When Did Stephen Chan Begin Teaching Martial Arts in Zambia?
STEPHEN CHAN'Due south PIONEERING ROLE IN ZAMBIAN KARATE
Accomplishments and Impact in the Transformation of Martial Arts Civilisation
NOTES:
- This article is in response to a request by my friend and Martial Arts blood brother, Raymond Mbazima, Sensei, in June 2016, "Could you do a write-upward of Professor Stephen Chan Sensei's Pioneering Role in Zambia – in item what he accomplished and his impact in the transformation of martial arts culture?"
- The commodity is an honest account of events as best as my retention serves me. I must apologize in advance for whatever inaccuracies, or misunderstandings that might arise. The names of the various people mentioned in the article are done and so with just only respect and the fondest of memories. I'll be failing if I didn't acknowledge many of them as having helped mould the kind of man I am today, both within and outside the dojo. None of them is directly responsible for my madness, though.
- Regarding the primary subject area of the article, Stephen Chan, the tone the article has taken is as it emerged from my heart, without fright or favour. That, in line with how my mind has interpreted the execution of his Martial Arts instructor and Godfather part towards me over the years; in four countries, Zambia, U.k., Norway, and South Africa.
I have never felt that Stephen was compelled to work with me, neither have I ever felt that I was unduly expected to feel indebted to him for all that he has done for me. Therefore, I am nether no obligation, I have no pressing need to aspire to sanctify, or flatter him. At that place is nothing egotistical to gain, nor intended to.
All this I shall summarize in Stephen's own words in a correspondence pertaining to the article, "I do promise it is a lot more than to do with common respect and esprit. I always pitched in with you on the floor – and then we all suffered together."
©Simon Chilembo 2017 Photo: Cynthia Reynolds
The commodity here initially covers the years 1981-85, a period of my first ever direct observation of Stephen's concrete presence, and martial arts work in Zambia. It volition partially describe my personal feel of training and studying Karate with him as my Sensei at the UNZA Karate Order (UKC) in Lusaka. Little did I ever retrieve then that xxx-five years on, the special pupil-master human relationship would still exist going strong; not but with me, only with many others of my generation the world over.
Following Stephen's footsteps as a diverse collective spread across many parts of the earth, the at least five generations of top-flying Karateka my contemporaries and I have produced proceed to grow and benefit from his profound knowledge of, and love for the Martial Arts. Above all, perhaps, his broader love for, and service to humanity through his exemplary professional person work and career continue to inspire many of u.s..
Secondly, the years 1986-88 are, in my stance and personal experience, the period in which the relevance of Stephen'south bear on on me would be tested to the limit. It would also exam the unity and commonality of purpose in the then Seidokan Zambia core grouping he had developed at UKC.
Furthermore, this period would, by extension, ascertain whether Stephen'southward legacy in Zambian Karate would live on or non. I dare say that the modern Jindokai Republic of zambia/ Zimbabwe family we accept today tin trace their roots to specifically that period. Had we at UKC failed to keep it together during those two years, the Zambian martial arts scene would take swallowed up Stephen Chan's legacy for skilful, I am convinced.
It may be rubber to say that Stephen'southward work in the wider martial arts fraternity, within and outside the so Zambia Karate Federation (ZKF)'s framework, raised awareness of, and involvement in the arts to unprecedented levels in the state. The human being was, later on all, the nearest living thing to Bruce Lee the people ever saw, came close to, touched, and spoke to.
Stephen made a striking presence on Television Republic of zambia (TVZ)'due south Sports Review shows, speaking, equally Dennis Liwewe once said, "… fantabulous, beautiful English, indeed!"
The late Dennis Liwewe became a legend already in his own time every bit a passionate radio and Idiot box sports commentator. If President Kaunda was Zambia'south football number ane fan, Dennis Liwewe was in a course of his own as maestro supremo football commentator … (Continued in the book:"MACHONA BLOGS – As I See It " . Order Simon Chilembo books onAmazon)
Simon Chilembo, half-dozenthursday Dan
Welkom
South Africa
Tel.: +47 92525032
June xvi, 2016
cunninghampachise.blogspot.com
Source: https://chilembowarriormoves.com/2017/06/19/zambian-karate-history-profile-professor-stephen-chan-obe-9th-dan/
0 Response to "When Did Stephen Chan Begin Teaching Martial Arts in Zambia?"
Post a Comment