A film named A life devoted to martial arts tells a moving story about the veteran martial arts Master Ngo Bong, who has devoted the whole life to martial arts. He has not only taught generations of disciples the essence of the martial arts but also set a good example of high morals and high sporting spirit.

The whole life devoted to martial arts

The veteran Master Ngo Bong is now 82 and living at a small house in Nghia Dien commune, Tu Nghia district, Quang Ngai Province. Despite his old age, he still practices martial arts, doing research and teaching it to local followers.

The veteran Master Ngo Bong is performing the Hung Ke quyen (bravery cock fighting technique)

From his point of view, any martial arts practitioners must know thoroughly martial arts disciplines and philosophy first. In their very first day of the martial arts practicing, the disciples are taught about commitment to ethical conducts and codes of honour, respect for grand masters and teachers, and harmony with everybody. In his teachings, the veteran master emphasizes that practicing martial arts is to keep us healthy.

Martial arts cause of the veteran Master Ngo Bong has experienced plenty of ups and downs. Being orphaned when he was just a 3-month-old baby, he lived with his grandmother. It was a turning point in his life that he started to devote the whole of his life to martial arts.

He was trained martial arts first by two of his uncles Le Thuy and Le Chot. Then, he made his ways everywhere to learn more about martial arts from other masters. He has absorbed plenty of Vietnamese traditional martial arts styles and techniques. He keeps on preserving and teaching them to next generations of the disciples. Thus, many people consider him living encyclopedia of Vietnamese traditional martial arts.

In the 1st festival of the Vietnam Traditional Martial Arts League in 1993, Vietnamese martial arts circle was very astonished to witness the veteran Master Ngo Bong’s impressive performance of the renowned Hung ke quyen (Bravery Cock fighting technique), which is reported lost long ago. The martial arts style was created by Nguyen Lu, one of the three leaders of the Tay Son insurrection in the late 18th century. The Hung ke quyen imitates stances, fighting and defense movements of cock fighting techniques. Nguyen Lu created it hundred years ago with aim to teach the Tay Son troops against Chinese Qing invaders.)

Since then, Master Ngo Bong has become famous. The Hung ke quyen was selected into list of Top Ten Vietnamese typical martial arts styles. In the 2004 World Martial Arts Festival held at city of Chungju, South Korea, the Hung ke quyen performed by Master Ngo Bong gained much admiration of other 70 martial arts schools all over the world.

Film about the living encyclopedia of Vietnamese martial arts

The sport documentary film A life devoted to martial arts is made by a team of 3 fresh recruits working at Quang Ngai Province’s broadcasting station, including Nhat Thao, Thanh Phong and Man Dat.

With three 15-minute long episodes, it won the 1st prize in category of sport documentary film in the 5th Vietnam International Federation International Cinema Television Sports (FICTS) Festival- Sport, Tourism, Movies & Tv.

It is not easy to make a film about the veteran famous Master Ngo Bong, depicting a great portrait of martial arts, a dignified person with high morals and martial arts spirit. The young film crew, thus, had to spend more than one month “living and sleeping” with the film.

As in its script by Nhat Thao, the film begins attractively with scene of a book “Life and cause of martial arts” depicting portraits of Vietnamese great masters, who contribute their efforts in preserving and developing martial arts movements. Ngo Bong is one of those masters.

In the film, shots are created with cinematographically beautiful frames, angles and moves, telling an interesting and logic story about the master. There are meaningful scenes in the film such as two cocks fighting as representation of the Hung ke quyen which brings fame to Master Ngo Bong or the veteran master sitting under shade of the old tamarind tree at Quang Trung Museum (Binh Dinh Province). The narration says: “After over 200 years of being drifted among the common people and hidden under various forms to avoid revenges in the past history, Tay Son martial arts style now finds light of life. The light is from torches of many seekers of whom Master Ngo Bong is the one. It’s he that hold the torch and he himself is a torch.”

Nhat Thao says Master Ngo Bong is hearing-impaired and tends to act impromptu out of the set script. The film director, thus, feels dog-tired. Thanh Phong and Man Dat, the two camera men, always keep their cameras ready to “grab” the most enchanting moments of the master’s impromptu action. Nothing but the unexpected shots depicting the veteran master in his impromptu performance of martial arts and tuong (classical drama) singing at Grand Master Phan Tho’s house in Tay Son, Binh Dinh are the most valuable and honest images, helping us understand more about Master Ngo Bong’s love for the martial arts.

The film ends with a beautiful, creative against-the-light shooting. It depicts the veteran master in his practice of eye training in which he looks directly to the rising sun. He is mobilising his inner energy and strength to absorb essence of dawn. His practice lasts from 5 am till the sun rises high. Next to him, stands a long-handled spear. The film making team wants to convey a message: martial arts should drive people towards the dawn, building up dignity and sport spirit, enhancing love for the country, and honouring those who devote their whole life for martial arts preservation and development.  It’s the message that brings the film highest award.

Source: TNO