Kota Kinabalu: The first-ever national Hapkido seminar in the State, which saw the attendance of some 80 participants including 10 from Brunei was successfully held and concluded at the Youth and Sports Complex in Putatan on Sunday.
Minister of Youth Development, Sports Advancement and Creative Economy Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan commended the organiser for their efforts.
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He emphasised that such initiatives align with the State government’s commitment to fostering holistic youth development through sports and martial arts.
“Martial arts not only play a role in improving physical fitness, but also cultivate discipline, character, leadership and identity among the youth,” he said in his speech delivered by Sabah Sports Council Chief Assistant Director Heirwan Shah Masari.
Organising chairman Master Bernardo Vivero, who leads World Hapkido Martial Arts Federation (WHMAF) Sabah and represents Hapkido Malaysia in Sabah noted the impressive turnout including those from Brunei as a testament to the positive development of Hapkido across the region.
He added that the presence of high-profile instructors from WHMAF, including Grandmaster V Yoyok Suryadi (Games and Competition Director), Leonardo Kentjana (Chief Referee of Hapkido Indonesia) and Master Pow Yin Khong, (Chief Coach of Hapkido Brunei Darussalam) in the two-day event contributed to the participants’ exposure to international training standards, techniques and evaluation systems.
He hoped the success of the inaugural seminar will pave the way for more training programmes and tournaments in the future.
