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Founder of Karate Budokan International • 7 February 1922 – 18 July 1997
The legendary martial arts master who built one of the world's most recognized karate systems — from a single dojo in Malaysia to over 4,000 centers across the globe.
Mr. Chew Choo Soot was born on 7th February 1922 in Alor Star, a Northern State of Peninsula, Malaysia. Mr. Chew Choo Soot lost his father when he was still an infant and was brought up under the strict discipline of his grandfather, an elderly Confucius scholar of the old school of China. He was not given any encouragement to partake in any branch of physical culture, as his grandfather believed in book and education and not in martial arts.
However, at the age of 15, Mr. Chew Choo Soot enrolled for Weight lifting training at one of the small body building clubs in Ipoh, where he grew up in his school days. Due to his keen interest in the training he progressed rapidly and eventually became the national weight lifting champion in both the feather weight and the light weight classes in 1939, 1941 and 1942. During those years he also acquired an interest in martial arts and took up judo, jujitsu and wrestling. It was not until at the age of 20 that he was introduced to the art of karate-do.
In early 1942 when the country was under the Japanese military occupation, Mr. Chew Choo Soot was surprised that a Japanese Army Officer seek him out and requested him to teach him weight lifting, as he came to know of Mr. Chew Choo Soot from the health and strength magazine which frequently published his photographs. When it became known to Mr. Chew that the Japanese Army officer was a high-ranking karate expert, he requested the officer to teach him karate in return. They then agreed to exchange tuition and for more than 2 years they spent the evenings training together in karate, jujitsu, judo and weight lifting until the Japanese Army officer left for Okinawa in 1945.
After the end of the Second World War, Mr. Chew went to Japan and Okinawa to further his karate training. He also made several trips to Taiwan to learn kung-fu and oriental weapons from a number of old kung-fu Masters of China.
A lifetime dedicated to the mastery, teaching, and global spread of karate-do.
Born on 7th February 1922. Raised under the strict Confucian discipline of his grandfather after losing his father in infancy.
Enrolled in weight lifting at age 15 in Ipoh. Won national championships in both featherweight and lightweight classes in 1939, 1941 and 1942. Also pursued judo, jujitsu and wrestling.
A Japanese Army Officer sought him out for weight lifting coaching. They exchanged skills — Mr. Chew learning karate in return — training together for over 2 years until the Japanese Army officer left for Okinawa in 1945.
After World War II, Mr. Chew travelled to Japan and Okinawa to further his karate training. He also made several trips to Taiwan to learn kung-fu and oriental weapons from old kung-fu Masters of China.
At the request of his friends, Mr. Chew started a dojo at Petaling Jaya with just a handful of students. The overwhelming public interest led him to recruit 7 Japanese instructors to assist with growing classes.
Within 2 years the art spread across the North and South of the Peninsula. By 1982, Malaysia had sufficient qualified instructors to meet national and international needs, and the Japanese instructors returned to their own country.
Though overseas expansion was not the original intention, the fame of KBI spread beyond Malaysia's shores. Over four decades, approximately 4,000 karate centers have sprung up throughout the world.
Mr. Chew fell ill with a paralytic attack on 4th February 1995 and breathed his last on 18th July 1997 at the age of 76 years in Malaysia — leaving behind a lasting global legacy.
After the end of the Second World War, Mr. Chew Choo Soot went to Japan and Okinawa to further his karate training. He also made several trips to Taiwan to learn kung-fu and oriental weapons from a number of old kung-fu Masters of China. This rich blend of disciplines became the foundation of the unique Budokan system.
In 1966, at the request of his friends, Mr. Chew started a dojo at Petaling Jaya with just a handful of students. The interest shown by the public was so great that he found it impossible to cope without assistant instructors. He made two further trips to Tokyo and Osaka and employed 7 Japanese instructors — within 2 years spreading the art across Malaysia.
It was not the original intention of Mr. Chew to start branches and affiliated centers of KBI in overseas countries, but the fame of KBI went beyond the shores of Malaysia. In the span of 4 decades, about 4,000 karate centers have sprung up throughout the world.
Mr. Chew's ambition was to be able to travel to different countries and conduct karate classes when he reached the age of 80, rather than to spend his time amassing a fortune.
Mr. Chew Choo Soot dedicated his entire life to the art of karate — not for personal gain or fame, but out of a genuine love for the martial arts and a desire to share its values with the world. From a young boy discouraged from physical culture by his scholarly grandfather, he rose to become a national champion and the founder of one of the most widespread karate systems on the planet.
His teachings continue through every practitioner who trains under the Budokan system. United Karate Budokan International (UKBI) honours his memory by remaining faithful to the principles, techniques, and spirit that Grandmaster Chew Choo Soot devoted his life to building. His legacy is not merely an organization — it is a living tradition, carried forward by those who train with loyalty and purpose.
Honour the Grandmaster's vision by training with dedication, discipline, and respect under the UKBI banner.