In the past 2 days, thousands of domestic and foreign martial arts masters and practitioners participated in gatherings and exchanges in public sites, famous martial arts villages and halls to introduce the essence of Vietnam traditional martial arts to the public.
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Martial arts practitioners of Son Long Kata School (Son Long quyen thuat) (in France, Switzerland) perform at the Long Phuoc Pagoda martial arts club, Tuy Phuoc district. Photo H.T
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* Exciting meetings…
In the last two consecutive days (August 2-3), all of the martial arts performance venues in the districts of Tay Son, Tuy Phuoc, An Nhon, Phu Cat and Quy Nhon city saw large audience.
People came to enjoy hundreds of special performances by the martial arts masters and practitioners of 21 domestic teams and 42 martial arts squads from 30 countries and territories.
Because of his narrow front yard, Master Phi Long Vinh (in Tuy Phuoc district) decided to set up a simple stage on the opposite side of his house for the martial performances. The pastoral site aroused interest of foreign troupes such as Thuy phap Vietnam (Belgium), Vo khi dao Vietnam (Germany), and Doan Khiem ho (France).
They solemnly entered the house of Master Phi Long Vinh to burn incense in commemoration of the martial arts founders and utterly dedicated to their performances then.
The Long Phuoc pagoda’s martial arts club in Tuy Phuoc district had been boisterous with preparations for welcoming visiting teams since midday. At the early afternoon, the pagoda yard was crowded with awaiting viewers.
Although the groups came late about one hour, no viewer left. On contrary, the yard became more and more crowded. The viewers applauded thunderously as the groups came.
“Witnessing the gathering of people at all ages, of all skins, of all nationalities and of all religions at Long Phuoc Pagoda, I feel the attractive strength - the quintessence of cultural and historical tradition – of Vietnam traditional martial arts in general and Binh Dinh style in particular. Vietnam traditional martial arts actually deserves a title ‘language of global integration,” said Olivier Barbey, the founding grand Master of Son Long Kata school (Son Long quyen thuat) in France and Switzerland.
Sublimation of Vietnam traditional martial arts
Performances which left strong impression to viewers at Tay Son sporting hall on August 2 were ones displayed by the teams from Ho Chi Minh City, from France-based Van An School, from Italy-based Binh Dinh – Sa Long Cuong School. Nguyen Van Ca, an 85-year-old man from Tay An commune, tremblingly stood up from time to time to give rapturous applause.
“I missed the previous events. I am determined to watch the performances this time even though I live far from here. I feel very pleased to see the foreigners to perform Vietnam traditional martial arts,” said the old man.
Viewers at the multi-function Ha Thanh sport complex were also fully satisfied with spectacular stances by practitioners from Ho Chi Minh City Hong Bang University, from Vietnam Martial Arts Association in France, etc. and particularly Fohler Tina, a German practitioner who joined in the Feng Shui soft form together with others of Vo Khi Dao Viet Nam group.
“I have just practiced Vietnam traditional martial arts for 2 years. During the training program, I lost 15 kilograms and my weight now is …more than 90 kilograms. This is the first time to visit the cradle of martial arts Vietnam – Binh Dinh. At first, I am a little bit worried but then feel excited at the applause of the viewers,” said Fohler Tina.
Master Phi Long Vinh’s martial arts hall gave a meaningful salute to the guests with the performance of jade cup (Ngoc Tran tố) by 96-year-old Master Truong Van Can and his 4-year-old grandchild Truong Gia Man. The young and old pair briskly and flexibly moved with imposing glints on their faces. They gained constant applause of the admiring viewers. Performances of Master Phi Long Vinh and Master Phi Long Hung also stirred up the animated environment of the martial arts exchange.
The mass performance of Zen Buddhist as the prelude of the exchange programme by Long Phuoc Pagoda martial arts club also made a strong impression on the viewers. The practitioners at very young age gained admiring applause of the foreign trainees. Other performances with weapons and combating exercises by Long Phuoc Pagoda School were also very impressive, a persuasive proof for the high quality martial arts training hall.
On August 3, all participated in the exchange with An Nhon-based martial arts halls. The guests were very excited and moved at the resounding drum beating salutation at Le Xuan Canh hall (Nhon Hung commune).
The local people were coming in ever-increasing numbers to watch with their own eyes the special performances by the national and international martial arts practitioners. They were very interested in witnessing 9-year-old Le Tieu Dong from Gia Lai delegation to perform his kata with strong and quick movements.
Regrettably, the exchanges at the famous martial arts halls at Tay Son like halls of Master Phan Tho, Master Ho Sung lasted in such a short time that the martial arts practitioners are still “thirsty” for more. The quintessence of Vietnam traditional martial arts was actually brought to a new height.
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Vietnam traditional martial arts to be presented at South America and Africa
“I want to expand Van An school to South America and Africa”
Founding grand master of Van An school Truong Quang Kim said, “Some of my followers and I were invited to the France-based International Martial Arts Festival in 2000. Returning home from France, I wondered why Vietnam traditional martial arts wasn’t present there. Our performances had left good impression to the festival. I got an invitation of teaching martial arts at France then. I gradually mobilized resources to open a martial arts hall in Neon, France. From there, I expanded Van An school to other countries.”
Van An School has now halls in 10 countries but Master Truong Quang Kim doesn’t want to stop. “South America and Africa are places where Vietnam traditional martial arts has great potentiality. I want to expand Van An school there,” he said.
Vietnam traditional martial arts has hopeful vision abroad
Ly Hoang Tung, Chairman of the General Association for the Development of World Martial Arts, was born in Nha Trang in 1978. He settled in USA and has tried to develop Vietnam martial arts there. He also found ways to gather various schools of Vietnam martial arts all over the world under a same roof.
His American-based non-profit organization has expanded to 12 countries. “The association was established 17 years ago and has developed well. It attracts a lot of young, devoted masters and trainees. The expansion of Vietnam martial arts in foreign countries is, thus, very hopeful. This is the third time we’ve joined the International Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts Festival with participation of 200 masters and practitioners - the biggest delegation including 12 groups from 12 countries such as USA, Britain, Germany, Canada, Japan, Philippines.”
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