Vietnamese martial arts

This article concentrates on the martial arts aspect of Vietnam. For details on the Vietnamese history see History of Vietnam. The history of Vietnam begins around 2700 years ago Successive dynasties based in China ruled Vietnam directly for most of the period from 111 BC until 938

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). China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The kingdom of Champa ( Chăm Pa in Vietnamese or Chiêm Thành in Hán Việt records was an Indianized kingdom and controlled what 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. Below is a list of Vietnamese monarchs. Some declared themselves kings ( vua / vương) or emperors ( hoàng đế)

The martial arts were used by Vietnamese kings to train their troops and to defend the country against China's invasions against Vietnam. In addition to the army, family clans and Buddhist temples cultivated a variety of styles to defend themselves in national disputes.

1 Short History
2 Styles
3 Periods
4 External links
5 Notes and References

Short History

^[1]^[2] 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. The Culture of China (traditional Chinese 中國文化 simplified Chinese 中国文化 is home to one of the world's oldest and most complex Civilizations covering a history Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language 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)). Hanoi ( Vietnamese: Hà Nội Hán Tự: 河[[wikt 内|内]], estimated population 3398889 (2007, is the Capital of Vietnam The Lý Dynasty ( Vietnamese: nhà Lý, IPA: /ɲa˨˩ li˦˥/ pronounced like Lee) sometimes known as the Posterior Lý Dynasty ( The Trần Dynasty ( Vietnamese: Nhà Trần, Hán Việt: Trần Triều, 陳朝 was a Vietnamese dynasty that ruled Vietnam (at that
When talking about Vietnamese martial art people started to use "Vo Thuat" (martial art). Vo Thuat (Võ-Thuật or 武秫 is used as a collective term for (Vietnamese martial arts

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. The name of Tây Sơn ( 西[[wikt 山|山]] is used in many ways referring back to the period of Peasant rebellions and decentralized dynasties established between Binh Dinh Province, where the rebels were based, is still a place of many martial arts. Binh Dinh (in Vietnamese Bình Định; Han Tu: 平[[wikt 定|定]] is a province of Vietnam.

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. Nguyễn Lộc ( 8 April 1912 &ndash 4 April 1960) is the founder of the Vietnamese Martial art known as Vovinam Viêt Võ Dao He named his style style Vovinam, or Martial arts [Võ] of Vietnam. Vovinam Viêt Võ Dao is a Vietnamese martial art. Vovinam is practiced with and without Weapons It is based on the principle of harmony

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. Việt Võ Đạo (越武道 is the philosophy behind many Vietnamese Martial arts. Việt Võ Đạo (越武道 is the philosophy behind many Vietnamese Martial arts. Võ Bình Định is a Vietnamese Martial art. Vo (Võ "Martial Arts" The Azure Dragon (青龍青竜青龙 is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations It is sometimes called the Azure Dragon of the East In Vietnam itself many people practice Vo Co Truyen, Vovinam-Vietvodao, Thieu Lam Viet Nam, Kim Ke, Phakwondo - Hóa Quyền Đạo, Hong Gia Viet Nam 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.

Periods

Creation of techniques (2879 BC - 111 BC)

Paintings in caves in northern Vietnam and on objects as well as on weapons from that time prove that, besides fighting with "empty" hands the Vietnamese also used weapons like the axe, short sabres, sabres, lances, long sticks and the bow.

Theory creation (111 BC - 906)

This is the period of Chinese invasion. To better withstand the invader the martial art is further developed for military use:
1. Perfection of techniques
2. Forming strategies
3. Working out the theories

Example theories from famous personalities:
- Theory of predominance of close combat techniques ("Dĩ Đỏan Thắng Trừơng")
- Theory of flexibility against force ("Dĩ Nhựơc Thắng Cừơng")
- Principle of taking by surprise ("Kỷ Tập Chíên Pháp")
- The secret of illusion ("Aỏ Ảnh Bi Pháp")
- Method of sidestep movement without resistance ("Phản Gựt Pháp")

These theories were not only used as main principles for military art. They were new, valuable basics, they are still valid today.

Development (906 - 1009)

During this national period of independence strategy and martial art were further developed. The kings Ngo Quyen and Dinh Bo Linh were remarkable masters in military theory as well as in martial arts.

Completing and spreading (1010-1527)

Techniques have reached a very high level at this time. Influenced by Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism the martial arts gained a richer philosophical basis. With the independence and stability of the country the martial arts become an art of living to increase the value of life.

Diversion (1527-1807)

This period is marked by the country's diversion and the conflicts between the various lords. These antagonisms led to a diversion of the Vietnamese martial arts styles into different schools. Every school only represents a certain aspect of Việt Võ Đạo.

Degeneration (1802-1945)

This period marks the Nguyen Dynasty With the beginning of the 19th century belief in industry led to a loss of confidence. The Nguyễn Dynasty (Nhà Nguyễn Hán Việt: Nguyễn triều 阮朝 was the last ruling family of Vietnam. With the modern weapons the traditional martial arts seemed obsolete, concerning the war. Under the French colonialism, 1863 to 1945 the Vietnamese martial arts were prohibited. But in secret, in a very limited scope and with carefully selected students the training continues. Therefore the students only knew their own school. The techniques were different, partially very different from school to school.

Renaissance (1938)

The resurgence of the Vietnamese martial arts began with Nguyen Loc. He contributed his life to bring up a new age of Việt-Võ-Đạo.

External links

Notes and References

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