Sabree Salleh

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Dr. Sabree Salleh is one of a few non-Korean who was personally trained by the late General Choi Hong Hi (The Founder of Taekwon-Do, and Past-President of International Taekwon-Do Federation). Sabree was born in Kangar, Perlis, Northern Malaysia. He started training in martial arts at the age of seven in the traditional Silat Kuntau Melaka, Silat Sending, Silat Gayung, and Thai Boxing.

In the early 60’, Sabree began to learn Taekwon-Do from the Korean instructor C.K Choi. He also studied under J.C. Kim Choi Kwang Jo & Choi Yik Seong.

In 1970 Sabree further his education at MARA Institute of Technology (ITM) Petaling Jaya, Selangor. There he established ITM Taekwon-Do Club and the Kuala Lumpur Taekwon-Do Association. He taught Taekwon-Do to the FELDA Club, The Eurosian Club, Malayan Banking Club, the Sultan Idris Teachers Training College Club, MARDI Club and the Tun Abdul Razak School (SDAR) Club in Seremban.

Sabree formed the Malaysian Taekwon-Do Federation (MTF) and became its first Secretary General. While in Kuala Lumpur Sabree also trained under Lee Byong Moo, Low Koon Lin. He was then hand-picked by General Choi Hong Hi to be his student.

While at ITM, Sabree represented MTF demonstration team to Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand and Philippines. In 1973, he represented ITF to demonstrate along with the elite members of South Korean Navy Taekwon-Do experts.

He continued his education at Glasgow College, Scotland. He became the instructor for Rhee Ki Ha Taekwon-Do Academy and also the instructor for the United Kingdom Taekwon-Do Association (UKTA). He continued his Taekwon-Do training under Gen Choi Hong Hi and Master Park Jung Tae in Toronto, Canada

With ITF instructors, he conducted training in Mexico, Panama, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and El Salvador. He also gave demonstration in Northern Ireland, Poland, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq.

In 1979, Sabree continued his education at Brooks Institute, Santa Barbara California. He founded the Sabree’s Taekwon-Do Academy in Goleta, California and in Tjuana, Mexico. He was the Director for the United States Taekwon-Do Federation (USTF) Western Zone. He was also ITF, Under-Secretary General, Chairman of Public Relation and Executive Director. He was also the council member of North American Taekwon-Do Federation (NATF).

He continued his training under Master Han Cha Kyo in Chicago, Lee Suk Ki of Edminton , Canada. With ITF instructors he conducted training and seminars in Puerto Rico, Greece, Italy, Austria, East Germany, Romania, Poland, Spain, Belgium, Russia and Jamaica. In 1982, he was the instructor for USTF team for the ITF Inter-Continental Championships in St. Foy Canada. In 1983 he was an instructor of the ITF Summer Camp held in Montreal, Canada and Vermont, USA. Sabree was the instructor for USTF team at the 4th World ITF Championship in Glasgow Scotland. He was the Chief Referee for the All Europe Taekwon-Do Championship in Budapest, Hungary.

In 1984, Sabree was featured in 'Who's who in American Martial Arts' The complete USA Martial Arts Instructor's Bible. He completed taking 20,000 photographs for General Choi Hong Hi 15 volumes of Taekwon-Do Encyclopedia.

Sabree returned to Malaysia in the early 1985 where he worked full time as a Lecturer, Professor and Dean of University Technology MARA University (UiTM) for 17 years. In 1986, he founded the Malaysian International Taekwon-Do Federation (MITF) and was MITF President and Chief Instructor (1986-1998). He was promoted to 7th Degree Blackbelt in 1989. In 1991 he became the Secretary General of the Asia Pacific Taekwon-Do Federation (APTF).

Sabree headed the Malaysian National Team to the ITF World Championships. The 5th in Athens Greece in 1987, the 6th at Budapest, Hungary in 1988, the 7th at Montreal, Canada in 1990 and the 8th at Pyongyang, North Korea in 1992. In 1990 he also headed Malaysian National team to ITF 1st Children Championship in Moscow, Russia and in 1991 at the Asia Pacific (APTF) Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. In 1995 and 1997 to APTF Championships in Tokyo Japan.

Sabree conducted seminars/demonstration with Gen Choi to New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Uzbekistan and Russia. In 1994 he represented ITF in the Asia Olympic Council Conference in Bangkok Thailand.

In 1994, Sabree organized the 9th World ITF Taekwon-Do Championship in Terengganu, Malaysia with 86 countries National teams participated. Malaysia succeeded to attain the 4th place. It was officiated by the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Sabree received many awards and medals from the Malaysian Government for his contribution to the Martial Arts. This include two ‘Knighthood’ (Dato’), DPMT in 1994 and DSSA in 1999. He also received the ‘Order of Friendship 2nd Class” from President of DPR Korea in 1994. He is the first non-Korean to receive this award for his contribution in promoting of Taekwon-Do worldwide. He was promoted to 8th Degree Blackbelt by ITF and 7th Degree Hapkido by Korean Hapkido Association, Seoul, Korea.

Sabree founded The Malaysian Global Taekwon-Do Federation (MGTF) in 1999 and become MGTF President & Chief Instructor from 1999-2005. MGTF is a National Taekwon-Do Organization registered and recognized by Malaysian Government. He was also The Senior Vice-President of The Global Taekwon-Do Federation (GTF) from 1999-2005
In 2001, after over 45 years involment in Taekwon-Do, Sabree Salleh was promoted to 9th Degree Black Belt by The Global Taekwon-Do Federation (GTF), Canada, and by The Korean Pro-Taekwon-Do Federation (KPTF), Seoul, Korea. Sabree also received 9th Degree Black Belt from the World All style Combat Organization (WASCO), Italy. Currently he is also WASCO Vice- President.

In 2005, Sabree with other Malaysian Martial arts senior instructors formed The Malaysian Martial Arts Grand Masters Martial Association (MAGMA). He is now an Advisor/Founder member to MAGMA.

Sabree’s was admitted to be a member of WHFSC –THE WORLD HEAD OF FAMILY SOKESHIP COUNCIL (The most prestegious World Grand Master Council) in 2007.

He was awarded WHFSC INTERNATIONAL HALL OF FAME AWARD 2008, at WHFSC 16th Annual International Award and Symposium at The Crowne Plaza Hotel, San Antonio, Texas, USA on May 24th 2008.

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5 comments on Sabree Salleh"

Paced by FXWrpTzRfGurtZqk 25 april 2013, 21:45

If one must utilize a belt syestm, I prefer the Japanese Menkyo Kaiden syestm and how they handle child students.9th to 6th kyu is the highest belt rank a child can be promoted. Teenagers, 13 or over can thus be promoted to 5th kyu, whereas adults normally start at 6th kyu.This makes consistent the fact that rank is now based upon age as well as dojo belt, where one does not outpace the other.The idea of separating one path for children and another path for adults, divides up the society and prevents children from seeking apprenticeship from adults. Without this apprenticeship relationship, skills cannot be passed unto generations unlimited. Eventually, one path becomes its own thing and the other path completely diverges. To the point where Japanese karate taught to children is such that it will never progress to the self defense or battlefield applications of Okinawan karate before Itosu's reforms. By diving up the promotion paths, one also created two separate social "classes", and after a few generations, they will never meet again. Since the world is too peaceful to force them to do so for pragmatic reasons.

Paced by sira 01 maart 2013, 00:00

SirA great event with lots of positive febaedck on the day, and lots more since. The P.U.M.A. world open will surely get bigger and better. Congratulations to all involved.Mr Bishop

Paced by Honest TKD 19 maart 2010, 05:05

Sabree is ook heel beroemd vanwege zijn corruptie schandaal in Maleisie.

Paced by taekwondo killer 19 december 2009, 20:59

this grandmasters fat and slobby fuck bullshit muthafucking dick!

Paced by Manoranjan Patra 19 mei 2009, 20:27

I am very glad to see Grand Master Dr. Sabree Salleh's details. Please help me and send the E Mail Id of Grand Master Dr. Sabree Salleh. I meet him at India in the yrer 1992. Please help.

Thanks and Regards

Manoranjan Patra(3rd Dan ITF)

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