Below are three articles written by the Malaysian Tukido students about their Operation Monsoon experience 2010.
Gary N. L. Low:
The name operation monsoon sound fears and serious but actual facts it happens when Scotland’s Tukido Club members led by the Grand Master Teh were in Malaysia for their summer time break, the first stop in Malaysia suppose to be one of its kind when the west meet the east to exchange idea and enhance relationship amongst all the members of Tukido, especially it is in the name of martial arts which the founder is from Malaysia residing in Scotland.
I was given a task to transport Scottish Tukido’s members to train at the venue Kepong Baru, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. When I arrived at the Hotel, I was greeted with a firm shake and broad smile by our Grand Master Teh who is always in his usual self, friendly and approachable.
My tense feeling towards this task suddenly disappeared, furthermore with the friendliness of the supposed passengers (Scottish Tukido’s members) who go by the name Mr Charles Tonner and others. Strangely and amusingly I was supposed to be the host to the Scottish guests,instead they seem trying to get me into conversation with me and my daughter. I think I failed to the ambassador of Malaysia this time around.
There was terrible traffic jam from the hotel in Jalan Ampang to our destination ‘Kepong Baru’, the hotel is situated in the heart of the City ‘Kuala Lumpur’ and it is just offices hours, every body are trying to rush homes, I think nobody will not think of how bad it is.
When we reach our training ground by looking at the numbers, I think the whole Scottish’s Tukido members are here. The Malaysia Tukido members were grouping into one corner whereas the Scottish are mingling around and introducing each other. I really feel the local Tukido’s members should emulate and more daring to approach in order to get what we want to know and I believed we will definitely succeed and wise.
The training conducted by our Grand Master Teh was tough and different, may be we will get use to the command next time around. It was beneficial and great experience, who else if not the founder who gives tips and coaching about Tukido Martial Arts. The energetic and skillfulness of the Scottish Tukido’s members are the eye opener for me, it goes by the Chinese saying “ There will always another mountain higher than this, There will always a person wiser than you”. Be prepare, sincere, humble and not hypocrite in whatever and whenever we feel, think and act, then I believed ‘happiness’ will be always be with you.
Before we head for our dinner, simple, warmest and heartfelt birthday’s cake and song were presented to our birthday’s girl Miss Christina. I believe this memorable surprise birthday treat will always in Miss Christina memoirs if she decide to write a book.
Seven dishes with mostly hot and spicy eaten with rice are special treat for dinner; Fishes, prawns, chicken meat, squid and vegetables make of different variety taste and flavoured were serves to the satisfaction of our Scottish guests. Not forgetting special treat from our Grand Master Teh Malaysian’s King of The Fruits “Durian”, spiky hard outer skin with sticky texture and special fragrance make a few of the Scottish dare to try to eat it, ha, ha, ha!
Times passes and its getting late, exchanging of handshakes, hugs and email address seem to cover the whole restaurant atmosphere. It is time to say goodbye and with the heavy heart I have to send our friends back to the Hotel. It is also totally different feeling when I first come to fetch them and later sending back, I think humans are also reluctant to let go when they have develop friendship and feeling.
I feel I have lost a opportunity not to be in Taiping to watch the grading, it will definitely benefit and wonderful experience to learn from the seniors and our friends from Scotland which I respect , Goodbye and meet you all some other times.
Regards,
Gary
Tukido Golden Moment By Cheong Wai Kit:
It was really a wonderful moment for me when I met our fellow Tukido members from the United Kingdom. Some I have met before, others were my first encounter. Their warmth and friendliness really brightened my day. The trip to Chinatown on their first night was really amazing. I noticed that most of them were very adventurous in food tasting. Who can forget the dinner at “Back Lane” noodles shop? We were accompanied by rats, croak roaches and lizards. I bet they could not find that in UK!
The training in Kepong was another golden moment. We got to train and spar together. Even though Master Teh warm up exercise was tough, I managed to follow through.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. I noticed many of my fellow Tukido members were tough on that evening. Maybe we did not want to look bad compared with our counterparts. It was a great experience during the sparring session. I was very impressed by Christina, the birthday girl. She can perform all her kicks with perfect execution. Do not mess around with her, she is a Super Girl. The birthday celebration on that evening was very sweet. The cake was tasty and the most important is that Christina got to celebrate her special day in a special way.
The dinner after the training was great too. We got to mix around and took many photographs. When the durians arrived, I saw mixed reactions from my UK friends.
Some love it, others just afraid of it. It was fun. We should thank Master Teh for creating Tukido. It is great martial arts for self defense and health improvement.
The other good thing that comes with it is that it created a platform for international friendship. Through Tukido, we got to know each other. I would like to call it the Tukido spirit.
Finally, I would like to wish all my fellow instructors and students a very bright future.
May happiness and health be with you no matter where you are. Train hard, play hard and most important, be happy.
Best wishes from Cheong Wai Kit
A Great Exeperience by Thien Lee Li:
I am really happy to have an opportunity to meet my fellow Tukido members from the United Kingdom. Not only do i have a chance to train with them, also get to spend some great moments together in Taiping.
Training Tukido together and spending some time having fun are interesting moment for me. When we trained together in keepong, I noticed that the UK students are very committed in the training. I am extremely impressed with Allastair. He can jump very high without limited by his large body’s size. How i wish i could jump as high as him. He is my inspiration.
Another UK student which i admire is Kristina. She could perform 360 degree turning kick with style during her free sparing session. I will try to kick like her when i get my black belt. By the way, she really looks pretty especially when she smile during her birthday cake session.
During the grading in Taiping, it really opens my eyes. I was relax and enjoyed myself watching others putting all theirs efforts to perform as good as they could.
Congratulations to the winner of the best performance award – Alexander . You really deserved it !
I had a wonderful time taking pictures together in Lake Garden. Tukido not only let me learn a good self-defence martial art, it also allows me to meet great new friends from the other side of the world. I really hope that in the near future, I can meet you guys in UK.
Thien Lee Li