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Late martial arts master Ngo Bong performs a technique of Hung Ke Quyen |
Veteran martial arts master Ngo Bong – the “successor” of Nguyen Lu, one of the three leaders of the Tay Son insurrection in the late 18th century who created the renown Hung ke quyen (Bravery Cock fighting technique) – has just passed away at his hometown – Dien Chanh hamlet, Nghia Dien commune, Tu Nghia district, Quang Ngai province, at the age of 83.
He peacefully departed this life in great mourning of many martial arts practitioners and lovers.
Master Ngo Bong was known among martial arts circle nationwide as the only “successor” of Nguyen Lu, the youngest among the three Tay Son brothers, because Ngo Bong restored the whole Hung ke quyen. The martial arts form imitates stances, fighting and defense movements of cock fighting techniques. A technique of the form - flying with two legs – had played a significant role in the success of Tay Son troops during their fighting all over the country, particularly the fight against Qing invaders in 1789. Yet, the Hung ke quyen had gone with the fall of Tay Son Dynasty and lost for hundred years.
One day, 20 years ago, Master Ngo Bong surprised the martial arts circle nationwide with the technique of flying with two legs and an introduction in verse about it. It was in 1993, on the occasion of a national tournament of Vietnamese traditional martial arts in Ho Chi Minh City. The tournament’s organizers asked all of master participants to introduce origin of each martial arts form as they performed it.
The introduction about the Hung ke quyen started with 2 lines of verse which meant 2 cocks fought each other for supremacy, their 2 legs were flying with upward claws. It turned out to the fact that the Master Ngo Bong had learnt the introduction in verse from one of his uncle who was also a renown martial arts master in Quang Ngai province. The uncle learnt it from his father (grandfather of Ngo Bong), who was a Tay Son soldier.
The Hung ke quyen was created in the land of Binh Dinh and had been preserved by the Quang Ngai-born master so that it could come back to life more than 200 year later. Master Ngo Bong was recognized by Vietnam Traditional Martial Arts Federation as the only successor of Nguyen Lu. He performed the Hung ke quyen everywhere at home and abroad. Wherever he went to perform the unique form, he won high praises and admiration from the martial arts circle.
At the end of 2010, at Milan, Italy, the film A life devoted to martial arts, which told a moving story about life of Master Ngo Bong, beat other 400 films to win the first prize in category of sport documentary film in the 5th Vietnam International Federation International Cinema Television Sports (FICTS) Festival- Sport, Tourism, Movies & Tv. Master Ngo Bong devoted all of his life to the martial arts. Without such the devotion, the Hung ke quyen couldn’t have revived after 200 years of oblivion.
The octogenarian doesn’t drive his motorcycle along village roads at Quang Ngai to treat wrench for people any more. The old man doesn’t practice eye training with a long-handled spear by a stream at Xom Xiec bridge any more. Farewell Ngo Bong – the great martial arts master.
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