Young Coach Award Can Motivate Silat Exponents To Excel At The Highest Level - Azaam

ALOR GAJAH, June 17 (Bernama) -- The recognition as a young coach through an official credential award (watikah) is not the end of the journey; rather, it serves as an incentive for young silat exponents to continue gaining knowledge and elevate the name of their schools and state of Melaka to a higher level.

Nurin Qasdina Zahra' Mohamad Azman, 17, a recipient of the National-Level Secondary Schools Young Coach Credential, said the recognition motivates her to keep improving herself despite having reached the highest level in the sport of silat.

"For me, even though I have reached this level, my martial arts knowledge is still not enough, and I must continue to grow and increase my self-confidence. This credential is also a signal to keep training harder so that I can shape the silat entrusted to me in the future," she told Bernama at the National-Level Secondary Schools High Belt and Young Coach Credential Presentation Ceremony held at the Mara Science Junior College (MRSM) Alor Gajah here today.

The ceremony was officiated by the Principal of MRSM Alor Gajah, Azaam Yacob, and was attended by 1,000 young silat exponents from all over Malaysia, including Sabah.

Out of that number, a total of 400 silat exponents eceived the young coach credential, with 80 of them being students of MRSM Alor Gajah.

Nurin Qasdina Zahra', who also received the special Pesilat Srikandi Cemerlang (Outstanding Female Martial Artist) award, said her past experience training students at school and in external training arenas greatly helped her understand the diverse approaches to conveying knowledge to others.

"Every coach has their own method, and one must constantly practice and seek guidance from teachers to form a teaching identity that suits their own capabilities," she said.

She added that her involvement in the world of silat began when she was in Form One as a sports silat (silat olahraga) athlete, before being selected by her coach to participate in artistic silat (seni silat) performances at school the following year.

"All of this opened up opportunities for me to delve deeper into the art of silat, and it serves as the best preparation for facing the upcoming Malaysia Games (SUKMA)," she said.

Meanwhile, MRSM Alor Gajah silat coach Mohd Fauzan Adzim Mazania remarked that awarding the young coach credential in silat is not merely a symbolic gesture but instead, it proves that a silat exponent has undergone continuous training and reached the highest level of mastery after years of deeply studying the martial art.

He explained that one of the main prerequisites to qualify for the credential is consistent involvement in weekly training sessions, which have been an official hostel activity for three years.

"Nurin Qasdina Zahra' is among silat exponents who consistently attended the weekly training over the course of three years, and she successfully qualified to receive the coach credential because she achieved the highest talibiah rank in Silat Gayung," he said.

He added that many in the younger generation tend to measure success based on tournament victories and medal counts, whereas the true reality of the martial arts world lies in mastering the knowledge gained through a continuous process under a master.

"This is the biggest challenge in the world of silat because many do not understand the true value of that credential. Mastering seni silat through traditional tutelage requires years before someone is truly qualified to be recognised as a silat master," he explained.

Commenting on the development of silat exponents at MRSM Alor Gajah, Mohd Fauzan said he is optimistic that the institution can produce more high-potential martial artists, given that the students display high discipline and a deep interest in the martial art.

He stated that the enthusiasm shown by the students is reflected in their annual achievements in both artistic silat (silat seni) and combat silat (silat olahraga) competitions, which are well-balanced with their academic performance at school.

--BERNAMA