Martial arts students practice at Trinh Nghia Duong Martial Arts School, Sub-zone 1, Chieng Ngan Commune, Son La City.

As one of the first people to lay the foundation for traditional martial arts in Son La province, Senior Martial Artist Trinh Dai Anh, Deputy Director of the Vietnam International Martial Arts Academy, Head of the Vietnam Young Talent Martial Arts Training Center - Son La Province Branch, said: Traditional martial arts are a valuable intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam. Nowadays, although many foreign martial arts have been introduced to Vietnam, traditional martial arts still retain their own unique essence. When I realized that Son La had the conditions to develop martial arts, I cherished the dream of opening a martial arts school to spread the essence of traditional martial arts to the children of ethnic groups in the area.

In 2016, the first traditional martial arts class was opened at the Center, with more than 20 students practicing. To date, it has expanded to 4 classes with more than 200 students participating in training, ranging in age from 5 to 25 years old. Many students have been practicing since the early days of the Center's establishment and have now become coaches and teaching assistants.

Traditional martial arts attract young people to practice.

Every day at 5:30 p.m., Trinh Nghia Duong Martial Arts School is bustling and bustling, with the shouts of martial artists practicing and competing. The martial artists are diligent and enthusiastic in their training, some practicing martial arts, some practicing weapons, with movements that are both graceful and strong and decisive.

Lo Ha Nhu Thuy is one of the female martial artists with many high achievements in national tournaments. In her sweaty martial arts uniform, Nhu Thuy shared: I really like martial arts, but my passion is traditional martial arts, because of the beautiful martial arts forms and moves. I have been practicing traditional martial arts for more than 3 years now. For me, traditional martial arts not only teach fighting techniques, martial arts forms, moves, improve health, know how to protect yourself but also cultivate morality.

Martial arts master instructs martial arts students in practice

After nearly 10 years of operation, the Center has now With standard training equipment, under the guidance of martial arts masters from the Vietnam International Martial Arts Academy, along with a professional training curriculum unified throughout the academy system, helping martial artists maximize their abilities and strengths, aiming for high achievements. The center has made many positive contributions to preserving and promoting the quintessence of traditional Vietnamese martial arts and has achieved many achievements in national tournaments.

Martial arts master guides martial arts students in weapon practice.

Over the years, the center's martial arts students Participated in domestic competitions and continuously won many medals of all kinds, the whole team ranked second and third. Notably, in 2024, the Son La team competed with more than 60 domestic athlete teams at the 5th Vietnam Young Talents Cup Martial Arts Championship, in 2024 won 2 first prizes in 2 combat events with 7 gold medals, 3 silver medals and weapons and boxing events with 10 gold medals, 5 silver medals and 1 bronze medal.

Martial arts students take the exam to upgrade their elementary and intermediate belts.

The delegation of athletes from the Vietnam Young Talent Martial Arts Training Center - Son La Province Branch won 2 team cups at the 2024 Vietnam Young Talent CUP Championship.

With positive contributions in preserving and promoting the quintessence of traditional Vietnamese martial arts, as well as achieving many achievements in national traditional martial arts competitions, the Vietnam Young Talent Martial Arts Training Center - Son La Province Branch attracts more and more young people to participate in traditional martial arts training, receiving the attention of parents who trust in studying, contributing to spreading the martial arts movement to the masses.

Lam Giang