About Singapore Unarmed Training Institute
Martial Arts has always been a highly favourite sport and physical activity that is grounded in both physical and mental conditioning. Throughout the Khong Chang history, they not only taught the physical aspect of Martial Arts but very importantly, having appropriate attention and cultivating the values of integrity are the most important internal factors for attaining the goal of the practice. Singapore Unarmed Training Institute (SUTI), has been providing traditional Martial Arts (Khong Chang Arts of Self-Défense) training since the year 1965. SUTI integrates the three aspects of health (mental wellness development), fitness (exercise science) and Martial Arts (traditional) for more than 50 years in Singapore.
Traditionally, his family history practised and taught Martial Arts. His late grandfather Uncle Tan Siew Cheng was a Chinese Physician and a Martial Artist. He set up Fong Yang Athletic Association which conducted its Martial Arts Steps “kata”, called Khong Chang, with classes focusing primarily on Chinese weapons as a tool for self-defence. Uncle Tan specialized in bone and joint dislocations.
SUTI, set up by his late father Sifu Tan Seng Lee, taught Khong Chang Arts of Self-Defence classes maintaining the traditional Martial Arts Steps, emphasising physical exercise, body memories conditioning and defence against attack using unarmed combat. To his ancestors, it was indeed a passion that drove them to keep them going without having much serious thought of expansion into a business.
Sifu Tan Seng Lee was both a very creative and talented man; he took bold steps to innovate by changing from teaching weapons to teaching defence against attack using unarmed combat and emphasising physical exercise. The reasons for this change were intentional, in this city-state Singapore, carrying any form of any physical weapon is illegal, and there should not be any use of arms to protect oneself against attackers. Instead, the body can be trained to be physically fit and is a weapon by itself. As a consequence, since SUTI’s inception, a philosophy of unarmed combat and physical fitness has been pursued. To sustain this precious inheritance and do justice to the splendid foundation that his ancestors had created, Nikko Tan decided to continue the legacy for many more years to come.
Nikko Tan is still a student, a practitioner, and a teacher of Basic Early Buddhist Based Meditation, a Traditional Martial Artist; A Nutrition Coach with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM); an American Council on Exercise (ACE) Certified Personal Trainer and ACE Certified Behavior Change Specialist. He is using physical exercise and Traditional Martial Arts training as a tool with a primary focus on both physical and emotional health as a foundation. Providing students, parents and executives with the correct understanding of health through regular classes and Buddhist Based mind-Body Therapy sessions. With 25 years of experience in the Martial Arts and Exercise industries, he has distinct interests in preventive approaches with its fundamental understanding of physical well-being, human intellectual, emotional health and development.
For caring and learning from the elderly, he was a volunteer befriender with NTUC Health Co-operative Ltd, he had served with a pure desire to give back to society. Completed more than one hundred and sixty-six face-to-face home visits. The senior age ranges from 61 to 85 who are neglected physically and emotionally or are living alone (2018/2019/2020). Providing small support and learning from the elderly how they age in place, giving regular companionship and networking with relevant social and healthcare agencies. Managing their aches and pains with movement and exercise; small positively behaviour awareness through conversation helps overcome their daily emotional and physical problems in desired ways.
Experiential understanding by practice and continuing education to stay relevant and competent in order to serve his students more effectively. He realized through his experiential learning, by sincerely helping students, parents, working executives, and volunteering; they have also provided him with the highest education and inspiration. For working on self-care, he leads a sustainable lifestyle towards health, peace and happiness.
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