Martial Arts Styles and Schools of Vietnam
Vietnam, a country with a vibrant and diverse cultural tapestry, is renowned for its ancient martial arts traditions. With a history deeply rooted in combat techniques and self-defense, Vietnamese martial arts showcase a fascinating combination of regional styles and philosophies. In this blog post, we will delve into the geographical distribution and distinctive characteristics of martial arts in Vietnam.
Geographical Distribution
Martial arts in Vietnam have evolved differently across various regions, influenced by both internal and external factors. Here are some of the notable regional styles.
Thanh Long Region
The Thanh Long Region, located in northern Vietnam, has played a significant role in the development of Vietnamese martial arts. Influenced by China, which shares a border with this region, martial arts styles here bear similarities to Chinese systems.
The most prominent schools and styles include the following.
Nhat Nam School
Despite being geographically close to heavily Chinese-influenced capital the provinces where the style originated were relatively isolated from foreign influences. The Nhat Nam School places great emphasis on preserving and promoting traditional Vietnamese martial arts techniques and philosophies. It aims to honor and continue the legacy of martial arts in Vietnam by teaching authentic methods passed down through generations.
Vietnamese Traditional Wrestling
Vietnamese Traditional Wrestling has deep roots in Vietnamese culture and history. It has been an integral part of traditional festivals, celebrations, and village competitions, serving as a form of entertainment, physical exercise, and a way to display bravery and honor. Vietnamese Traditional Wrestling has faced challenges in recent times due to modernization and the rise of other combat sports. However, efforts have been made to preserve and promote this ancient martial art. Organizations, clubs, and competitions dedicated to Vietnamese Traditional Wrestling have been established, ensuring its continued practice and cultural significance.
Nam Hong Son School
This style was developed under a heavy influence of Chinese martial arts traditions. It’s one of the largest martial arts styles practiced in the north of Vietnam.
Vovinam
For detailed information about vovinam refer to these articles:
Thanh Phong School
The Thanh Phong School is a respected institution dedicated to the practice, preservation, and promotion of Vietnamese martial arts, with a primary focus on Vovinam. Through its teachings, the school aims to instill discipline, self-improvement, and the cultural values associated with Vietnamese martial arts
The Bac Viet Vo School
Background of this style comes from Hmong practices rather than those of Viet people. In recent years schools attracts both Hmong and Viet practitioners.
Tay Son Region
The Tay Son Region, located in central Vietnam, has a rich martial arts heritage, which emerged during the Tay Son Rebellion in the late 18th century. Influenced by neighboring regions and cultures, martial arts styles from this region incorporate diverse techniques.
Modern styles stemming from Binh Dinh Province are collectively referred to as Vo Co Truen, Vo Binh Dinh or Vo Tay San. The schools in this area attract a significant number of followers because of a combination of factors, including the region's tumultuous history, the resilient nature of its people, and the promotion of Vietnamese martial arts as a means to foster patriotism and uphold national identity.
The traditional schools of Binh Dinh Province include Ly Tuong Martial Arts School, Long Phuoc Pagoda Martial Arts, Phi Long Vinh Martial Arts School, Le Xuan Canh School, Van An Phai School.
The Nam Huynh Dao Region
The Nam Huynh Dao Region, situated in southern Vietnam, is known for its own unique martial arts style, Nam Huynh Dao. This region has been influenced by various cultures due to its coastal location and historical trade connections.
Ba Tra Tan Khanh / Takhado
This style is taught all over Vietnam with the largest following in Ho Chi Minh City. Due to the dispersion of many southern citizens following the Second Indochina War a number of practitioners have continued to teach in the United States, Australia, France and other European countries.
Sa Long Cuong Martial Arts School
It is believed that the martial arts style originated as a combination of different Vietnamese and Chinese martial arts, which were subsequently modified by Grandmaster Truong Thang Dang in the early 1900s to suit the needs and preferences of the local community.
Nam Huynh Dao Martial Arts School
Nam Huynh Dao draws inspiration from different martial arts styles, including Vietnamese martial arts such as Vo Co Truyen, Chinese martial arts like Wing Chun and Tai Chi, as well as Western boxing and fencing techniques. By integrating these diverse influences, Nam Huynh Dao offers a well-rounded approach to martial arts training. The style and school is closely associated with Huynh Family Lineage.
Seven Mountains Martial Arts
This group of martial arts covers various lineages practiced by Buddhist and Daoist groups in the region.
Khmer Martial Arts
While Khmer martial arts originated in Cambodia, there are also Khmer communities in Vietnam that have their own variation of the martial art. The Khmer Krom people, who live in the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam, have preserved their own unique form of Khmer martial arts.
This style of martial arts, known as "Bokator Khmer Krom," incorporates many of the traditional techniques found in Khmer martial arts, including punches, kicks, elbow and knee strikes, and joint locks. However, it also incorporates some techniques that are specific to the Khmer Krom community.
Bokator Khmer Krom has a strong emphasis on practicality and real-world self-defense, and it is often taught in a militaristic style, with a focus on discipline and physical conditioning. Students typically begin by learning basic techniques and movements, and then progress to more advanced forms and sparring.
In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in Khmer Krom martial arts in Vietnam, with efforts to preserve and promote the traditional techniques and cultural heritage of the Khmer Krom people.