Image via Master Varan
When it comes to sports, it takes a lot of passion, perseverance and determination to excel. But what happens when an individual doesn’t have the same starting line as others? That’s where compassion and patience come to play, best portrayed by Shihan Vicnesvaran a/l Varatharajoo who’s one of the unsung heroes in the DIGIyin Saathanai Hero-kkal campaign.
Vicnesvaran, better known as Master Varan, is the head coach of Malaysia’s first ever deaf karate team. Yes, you read that right.
As a 4th Dan black belt holder in karate himself, he has been a karate instructor for over 16 years. He first received the All-Japan Karatedo Shotokan and Japan Karatedo Federation Certification after completing his training in Miyazaki, Japan.
Image via Master Varan
Master Varan started operating his own dojo at the Gishinkan Karate-Do Association of Perak in 2004, specialising in the shotokan style and focusing on self-defence. Over the years, hundreds of students have picked up the martial art through him.
After pursuing his career as a full-time karate instructor, in 2017, he started coaching a special group of students with hearing disabilities at SMK Taman Sutera in Johor. Upon witnessing the potential of these deaf students in karate, he decided to form the Deaf Karate Malaysia team.
Image via Master Varan
Image via Master Varan
Putting the students and their training first, he never stopped anyone from attending, even those from poor families who couldn’t afford the fees. He spent his own money developing the association and coached some of the students for free!
Master Varan didn’t give up on these kids and his efforts were later proven fruitful when his Johor athletes managed to reach the national level finals in 2019!
Image via Master Varan
More recently, during the Japan Deaf Karate Championship last year, 10 Malaysian athletes aged between 16 and 20 years old—they are all his students—won three gold, two silver and eight bronze medals!
Image via Master Varan
Not only that, he also successfully qualified his team of deaf athletes for the Deaf Karate World Cup and Deaf Olympics to be held in Brazil this year without financial support!
Currently, besides coaching the national deaf karate team and working as the chief karate instructor at Gi Shin Shotokan Karate-Do Johor, he’s also the senior karate kumite instructor at Persatuan Karate-Do Daerah Kulaijaya.
Master Varan’s story shows us how a little bit of compassion and generosity can go a long way, and why it’s important to treat everyone equally.
We also want to give a special shoutout to the deaf athletes of Malaysia, kudos to you guys and all the best for your next competition!
As part of the DIGIyin Saathanai Hero-kkal campaign, we’re constantly looking to share stories of Malaysian ‘superheroes’ that live amongst us.
If you know a hero or if you have an inspirational story about overcoming challenges, we’d love to hear from you. Just submit your story at RAAGA’s website or click the image above.
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