The workshop on the preservation and development of Vietnam traditional martial arts is an essential activity during the 4-day international festival of Vietnam traditional martial arts 2010.

However, its theme is so broad that its organizer is incapable of facilitating it. They also lack initiatives to guide the workshop to any specific topics on Vietnam traditional martial arts. So, it is unable to state that the workshop is successful.

The workshop doesn’t get many practical ideas from foreign martial arts masters like Olivier Barbey (standing)

Brimful of ideas and wishes

Numerous representatives of domestic and foreign martial arts troupes joined the workshop. Most of them are of the same mind about the fact that Vietnam traditional martial arts still lacks depth and unity.

“Martial arts organizations at home should take the main responsibility for preserving the quintessential heritage of Vietnam traditional arts while the promotion of martial arts abroad needs bilateral cooperation among the martial arts associations, federations and schools at home and overseas,” said Master Nguyen Van Nhan, chairman of Khiem Ho Martial Arts Federation in France.

The traditional martial arts preservation inland has so far focused on surface activities at national and provincial levels. The effort is practical but present on a small scale, lacking in assistance and viable on basis of enthusiasm and spontaneity at grass roots level.

“It had better to attach special importance to quality than quantity in the preservation effort. Yet, Vietnam traditional martial arts has hundreds of special forms while only 10 are selected as required performances at the national competitions. Such a number is very small. It would rather add more forms. Many secret martial arts techniques are under clear threat of extinction. It is necessary to do studies and find suitable ways of preserving them,” suggested Vice Chairman of Binh Dinh Traditional Martial Arts Federation, Nguyen An Pha.

It is undeniable that Vietnam traditional martial arts is inferior to other imported types of kungfu even at home. The fact that it will become the national martial arts is just an issue …for fun.

Lack of development strategy

Even the effort of agitating for the national traditional martial arts as an official school subject encounters lots of complication. At present, just 3 universities all over the country are pioneering in training bachelors of Vietnam traditional martial arts.

Martial arts schools and halls have being burdened with the responsibility for preserving the ancestors’ heritage. The officials just come to them whenever they want to ask for help. The halls and schools must be self-reliant. They can rely on nobody in case of difficulties. Assistance is just a promise, said many devoted masters at the workshop.

Overseas Vietnamese and foreign masters need specific and practical activities together with more professional and accurate ways of working.

“We are deeply attached to the land of martial arts. However, not everybody is in sufficient financial conditions to travel Vietnam for martial arts learning. We expect that more martial arts masters and instructors from Vietnam go abroad and train us more. Through such foreign trips, they build up a core force of talented martial arts trainers abroad who will keep on expanding the martial arts in France and other countries through their training,” said Olivier Barbey, Chairman of Vietnam Traditional Martial Arts Federation in France.

Keep on waiting

It is so strange that the promotion of Vietnam traditional martial arts abroad has been so far the sole effort of overseas Vietnamese masters who are deeply attached to their homeland, of foreign masters or instructors who love the Vietnamese martial arts.

There aren’t any official strategies to develop the martial arts. The very irresponsibility, neglect and bureaucracy turn the idea of establishing International Federation of Vietnam Traditional Martial Arts absurd although it has been already mentioned. Many questions raised at the workshop – for what the federation should be established? How is the specific procedure of the establishment? What is the vision of the federation after being put into operation? - got very vague replies.

Most of the ideas and proposals at the workshop are very useful and have practical meaning because they bear the devotion of the Vietnam traditional martial arts lovers. However, such ideas and proposals need a solid foundation – the comprehensive strategy of Vietnam traditional martial arts development. The strategy hasn’t been available and no one, even the Chairman of Vietnam Traditional Martial Arts Federation Doan Van Thao, dares to say when it comes into existence.

• Hoai Thu