and subsequently set up the Asia Budo Center, which is in operation until today. He said the centre was not just a training centre for new students but for training instructors as well. Switzerland, in recognition of his martial arts prowess, gave him the "Expert of the Swiss Karate Federation" recognition. STILL MISSING MALAYSIA It has been 39 years now since he left Malaysia but he often returns for visits. Almost each trip back to Malaysia would include a visit to Perlis, where he will be invited to teach qi gong at several functions. Back in Europe, Yaw is also a qi gong instructor for several organisations in Switzerland and Germany. "I encourage Malaysians in Switzerland to learn the art of self-defence at the Asia Budo Centre, but the numbers joining the sport are not as many as the Swiss," he said. BROTHERS IN ARMS A close friend of Yaw’s from Malaysia has also carved a name in the field of martial arts in Switzerland. Kok Yeng Chow, 65, from Ipoh, Perak, migrated to Switzerland in 1971 and brought with him the knowledge of martial arts, which he had been acquiring since he was seven. Five years after settling down in Switzerland, he took the initiative to open up a self-defence centre in Zurich. Kok, who is the founder and president of the Swiss Chin Woo Federation, teaches the martial arts of tai chi, wushu and kung fu. He has been teaching martial arts in Switzerland for around 30 years now. SECRETS TO THEIR SUCCESS Both Yaw and Kok say that the secret to their success overseas is to accord due respect to the local culture and customs. Both masters often share their experiences and hold joint performances and demonstrations. They are also well versed in the lion dance and have taught the art to their European students, and went on to perform for the Raja Muda (Crown Prince) Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail and Raja Puan Muda (Crown Princess) Perlis Tuanku Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil during their majesties’ visit to the Asia Budo Center, last November. -- BERNAMA