Graded in Penang

IT is important for women to believe they can defend themselves and protect others through martial arts, said Australian martial arts black belt holder Juliann Boorer.

The mother of two from Melbourne, who had trained under the supervision of martial arts masters and exponents Lim Soon Leong and Francis Ramasamy, was in George Town to obtain her first degree black belt in Loong Fu Pai – a combination of the karate, kung fu and aikido martial arts.

Boorer, 42, a finance officer with Australia’s Monash University, was among 10 martial arts students from Loong Fu Pai Martial Arts Academy in Melbourne who arrived here on a two-week training and grading stint.

She said this was her second trip to Penang and that she was relieved to have passed the grading session held at the Pulau Tikus Balai Rakyat on Thursday.

“I am relieved to have passed the grading and feel very honoured to be able to do it in Penang.

“I’ve started training intensively for two weeks under the supervision of Kancho Terry (Lim Soon Leong) and (Aikido master) Soke Francis Ramasamy.

“I’ve also gained valuable knowledge and had grown spiritually under their guidance,” she said.

Lim, 67, a former Chung Ling High School student who migrated to Australia 47 years ago and was now a permanent resident there, said he formed the Loong Fu Pai Martial Arts Academy in Melbourne in 1981.

Since 1999, he had been bringing his students to Penang every two years for training and grading purposes.

Giving her all: Boorer (right) sparring with World Iron Palm champion Big Bad Ralph during one of her grading drills.

“We are looking forward to setting up a self-defence class for women in our next trip with the hope to empower them,” Lim said, adding that currently there were 350 members in the academy.