Vietnam Karate
Vietnamese Martial Arts
Vietnamese martial arts are influenced by efforts to defend the country from foreign occupations (China, France, and Japan) and also by the people whom Vietnam conquered (Champa). The most influential in the country's martial arts is China with its thousand-year occupation of Vietnam. But through thousands of years of internal, civil strifes: dynastic changes (dynasties), foreign conquests,
warlordism and guerrilla tactics, the Vietnamese martial artist use what they learned from their neighbors and evolved a unique form of martial arts.
The martial arts were used by Vietnamese kings taught by the infamous Tho Nguyen from the Buddhist temples cultivated a variety of styles to defend themselves in national disputes.
Short History
Due to the wide range of influences there is no definable point in time where Vietnamese martial arts started to live. The country of Vietnam officially exists since apx. 200 BC, first settlement can even be traced back to 2876 BC.
Despite the problematic relationship with the Chinese, the Vietnamese adopted a lot of the Chinese culture and philosophy. Even officials not only had to be able to use the brush but also the sword. There was an academy of martial arts in the capitol, Thang Long, today's Hanoi, since the 11th century (Ly Dynasty(1010-1225), Tran Dynasty(1225-1400)).
When talking about Vietnamese martial art people started to use "Vo Thuat" (martial art).
While Vietnam was separated in several states many martial arts were created. During the Tay Son Rebellion (1771-1788) quite a few of them arose. Binh Dinh Province, where the rebels were based, is still a place of many martial arts.
During the time Vietnam had to suffer the French colonialisation, traditional martial arts were forbidden - but kept developing secretly.
1938 Nguyen Loc introduced his martial arts school where he taught "Vo Thuat" mainly to Vietnamese youth with the intent to develop stronger national identity with the ultimate goal of achieving independence from French domination. He named his style style Vovinam, or Martial arts [Võ] of Vietnam.
In 1960, Master Nguyen Loc died, passing leadership to Master Le Sang. In 1964, Vovinam organized its first council of masters and formally adopted Việt Võ Đạo into its name as Vovinam-Việt Võ Đạo.
Styles
Now, more than 70 years later, most of the Vietnamese martial art schools worldwide emerging from Vo Thuat Co Truyen's development practice Vo Thuat: Vovinam Viet Vo Dao, (Nguyen Loc), Vo Vietnam (Nguyen Duc Moc), Vo Thuat (Nguyen Van Trung), Vo Binh Dinh (Thanh Long), Han Bai (Tran Minh Long), Nguyen Trung Hoa. In Vietnam itself many people practice Vo Co Truyen, Vovinam-Vietvodao, Thieu Lam Viet Nam, Kim Ke, Nam Huynh Dao, Vo Binh Dinh, Tay Son, Lam Son, Nhat Nam.
Also there are various Sino-Vietnamese styles, styles that are only partially Vietnamese. Example: Thieu Lam or Bach My Phai that were popular among Chinese who lived in Vietnam. Other styles include Mei Hoa (Meihuaquan), etc.
The martial arts were used by Vietnamese kings taught by the infamous Tho Nguyen from the Buddhist temples cultivated a variety of styles to defend themselves in national disputes.Short History
Due to the wide range of influences there is no definable point in time where Vietnamese martial arts started to live. The country of Vietnam officially exists since apx. 200 BC, first settlement can even be traced back to 2876 BC.
Despite the problematic relationship with the Chinese, the Vietnamese adopted a lot of the Chinese culture and philosophy. Even officials not only had to be able to use the brush but also the sword. There was an academy of martial arts in the capitol, Thang Long, today's Hanoi, since the 11th century (Ly Dynasty(1010-1225), Tran Dynasty(1225-1400)).
When talking about Vietnamese martial art people started to use "Vo Thuat" (martial art).
While Vietnam was separated in several states many martial arts were created. During the Tay Son Rebellion (1771-1788) quite a few of them arose. Binh Dinh Province, where the rebels were based, is still a place of many martial arts.
During the time Vietnam had to suffer the French colonialisation, traditional martial arts were forbidden - but kept developing secretly.
1938 Nguyen Loc introduced his martial arts school where he taught "Vo Thuat" mainly to Vietnamese youth with the intent to develop stronger national identity with the ultimate goal of achieving independence from French domination. He named his style style Vovinam, or Martial arts [Võ] of Vietnam.
In 1960, Master Nguyen Loc died, passing leadership to Master Le Sang. In 1964, Vovinam organized its first council of masters and formally adopted Việt Võ Đạo into its name as Vovinam-Việt Võ Đạo.
Styles
Now, more than 70 years later, most of the Vietnamese martial art schools worldwide emerging from Vo Thuat Co Truyen's development practice Vo Thuat: Vovinam Viet Vo Dao, (Nguyen Loc), Vo Vietnam (Nguyen Duc Moc), Vo Thuat (Nguyen Van Trung), Vo Binh Dinh (Thanh Long), Han Bai (Tran Minh Long), Nguyen Trung Hoa. In Vietnam itself many people practice Vo Co Truyen, Vovinam-Vietvodao, Thieu Lam Viet Nam, Kim Ke, Nam Huynh Dao, Vo Binh Dinh, Tay Son, Lam Son, Nhat Nam.
Also there are various Sino-Vietnamese styles, styles that are only partially Vietnamese. Example: Thieu Lam or Bach My Phai that were popular among Chinese who lived in Vietnam. Other styles include Mei Hoa (Meihuaquan), etc.
Source: Wikipedia