Kota Kinabalu: The founder and ex-president of the Shotokan Karate Association of Sabah (SKAS), Sensei Simon Raphael Chia (pic), has died. He was 50.
According to his wife Lisa Ambrose, Simon breathed his last at a private hospital on Saturday morning.
Simon founded SKAS 13 years ago and had been leading it since. He did not seek re-election during its recent AGM due to health reasons. However, his wife Lisa was elected a Committee Member.
The new SKAS president is David Sigar who had been Simon’s right-hand man in SKAS all these years.
Since its founding, SKAS has produced many outstanding karatekas who competed and won at district, State, national and even international levels.
Simon served as Chief Instructor of SKAS and was a representative of World Shotokan Federation (WSF) of Malaysia. He was a WSF representative and Examiner and held the rank of 4th Dan (Yondan) under the World Shotokan Karate-do Federation.
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For his contribution to the development of karate sports, Simon was conferred the Ahli Darjah Kinabalu (ADK) by His Excellency the Head of State in 2023.
Simon was also the Vice Chairman of the Sabah Lun Bawang Cultural and Arts Association. His mother is a Lun Bawang based in Lawas, Sarawak.
In a FB posting, Lisa said among other things that:
“Simon was my partner, best friends, my strength and the love of my life. A devoted father, a loyal friend, and a man who gave so much of himself to others.
“Our hearts are deeply broken, but we are grateful for every moment, every memory, and every prayer shared with us during his time,” she said.
Meanwhile, SKAS in its FB post shared that Sensei Simon was more than a leader. He was the heart and foundation of the association.
“Through his vision, dedication, and unwavering passion for karate, he built not just an organisation, but a family. His guidance shaped generations of students, instilling discipline, resilience, and values that extend far beyond the Dojo.
“His legacy lives on in every student and he mentored, every life he touched, and in the enduring spirit of the association he so selflessly nurtured,
“We mourn the loss of a remarkable teacher, mentor and friend. He will be deeply missed, but never forgotten,” the post ended.
The Requiem Mass for Simon will be at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Kota Kinabalu on Monday.
His karate students are expected to attend the Mass in their karate uniforms and belts.
