AROUND the television in Ab Malik Abdullah and Rusma Ismail’s home in Taman Pekaka, Penang, are several family photographs.
Upon looking closer, one can see more than one framed picture of an individual who is not from the family.
Alongside six children in karate uniform, is a smiling Nicole Lee Phei Sze who was their first karate instructor and long-time family friend.
Lee, 44, has been involved in the local karate scene for around 30 years, taking up the sport during her secondary school days in Convent Light Street and progressing to become a national kumite exponent under the guidance of Penang karate legend Lim Lee Lee.
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Since 2002, Lee began coaching young students in the Penang Goshin-Ryu Karate Federation.
From beginner white belts to state athletes, all of Ab Malik’s children trained under Lee, seeing her up to six times a week.
“There were big training sessions in school, Batu Lanchang and later Argyll Road, but outside this, they used to train everywhere, at whichever taman (park) available,” Ab Malik, 63, recalled.
Lee (front row, centre) with Ab Malik’s children in this framed photo, displayed at their home, taken a few years ago. She has trained them from beginners to becoming state athletes in karate.
He remembered sewing the Goshin-Ryu badges onto his children’s gi (traditional karate uniform) and ironing them before training.
His daughter, Nur Eleena Anis, 32, said Lee was strict about cleanliness and appearance.
Competitive karate was divided into two categories – kata, where participants perform a set of movements, and kumite where fighters spar in bouts.
“Sensei Nicole always said, kumite exponents must look smart,” Nur Eleena Anis said, noting that their gi did not always stay that way and on more than one occasion, it was splattered with blood after a tournament.
Lee now conducts classes at eight schools and centres in Penang, but spends the majority of her time training state athletes as a Penang State Sports Council (MSNP) coach.
The list of Lee’s successful kumite exponents is impressive, but above that is their dedication to her long after their competition days have passed.
From visits to her sick mother, volunteering at competitions and classes, to even being performers at her wedding in October last year, were some examples of their dedication.
The teacher-student bond is evident and a subject Lee prefers to talk about rather than about herself.
“Coaching is about creating goals for students and teaching them that people and relationships are more important than things or money.
“That is the reason I teach karate,” she said.
