Martial arts master Chu Ha (sitting, middle) and his disciples in Russia . Some kicking style of the Hong Gia Quyen Martial Arts. Some close fighting technique of the School. Ha Tau is the nickname of martial arts master Chu Ha, a orthodox Vietnamese disciple of late Chinese great martial arts master Su Zi Guang (Vietnamese name To Tu Quang or old Su Tau for short) who was well-known for fighting with sticks like a magician all over Guangxi in China in the 1920s. Being a son in a family of martial arts experts plus having an innate talent, Chu Ha was taught martial arts from an early age and when he grew up he was trained by a famous teacher. Although being small in stature, martial arts master Chu Ha is considered having an excellent ability of learning martial arts, particularly fighting with weapons. It is said that anything he holds in his hands, from a stick, a knife, a sword and a halberd to common utensils such as a walking-stick, a chair or smoking pipe has the potential to become a dangerous weapon. This is a unique characteristic that can not be taught in a martial arts class. The typical fighting techniques of Hong Gia Quyen Martial arts are short, strong and powerful strikes and constant kicking which come at the opponent from every direction making it almost impossible to defend against. Hong Gia Quyen originated from China and was called Hong Quyen Nhat Gia, which means the top Hong Gia Quyen in China, but when entering Vietnam it became a martial arts school with Vietnamese identities, thanks to the creativeness of martial arts master Chu Ha. During a national traditional martial arts festival, the extraordinary performance by three disciples of master Chu Ha enthralled those in the martial arts circle. They fought fiercely against one another, not with common weapons but with smoking pipes and long benches. The duelling sounds of benches and pipes striking each other at a furious pace both thrilled and startled viewers. Recognising the heart and talent of martial arts master Chu Ha, the members of the martial arts circle and the authorities of the sports sector have, with affection and respect, many times asked him to be a prominent member of the Vietnamese traditional martial arts federation, but he refused. In 1990 he was prestigiously sent to perform and teach martial arts in many cities of Russia and the Czech Republic . During this trip, he not only left good impression of Vietnamese martial arts on international friends but also established martial arts clubs in the host countries. Now some of these clubs headed by his foreign disciples still operate and are developing strongly. Martial arts master Chu Ha instructs disciples to practise an exercise of Hong Gia Quyen Martial Arts. In the domestic martial arts movement, many of his disciples have attained high achievements at national, regional and international competitions, notably Duy Kiem, Hoang Hai and Nguyen Phuong Lan who is now the head coach of Vietnamese wushu team. Some other disciples work as coaches for the police force and the Ministry of Defence. Now, at an advanced age, martial arts master Chu Ha is not as healthy as before but he still has an ardent love for martial arts. Everyday he researches and teaches the unique features of Hong Gia Quyen Martial arts to a younger generation of disciples. Story by Thanh Hoa - Photos by Hoang Ha