Although Vinh Xuan Quyen, a 300 year-old martial arts school originated in China, since it was introduced to Vietnam in the early 20th century it has attracted the participation of a large number of Vietnamese people. Practising Vien Binh Cong qigong on Sika piles. One of 108 exercises. The Vien Binh Cong exercise. Martial arts master Nguyen Khac Chuong (left) and his disciple. An attacking exercise between long stick and sword.  Practising with a blade and butterfly knife. A form of basic bare hand techniques. Martial arts master Nguyen Khac Chuong instructs his disciples on the mediation posture.   In the early years of nineteen hundreds, martial arts master Nguyen Te Cong (Chinese), one of the disciples of Vinh Xuan martial arts school in China, settled down in Vietnam and started teaching the martial arts to Vietnamese people in 1939. He then successfully established and developed the martial arts school in Vietnam. At present, there are only two large Vinh Xuan martial arts training centres in the world, including one in Vietnam and the other in Hong Kong. Many of his Vietnamese disciples have become famous nationwide, such as masters Tran Van Phung, Ngo Si Quy, Vu Ba Quy, Tran Thuc Tien, Ho Hai Long, Luc Vien Khai, Ngo Phuong Tuong, Huynh Ngoc An, etc. Also, some martial arts masters from this school have established martial art clubs in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other countries, such as Canada, France and Ukraine. According to martial arts master Nguyen Khac Chuong, the third generation of founder Te Cong, when Vinh Xuan martial arts penetrated Vietnam, it has been changed a lot to suit the body, health and characteristics of Vietnamese people. Particularly, many flexible quan performances with powerful inner force are applied to the martial arts. Before passing away, founder Te Cong said: “Vinh Xuan has really changed for the Vietnamese people.” The martial arts school with quite a few quan performances requires the dedication of the disciplines. Apart from the performances with weapons, such as Song dao (twin blades) and Luc diem ban con, the martial arts school includes some forms of Thu Dau Quyen (basic bare hand technique), Vinh Xuan qi gong and other skills of Vinh Xuan martial arts branches. To practise successfully the school’s disciples must have a strong belief, patience and diligence. Furthermore, disciples must not only memorize the forms but also perceive the quintessence and nature of those forms to reach the “Y” (spirit) and “Khi” (qi).  The higher the level the disciples want to reach, the harder they have to practise. Therefore, Vinh Xuan is not suitable to those who are interested in the power of muscles, lack patience and diligence or want to obtain successes quickly. All quan performances of Vinh Xuan that are combined with qi forms have become vital nursing exercises, very useful to the health of people at different ages. This factor helps the school attract a large number of disciples, including old people, children and foreigners. A foreigner after seeing with his own eyes Vinh Xuan performances and practising the school said: “Vietnamese Vinh Xuan martial arts school shows the flexibility, skilfulness and strength in every attack that is closely attached to your national history.” Martial arts master Nguyen Khac Chuong said that for Vinh Xuan disciples, practising the martial arts school is to take exercise, control themselves and have a confidence, skill, a good spirit and good health to serve the country. Story: Le Huu Tuan Photos: Hoang Giap – Nam Suong