Kung Fu in Vietnam and Vietnam martial Arts List with Kung Fu styles listed that went

[FIRE HAWK]

Vietnamese Martial Arts

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Acknowledgements:
This list was improved by the kind assistance of the following individuals:
Le Tan
Brian Sherman
Marco Taglietti
Anatoly Tokara
Reto Turnell
(Any remaining shortcomings and idiosyncracies are solely my responsibility !)

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This is from Kai Eric Witts website the Vo Pages

Contemporary styles

Style Head Founder Roots
Bach My Phai (Baimeiquan) (several lineages) Zhang Liquan (1880 - 1964)?
(attributed to Baimei) Nga My Phai(?)
Bach Ho Quyen (Baihuquan) (several lineages) ? (Shaolinquan?)
Chau Gia Duong Lang Nam Phai
(« Nam Phai Duong Lang) (several lineages) Zhoufamily (Hakka) Zhoujia Tanglangnanpai
(« Nanpai Tanglangquan, Wuzuquan?)
Con Luan ? ? ?
Dai Bang Phai Le Van Than ? ?
Dau Vo Dai ? ? ?
Dong Viet Dao Dong Vu Dong Vu (1943-) Thich Tran Thu
(buddhist lineage, which??)
Hac Ho Quyen (Heihuquan) (several lineages) ? (Shaolinquan?)
Han Bai (several lineages) ? ?
---> "European branch" Farid Belkessa Tasteyre Tran Phuoc () (Han Bai: Thach Nam lineage
via Wu By Oai ?)
Hau Quyen Trung Dung Dao Tran Van Ut(?) unknown buddhist lineage (which??)
He Phai (Kejia) (many lineages) "none" (collective term for the
Hakka families' arts) Thieu Lam Nam Phai, Nga My Phai,
Nam Phai Duong Lang, Long Qing
Hiep Khi Vo Dao Nghiem Toan? Tran Huu Ha ?
Hoa Long Vo Dao Le Vinh Long Le Vinh Long Vo Trung Hoa & ?
Hong Gia (Hongjiaquan) (several lineages) Lu Acai and Tie Qiaosan?
(attributed to Hong Xiguan) Shaolin Nanpai?
---> Dinh Tri Dung ? (Hongjiaquan)
Huynh Long Phai Huynh Duc Tho Huynh Duc Tho? Vo Binh Dinh
Kim Ke ? Nguyen Lu (1754-?) Vo Tay Son, Thieu Lam Nam Phai
Kim Long ? ? ...
Kim Long see entry under Vo Binh Dinh
> La Han Quyen (several lineages) ? originated in Fujian: Shaolin Nanpai?
La Son Phai ? ? Vo Quang Binh?
> Long Ho Hoi - Vo Viet-Nam Nguyen Manh Son
(aka Hong Sac Kim) Nguyen Manh Hung? "Sino-Indochinese style"
Long Qing Phai (Longxingpai) (several lineages) Dayu? Shaolin Nanpai, Nanpaiquan?
Mei Hoa Quyen (Meihuaquan) (several lineages) (Feng Keshan?) Emeipai / Emeiquan
Minh Long Louis Marion? Tran Minh Long (1925-1977) ?
Nam Hai Vo Dao Nghiem An Thach Nghiem An Thach (1937-) Vo Lam Son, ?
Nam Hong Son ? ? ?
Nam Phai Duong Lang
(Nanpai Tanglangquan) » Chau Gia Duong Lang Nam Phai (Zhoujia Tanglangnanpai)
» ... Duong Lang Nam Phai (Zhulin Shi Tanglangquan)
Nga My Phai (Emeipai/Emeiquan) (many lineages) "none" (collective term) Emeishaninhabitants
Nga My Son Phat Gia Quyen see entry under Vo That Son
Nom Tong ? ? ?
Qwan Ki Do
(Vietn.: Quan Khi Dao) Pham Xuan Tong Pham Xuan Tong (1947-) Thieu Lam Nam Phai, Nga My Phai,
Chau Gia Duong Lang Nam Phai,
Quan Ky, La Son Phai, Vo Binh Dinh
Sa Long Cuong Le Van Van (1954-) Truong Thanh Dang (1895-1985) Vo Binh Dinh
Tay Son Nhan see entry under Vo Tay Son
Thieu Lam (many lineages) "none" (collective term) ?
---> Nguyen Van Nguyen ??? (Thieu Lam, which lineage?)
Thieu Lam Nam Phai
(Shaolin Nanpai) (many lineages) "none" (collective term) ?
Trung Son Vo Dao ? Mai Van Phat (1917-1997) buddhist lineage (which??)
Truong Vo Thuat Truong The Ngoc ? ?
Vat Lieu Doi ? ? ?
Viet Vo Dao quite recent, collective term for Vietnamese Martial Arts
(more traditional terms are: Vo Thuat, Vo Ta or Vo Co Truyen)
Viet Vu Dao Nguyen Van Luong Pham Van Tan Vo Dat Do?
Vinh Xuan Quyen
(Yongchunquan) (several lineages) ??? (No, don't ask for my guess... )
---> Huynh Ngoc An (1954-)
(aka Ho Phi Ho) Nguyen Te Kong (1877-1960)
(name in Cantonese Yuen Chai Wan) (Yongchunquan,
YCW studied with Leung Jan)
---> Nam Anh (19??-) Nguyen Dui Hai (aka Ho Hai Long; 1917-1988) and Nguyen Minh (1884-?) (Yongchunquan)
Vo An Vinh ? ? ?
Vo Bac Ninh (many lineages) "none"
(collective term for provincial arts) ?
Vo Binh Dinh (many lineages) "none"
(collective term for provincial arts) ?
---> Kim Long Tran Ngoc Dinh Tran Ngoc Dinh Sino-Vietnamese lineage (which??),
Vo Binh Dinh
Vo Cuu Long ? ? ?
Vo Da ? ? ?
Vo Dao Vietnam Cuong Chu Tan ? ?
Vo Hoang Nam ? ? ?
Vo Lam Dai Huynh? ? Thieu Lam Nam Phai, Hong Gia?
Vo Lam Son (several lineages) "none"
(collective term for regional arts) ?
---> Lam Son Vo Dao Jacques Tran Van Ba Quach Van Ke (1897-1976) (Ba Cat, Bay Mua, Han Bai)
Vo Nha Chua ? ? ?
Vo Nhat Nam ? ? ?
Vo Quang Binh (many lineages) "none"
(collective term for provincial arts) ?
Vo Quang Nam (many lineages) "none"
(collective term for provincial arts) ?
---> Ma Vinh Trinh ? (Vo Quang Nam)
Vo Song Be (several lineages) "none"
(collective term for provincial arts) ?
Vo Tan Kanh ? ? ?
Vo Tay Son (several lineages) "none"
(collective term for regional arts) ?
---> Diep Bao Sanh ? (Vo Tay Son)
---> Ho Buu (Ho Ngan & Diep Bao Sanh?) (Vo Tay Son)
---> Phan Toan Chau ? (Vo Tay Son)
---> Tai Vinh Minh ? (Vo Tay Son)
---> Tay Son Nhan Nguyen Van Deu
(aka Hong Nhan) Le Van Khoi (Vo Tay Son)
Vo Thanh Long Nguyen Dan Phu (1912-) Nguyen Dan Phu? ?
Vo That Son (several lineages) "none"
(collective term for regional arts) ?
---> That Son Than Vo Dao Phuoc Gia Phan? ? Vo That Son,
Sino-Vietnamese style(s)?
---> Nga My Son Phat Gia Quyen ? ? Vo That Son? (name may indicate Emeiquan origin)
Vo Tong Hop ? ? ?
Vo Trung Hoa (several lineages) Nguyen Trung Hoa Vo Binh Dinh, Vo Quang Binh,
Vo Bac Ninh, Thieu Lam Nam Phai
---> Vo Dao Trung Hoa Jean Quy Jean Quy Vo Trung Hoa, ?
---> Vo Duong Cay Lau Bernard Vo Dinh Quang Bernard Vo Dinh Quang Vo Trung Hoa, some influence from Quan Khi Dao
Vo Viet Nam Nguyen Duc Moc Nguyen Duc Moc ?
Vo Viet-Nam see entry under Long Ho Hoi - Vo Viet-Nam
Vovinam Le Sang (1931- ) Nguyen Loc (1912-1960) Vo Bac Ninh & many other styles
Vu Dao ? ? ?

Please note that this list is far from complete!

(In public, many styles are only known under the collective name of Viet Vo Dao).

http://vo.madb.de/index-en.htm


http://vo.madb.de/styles/index.htm

[reneritchie]

Hi,

There seems to be quite a lot of variety in Vietnam Wing Chun Kuen these days. Yuen Chai-Wan (Nguyen Te-Cong) is generally credited with bringing the system to North Vietnam in the 1930s when he was hired by a local expatriot (Shunde and Nanhai if memory serves) to teach. These were his first students, ethnic Cantonese, and sound like they received instruction very similar to what his Foshan students (Yiu Choi being the most well known) received, and simiar to his brother, Yuen Kay-San (Nguyen Kai-Shon) system.

After this, he began teaching Vietnamese students in Hanoi and later Saigon. These teachings seem further afield from Foshan Wing Chun, including extra weapons (tiger fork, straight sword, kwan-do), "5 animal" forms, and 5-animal Qigong. The basic Wing Chun seems also limited to Siu Nim Tao which does not look much like his ethnic Cantonese students or Foshan students.

It's also said a student of Chan Wah-Shun name Lui Yiu-Chai (Luong Vu-Te) moved to Vietnam at roughly the same time and indeed some of the Wing Chun in Vietnam seems to match that lineage more closely.

One interesting puzzle remains Yuen Chai-Wan's lineage. His Foshan students and ethnic Cantonese students in Vietnam seem to record he learned from Fok Bo-Chuen (some of his Vietnamese students also record this, though it may be a recent adaption). Many Vietnamese students, however, maintain he learned from Fok's classmate, Leung Jan. What makes it interesting is Yuen Chai-Wan was the 4th son of the Yuen family and known as Dou Pei Chai (Pock Skin Chai). Some people in Gulao village (Leung Jan's home town) claim Leung Jan had 5 sons, the 4th being Leung Chai, known as Dou Pei Chai.

[Hungmei]

Hello Fire Hawk:

I'm in the process of helping the Vietnam lineage holder for the WC system immigrate to America. As you're probably aware the WC line split geographically and this person is the "Patriarch" of Wing Chun for all of Vietnam.

If you are interested in assisting me in bringing him into country you can post on this forum.

He is currently in Russia, married to a Russian research physicist. The primary hurdle to overcome is having something set up for him so that he can enter country permanently.

His Wife is easily employable but his sole “job skill� is teaching WC.

I'm thinking along the lines of having either a Wing Chun school "sponsor" him or perhaps a collective effort by the local WC community.

I've been in contact with several of his former students who are in the Washington, DC area and they are willing to help in any way. They are, however, worried about potential repercussions with regard to family members who reside in Vietnam. Therefore, they're kind of in the shadows but should be helpful with the financial burden. John

[reneritchie]

Hi John,

Is patriarch used in a similar manner to Jeung Moon Yan (Center Gate Person)? I've come across four different groups who use that terms for four different people (two in Vietnam, one in Russia, one in Canada). Are these differentiated by georgraphy? (ie. is there one for the ethnic Cantonese students, one for the Hanoi, one for the Saigon, and perhaps others for different lineages like Luong Vu-Te?)

One of the Vietnamese (ethnic Cantonese descent) seemed very similar to Foshan WCK. Another was very different (closer to Chan Wah-Shun lineage but with a lot of other stuff) and had a really beautiful wall mural with animals, weapons, and poetry on it. The Russian and Canadian group sounded roughly similar in content (lots of 5 animals material).

With the turbulance in Vietnam throughout the 20th century, its nice to know there are people working on preserving the Wing Chun that survived.

Rgds,

Rene Ritchie

[Hungmei]

Hello Rene:

I found your post after my original post or I would have included you in the "invitation to help" post. Good to see you on this forum.

As for your questions let me just say this: I have a copy of what his Wife sent me regarding the lineage, as well as a video tape (VHS, NTSC format) of her husband performing WC. I could provide you with copies of both, provided you are willing to help me get these people out of Russia and over the North American continent :) Yeah I know, sounds kind of like bribery but I really need some help getting this thing done.

All my correspondence over the last couple of years has been run through the filter of translation from Vietnamese-Russian-English. Hell of a "rough read" if you know what I mean.

Since you're well established in the WC community if you are interested in helping me get this guy into country, and Canada is just as good as America, post on this list and I'll contact you off list. Just let me know if you have a Web Page up and I'll use the e-mail address noted there.

Robert was helping me on this thing, but the California based company that specialized in immigration assistance folded up so I never got anywhere. John

[reneritchie]

Hi John,

I have a webpage up at http://www.wingchunkuen.com and can be reached via email at rene@wingchunkuen.com. Canada, to my knowledge, is happy to accept Russians (or anybody) but only with specific special knowledge (advanced mathmatics and/or computer programming skills). Otherwise it seems to work off a point system (speaking English so many points, speaking French, level of education, other skills, etc.)

If his wife is easier, you may want to consider bringing her in and then having her bring him in. I've seen that done in reverse (Russian programmers here bringing their wives over from a few weeks to a year later). It can be difficult, but seems less difficult than trying to get both in.

Anyway, please feel free to contact me via email.

Rgds,

Rene Ritchie

[yik-wah-tik]

hello,

i am sifu jew hung loong from the american hung sing kwoon in san francisco, ca. our style is the hung sing choy lee fut style of the jeong yim aka jeong hung sing branch of clf, which was founded
in fut san.

within my lineage of clf, my di-sigung's teacher was named yuen hai. i have heard that master yuen hai originally came from vietnam. he beat someone up so badly that he had to escape and he fled to fut san china where he met up with hung sing choy lee fut founder jeong hung sing.

my question is that i know there are clf schools in vietnam, but i was wondering if there is anyone out there that may have knowledge of master yuen hai. he originally was a hung gar student and worked as a bodyguard/bouncer and was a very tough man.

is there anyone in vietnam that can help me try and trace his lineage back to vietnam?

anyone here from a choy lee fut school :rolleyes:

[reneritchie]

Hi,

I've heard of Choy Lee Fut sifu Yuen Hai of Foshan before and always wondered if he was related in any way to Yuen Kay-San and Yuen Chai-Wan, two prominent Foshan Wing Chun practitioners.

Yuen Kay-San was born in 1889 and was the fifth son of the owner of the Zhanbei (Chang Bak) Street Fireworks store. He was known as Yuen Lo-Jia (Yuen the Fifth). Yuen Chai-Wan was his elder brother, the fourth son, and known as Dou Pei Chai (Pockskin Chai).

Yuen (Ruan) is not a common surname in Guangdong, but is quite common in Vietnam, so there have been rumors that the Yuen's came to Guangdong from there (or in some rumors, from Guangxi) though I believe they had an ancestral hall and had lived there for generations. Wealthy, they lived on an estate on Song Yuan (Mullbery Gardens) Main Street, neighbors of the Yip family.

Their father might have been named Yuen Chong-Ming (though I have heard Yuen Ming was the name of one of Yuen Kay-San's two sons instead.)

Is there any other information on Yuen Hai?

Rgds,

Rene Ritchie

[yik-wah-tik]

ritchie,

hey thanks for responding so quick. i don't know if yuen hai would be related to yuen of the wing chun school, but from what i know is that yuen hai
was a bodyguard bouncer from vietnam that protected gambling houses, and after beating someone up he was wanted by the police. he fled and escaped to china. he landed in fut san and came across the hung sing school and challenged jeong hung sing to fight. after 3 fights and being tossed out of the studio each time yuen hai then bowed to jeong hung sing and pleaded to become a disciple. it is said that he is either the 1st or 2nd of jeong yims original students.

the government tried to arrest the hung sing students and most escaped including yuen hai who fled to hong kong. he set up a school in kowloon and taught longshoreman and did quite well.

then chan sing-jeong yims student- visited yuen hai in hk then started a fight and beat up a couple of police. then one day 4 gung fu masters approached yuen hai and challenged him to fight. he was armed with a pair of butterfly knives and killed those 4 masters.

yuen hai had to close his school and he didn't know where to go so he asked his classmate lui chun-tam sam's sifu- where to go since he didn't have a clue. lui chun told him to go to canton and hide and also teach hs clf there.

it was there that prof. lau bun approached yuen hai and asked to become his disciple. Professor lau bun was yuen hai's last student.

another of yuen hai's students was a master name
fong yoke she!

comments,opinions, etc please!

sifu jew hung loon :cool:

[yik-wah-tik]

ritchie,

you said that you have heard of yuen hai from fut san, can you tell me what you know?

hung loong :D

[EugeneS]

Vietnamese Wing Chun - Vinh Xuan Quyen Phai
Patriarch Huynh Ngoc An`s School:
http://www.vietwingchun.com
http://www.wingchun.name (Igor Astashev)

[deeperthantao]

I know there was a bak hsing elder in vietnam that to my knowledge has passed away, does anyone know if he has any students there?

[GeneChing]

Here's another.

Master of Kinh shares martial art with world (http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=03SUN290608)
(29-06-2008)
by Khieu Thanh Ha

If you’ve never heard of Kinh, Viet Nam’s premier martial art, don’t despair: A Vietnamese master from Hue is on a mission to educate the world.

Thanks to master Truong Quang Kim, the martial art is gradually becoming known not only in its home town of Hue City, but also in France, the United States, Australia, and beyond. Nevertheless, he knows he’ll walk a long road before transforming his dreams to reality.

According to him, Kinh means citadel and was a unique martial arts used by soldiers in the imperial city during the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945). It was created by commander Nguyen Huu Canh under King Gia Long’s illustrious reign.

Kinh is one of the last two remaining traditional martial arts of Viet Nam besides Binh Dinh, and upon the collapse of feudalism, was disseminated to the masses.

The martial art has been in Kim’s family for about 200 years and Kim, the fifth generation and sole inheritor of Kinh martial arts, received orthodox training from his father, master Truong Thang.

Spreading the art of Kinh

Kim’s plan to popularise the art was kicked off when he began to observe foreign martial arts. Realising they were not superior to Viet Nam’s, he began to circulate the world. Kim trained himself, while saving and borrowing money, then travelled half the globe to promote Viet Nam’s Kinh martial art.

In 2000, Kim was invited to attend an international traditional martial arts festival in Paris. The first thing he saw at the competition house in Paris were boards which read: Karate, Taekwondo, and Shaolin. Though lifeless, they nevertheless stirred strange feelings in master Kim.

"Vietnamese martial arts easily equal these, so why are they not as wide-spread?" he wondered.

"Chinese martial arts are taught in Paris and the same can be done with Kinh," Kim thought, the boards still on his mind.

The local government was willing to help Kim open a Kinh martial art class but he didn’t have enough money. Determined to open a dojo in France at any cost, he sold every asset he owned and borrowed money from every source to open the first ever Vietnamese martial arts club outside Viet Nam, in Lyon several months later.

To the 54-year-old, who is the master of the Kinh martial arts centre in Hue, it was very important to show the world the essence of Vietnamese fighting arts.

His centre in Hue is famous not only among locals, but with foreigners; many have come, admired and trained with master Kim.

"Unlike most other traditional martial arts, Kinh does not employ consecutive, lethal striking techniques. It was developed mainly for self defence," said Arie Pieter van Dujin, a martial artist who has been studying under Kim for several years.

Dujin is one of about 20 foreigners training at Kim’s centre. They will be important in helping promote the art upon their returns to their home countries.

Most Kinh art centres around the world have been established in this manner, and Kim journeys to these centres twice a year, re-united with friends, training with the students, and updating them on skills and techniques as they advance.

The martial art is now practised in ten countries including the United States, Australia, and Italy, and according to Kim, Norway is the next destination. Everywhere a club is opened, Kinh martial art is warmly welcomed by locals, which Kim says, gives him the energy to realise his dream.

The Hue’s master’s training regime is very hard which means students must be in good physical shape, have patience, and love it. Their training allows them respiratory and cardio-vascular work-outs, as they improve their fighting skills including proficiency of 18 different kinds of weapons.

More Kinh

Kim doesn’t plan to stop. "Many countries in South America and Africa don’t know about Vietnamese martial arts," he said, adding, "It’s a good way to disseminate our culture to the world. Kinh is taught in Vietnamese and anyone who wants to learn it will come to understand Vietnamese language, customs, habits and history," he went on to say.

Kim is also focusing on spreading Kinh within Viet Nam’s borders. "The martial art is well known in central areas but many in the North and South don’t have access to it," Kim said, adding, "I hope that in the near future I can open more centres so Vietnamese people across the country will understand, and be proud of their home-grown art-form."

"I have signed contracts with different travel agencies who will add my centres as a destination in their tours," said Kim, "so after visiting Hue’s other attractions, tourists come and admire our performances."

The shows always receives excellent feedback from visitors, and Kim and his disciples were invited to perform at the 2008 Hue Festival which recently ended mid-June.

A doctor and a father

Kim, a renowned martial arts instructor recognised by the International Martial Arts Association, is also known as a doctor of oriental medicine, and runs a private health centre for local patients.

Every disciple who studies Kinh is also asked to study oriental medicine, so as to be able to treat any injuries sustained in training or combat.

At Kim’s private practice, patients receive advice, check-ups, and prescriptions, all kept at a low cost as Kim runs it as a non-profit.

Kim is also seen as a father-figure by 20 street children to whom he gives free Kinh classes at the An Tay Orphanage in Hue.

"These underprivileged children have suffered such misery, the least I can do is give them hope in their lives," Kim said. — VNS

[Steeeve]

Here a link to a Tiger style kung fu from Vietnam in Ottawa ,Canada

http://www.shaolincentre.com/

Steeeve

[GeneChing]

I want to know more about the Miss Martial Lands pageant.

Exploring the land of martial arts in festive time (http://english.vietnamnet.vn/travel/2008/07/796077/)
12:57' 29/07/2008 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – Local people in Binh Dinh Province are busier than ever this time as the festive air in this land of martial arts is getting hotter as the Tay Son-Binh Dinh Festival is only four days away.

The artistic fountain on 28,600 square meters on Nguyen Tat Thanh Street where culinary and craft village exhibitions will take place in Tay Son Binh Dinh Festival.
For the forthcoming festival, which runs until August 3, a series of artistic and architectural works such as Quang Trung Museum, Temple of Admiral Bui Thi Xuan, the Twin Tower park and an artistic fountain on 28,600 square meters on Nguyen Tat Thanh Street have been restored and constructed.

A 180-page handbook on Binh Dinh's tourism in three languages of English, Chinese and Vietnamese and a 30-page manual in English and Vietnamese featuring 15 tourism destinations in Binh Dinh Province have also been published and hit bookstores countrywide and the tourism spots, hotels and travel agents, Binh Dinh newspaper reports.

Main events will include Tay Son martial arts, King Quang Trung battle drum performance, Miss Martial Lands pageant, and a classical drama performance highlighting the distinctions of the province.

There will be an incense and flower offering ritual at Tay Son sanctuary on August 1, and a drama with over 700 artists playing the roles of King Quang Trung and troops in the Tay Son uprising to remind visitors of a glorious time in Vietnam's history.

Binh Dinh is a coastal province with a rich seafood reserves for delicious and nutritious dishes. Therefore, tourists wandering to the land during this festive time should also not forget tasting the specialties of this area such as Chim mia (sugarcane bird), Nem Cho Huyen (fermented pork of Huyen market), bun Song Than (Song Than rice vermicelli), and banh it la gai (sticky rice cake with coconut or green bean stuffing wrapped in pinnate leaf).

As Tay Son is a sugarcane-growing area, sugarcane birds in big flocks often gather there and the locals catch the birds to make the special dish. The birds are roasted and should be used with Bau Da rice alcohol, a special drink from Bau Da Village of Binh Dinh Province.

Nem Cho Huyen is also another must-try when coming to this land. The specialty comes from Vinh Thanh hamlet, Phuoc Loc Commune, Tuy Phuoc District, and making the specialty is a tradition passed from generations to generations.

In this area, the fermented pork wrapped in guava and banana leaves is the popular finger food of the locals and it stands out from other nem in other areas for its not - so - tender, not - so - sweet flavor.

Bun Song Than (rice vermicelli from the river of deity) is also another traditional specialty of this land. The rice vermicelli is made by locals of An Thai Village of An Nhon District in the province.

It is said that the kings of the Nguyen Dynasty found this specialty so delicious that they summoned the craftspeople making this specialty to the former capital city in Hue to make the dish. However, without the water of the Kon river, which is also called the river of deity, the dish lost its special taste.

Before leaving the province, tourists could buy some banh it la gai as a gift for their families and friends. This cake is made from sticky rice and sugar wrapped in pinnate leaves and stuffed with coconut or green bean. It is a rural and simple cake but it could not be left out in the special days of the locals such as Tet holiday, death anniversary or wedding.

[GeneChing]

I'd love to check out Vietnam...

Binh Dinh - Tay Son Traditional Martial Arts Festival kicks off (http://english.vietnamnet.vn/lifestyle/2008/07/796236/)
10:10' 30/07/2008 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge - Around 400 martial artists from 32 groups are participating in the Binh Dinh national traditional martial arts festival that opened yesterday at Qui Nhon city's stadium.

The event includes performance and competition sections and will on until August 2.

It overlaps the 2nd International Festival for Traditional Vietnamese Martial Arts scheduled in Qui Nhon from July 31 to August 3 as part of the Tay Son – Binh Dinh festival. The international event will see over 70 teams taking part, including 26 foreign teams.

The teams will also hold displays in districts like Tuy Phuoc, An Nhon, and Tay Son.

The central province of Binh Dinh is well-known as the birthplace of many of the country’s martial arts. The festival is a good chance to promote the martial arts, Mr. Le Van Minh, deputy director of the province’s Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism, said.

The first Tay Son – Binh Dinh festival, themed “Converging and Development”, will be held on August 1-3.

It will mark the 235th anniversary (1773-2008) of the Tay Son insurgent army’s occupation of the Quy Nhon citadel, which began the country’s unification process under the Tay Son dynasty.

The event will also feature a lantern night, poetry recital, and a Miss Martial Arts pageant.

P.S. I'm stealing this thread from the South to ORA

[GeneChing]

A book from a beggar - that's so Kung Fu Hustle (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28036)...
Renaissance man from the north tells all (http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=03SUN040109)
Crouching tiger, hidden dragon: Trinh Dinh Lam started studying martial arts at 12 years old and today he is head of Bong Son Martial Arts in the northern province of Thanh Hoa. — VNS Photos Van Dat

(04-01-2009)

Trinh Dinh Lam, a self-taught poet, musician and martial arts expert from the northern province of Thanh Hoa, tells Viet Hoa about Bong Son, a martial arts style that was gifted to his family by a beggar in 1465.

Born in 1946 in a family famous for its six generations of martial artists, Trinh Dinh Lam started studying martial arts at 12 years old. Today, he is head of Bong Son Martial Arts in the northern province of Thanh Hoa.

During the war, he had to quit high school, but he kept his family tradition alive, even teaching himself various other styles. He is also a poet and musician.

With his help, many of his students have attained prizes in martial art and music contests, both in the country and around the world.

Origin of Bong Son

According to Trinh Dinh Lam, Bong Son entered his family in 1465 when his forefather Minh Sang Vuong Trinh Kiem was presented three martial art books by a beggar in return for helping him one rainy night in August. Since that fateful day, his family has studied the art based on these books. They have also studied many other martial arts from various countries including China.

At the age of 12, Lam was taught his family’s traditional martial art by his father.

"At that time, my father taught martial arts in many places. Trainees from many regions in the country came to my family to learn. Many of my father’s students won big prizes in contests. I wished I could have the chance to show my skill," Lam recalls.

Although the martial art came to his family long ago and is famous in the region, it had no name until 1984.

At that time, a long time after the martial art was forbidden in the country, his dojo had a chance to compete with the professional Minh Hai martial art club in Thanh Hoa Province.

"After we won the competition, the director of the provincial Department of Physical Training and Sports suggested we name our style. Without thinking, I named it Bong Son. It means moving mountain," Lam says.

Outstanding leader

At 20, Lam started to teach Bong Son in the club with his father.

It takes at least 13 years to become a skilful practitioner of Bong Son. Some trainees have been coming here since they were eight or 13 years old. Thousands of trainees have studied Bong Son.

Almost all famous martial art athletes in the province were trained in Lam’s dojo.

People often mention Lam’s contribution every time they talk about Thanh Hoa’s martial arts.

In the province, Lam is also famous for helping poor trainees with accommodation and food. This means that sometimes he earns a mere VND5,000 per day.

Between 1986 to 1994, Lam taught many martial artists in the province, many of whom have brought pride to Vietnamese sport.

The sisters, Trinh Thi Mui and Trinh Thi Nga, are symbolic examples. They first came to him aged 13. After studying traditional martial arts, they studied Pencak Silat and Taekwondo.

With hard training and the efforts of Lam, the two sisters have won many prizes including gold medals at the SEA Games.

Nguyen Van Hung and Nguyen Trong Cuong are other successful examples. They are now famous Taekwondo athletes. These two brothers are among many who started their careers at the Bong Son dojo and went on to win prizes.

In Thanh Hoa, Lam is not only a famous martial artist, he is also famous for teaching vocal music. Fifteen of his trainees have gone on to pass entrance exams into the Ha Noi National Music College. Moreover, this multi-talented teacher has composed 28 songs.

Witnessing his skill, it is hard to believe that he stopped his education in the first year of high school and is self-taught.

To live and run the club, Lam has worked many jobs such as blacksmith, carpenter and foreman of a construction team of 50 workers.

Lam has still lived a poor life, but he is full of rich love for his students. Now, his four children have their own families; he has numerous nephews and nieces, but he has never forgotten the love of Bong Son. — VNS

[GeneChing]

Anyone ever try Vovinam?
Asia welcomes Vovinam
17:28' 26/02/2009 (GMT+7)

Returning home from the congress to establish the AVF in Tehran (Iran) on February 23, Secretary of the World Vovinam Federation (WVF) Vo Danh Hai recalled: “When we chose Iran to organise the congress and as the site of the AVF head office, many asked us why we didn’t choose another country, or Vietnam.

“We decided to choose Iran because this country has a long tradition of martial arts, and many famous artists who have won world and Olympic championships in taekwondo, karate and boxing.”

Hai said Iranian artists practiced for just one year to win an Olympic taekwondo gold medal. Their success surprised South Korea, the cradle of taekwondo. In addition, Vietnam and Iran signed an agreement on cooperation in sports and Iran was very enthusiastic in developing Vovinam. Iran also agreed to take care of accommodations and meals for all delegations to the AVF congress.

Dr. Walid Kassas, former Chairman of the Asian Kick-boxing Federation, who is experienced in developing martial arts in Asia, carefully asked about the rules of Vovinam and the role of AVF at the upcoming Asian Indoor Games in Vietnam this October. He said he believed that he could call for ten countries to practice Vovinam within a year.

At the congress, foreign delegates raised a question: “Will Vietnam win all gold medals for Vovinam at the Asian Indoor Games 2009?”

The Vice Chairman cum Secretary General of the Vietnam Olympic Committee, Hoang Vinh Giang, answered: “We will play fairly. It is stated in the regulations: Vietnam will participate in 3/6 one-on-one and 5/8 performance categories. Referees will come from Europe and Africa if Asian referees are not qualified.”

Foreign delegates asked Vietnam to help them in terms of techniques. The Chairman of the Indian Vovinam Federation, Vishuu Sahai, asked Vietnam to send a Vovinam expert to India to open a training course for Indian coaches. India will compete with Iran to host the Asian Vovinam Championships in 2010. The Indian representative also stated the country would have 10,000 Vovinam students in the next one year.

Iran asked Vietnam to send two experts to Iran to teach Vovinam for six months.

“Vovinam is gradually being welcomed in Asia. We are trying to send it far. Firstly, we will organise a second training course for Asian coaches and referees in mid April in HCM City. International Vovinam rules are being compiled,” Hai said.

He said that he is trying to turn Vovinam into a faculty at the Sports and Physical Training University.

Outstanding vovinam training centres in HCM City:

- Vovinam centre at 31 Su Van Hanh, District 10: instructors Nguyen Van Chieu, Nguyen Van Sen, Nguyen Van Vang

- Vovinam Club of Le Hong Phong High School, 235 Nguyen Van Cu, District 5: instructor Nguyen Van Chieu

- Vovinam Club of the Teacher Training University, 280 An Duong Vuong, District 5: instructors Tran Van My, Vo Thanh Lam

- Nguyen Du Club, 116 Nguyen Du, District 1: Instructor Nguyen Van Hieu

- Army Club, 2 Pho Quang and 202 Hoang Van Thu, Tan Binh District: instructors Vo Danh Hai, Pham Thi Kim Dien, and Nguyen Thanh Sang