Khong Chang martial art taught at Waiouru

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 35, 11 February 1986, Page 24

Khong Chang martial art taught at Waiouru

Every Tuesday and Thursday night the sounds of "yar," "har" and "keei,"can be heard from the camp gym at Waiouru Military Camp. The noises come from Tim Norton and his pupils during their training in Khong Chang self defence. Khong Chang originated in Singapore, where Tim first became familiar with it when he was posted there. He is now the chief instructor for the South Pacific and one year ago began the group at Waiouru, which he believes is the only one in New Zealand. Khong Chang is a very modern form of self-defence which concentrates on mental and physical development. The most important techniques are maximum power, speed and accuracy. When the skills are mastered, a small person can overpower a stronger and larger opponent. Tim's youngest pupil is six and there are a large number of children, aged up to 14, who attend his classes.

He teaches children by quizzes and games as he believes New Zealand children don't have the concentration required to do repetitive exercises over and over again as eastern children do. Children and adults are taught at separate sessions on each night. Tim began the martial- art in 1976 and studied in Singapore for two years under the Khong Chang master gaining his black belt. In 1981, when again in Singapore, he qualified as an instructor of martial arts and ran three clubs. He has also taken part in wrestling and was runner-up champion for New Zealand some time ago. Tim has attended unarmed combat courses in Singapore and has taken such courses in New Zealand and Singapore. In November Tim competed in the Zen Do Kai Karate tournament in Taihape and came second in his grade, the advanced black belt, against other clubs from Wellington, Wanganui, New Plymouth and National Park.