CMAA core activities apart from training programmes include public performances participation in various charitable and community projects and taking part in tournaments. Chinese Martial Art Association was originally registered as Chinese Martial Art Training Institute and founded in 1974 by Master Law Kaw Chai together with three of his “Shixiong”Mr Lim Poh Pheng, Mr Kueh Sau Hua and Mr Lim Teo
Khai. The lion dance team was also formed in 1974. Traditional lion dance activities and traditional Chinese martial arts were the mainstay of CMAA. While “Zhu Jia Jiao”was the principal form taught, the “Hongjia”form was also taught by an elderly Master Goh from China. CMAA core activities apart from training programmes include public performances, participation in various charitable and community projects and taking part in tournaments. Since 1974 those who have served as CMAA chairman are Mr Chan Siaw Hee, Mr Chai Chen Tau, Mr Lim Fah Chin (late), Mr Lim Poh Pheng and Mr Lee Boon Ming. The current serving CMAA chairman since 1997 is Mr Chester Lim, prior to that was the longtime serving secretary from among the first batch of students in 1974. In 1997, Master Law formally retired and became CMAA’s life advisor. As a voluntary social organization, CMAA relies on the generosity and support of the general public, government and its members to carry out its activities. CMAA’s Role as an affiliate in Wushu Association of Sarawak and Wushu Federation of Malaysia
In 1978, CMAA led by Master Law joined the coalition of several Sarawak martial arts associations to pioneer the state umbrella body, the Sarawak Chinese Martial Arts Association that is now known as Wushu Association of Sarawak (WAS) and is affiliated to the Wushu Federation of Malaysia (WFM) which in turn is an affiliate of the International Wushu Federation. As one of the founding fathers of WAS, Master Law had served as Technical Chairman and Research Officer with WAS. Mr Chester Lim started involvement in Wushu Association of Sarawak (WAS) in 1997 and became its Secretary General in 1999. Backed by Mr Lee King Choon and Mr Victor Chin Chiu Hian as Assistant Secretary General and Chinese Secretary respectively, Sarawak Wushu began to make inroads into the national scene. The CMAA chairman in his capacity as WAS official successfully initiated the lobby for Sarawak State Sports Council and Ministry of Social Development & Urbanization’s recognition of WAS in 1998 and the inclusion of Wushu as a medal sport in the biennial Malaysian Games (SUKMA) for the first time in 2000. From being one of the weaker Wushu Malaysian states for over a decade, Sarawak took giant strides to shed its image as the beating boys. In 2000, Sarawak emerged top team in the SUKMA VIII. In 2001, Sarawak emerged overall Malaysian champion team in the Malaysian National Junior and National Martial Art Tournament and third overall in the Malaysian National. At the 2001 Asian Junior, with Mr Chester Lim appointed by WFM as team manager and backed up by Master Peng Ying as coach, Malaysia emerged third overall behind China and Vietnam. Sarawak athletes won three golds and two silvers. In 2002, Sarawak scored an unprecedented record in seventeen years to be overall champion in the Malaysian National, National Martial Arts Tournament and SUKMA IX. In 2003 CMAA’s Mr Chester Lim, Mr Lee King Choon and Mr Victor Chin Chiu Hian decided to take a break as WAS Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General and Chinese secretary respectively and moved on to focus efforts on CMAA’s Wushu, Dragon teams and Lion Dance activities and training programmes.
