VietNamNet Bridge – A performance of Nhat Nam, a Vietnamese martial art, took place yesterday along with a ceremony to celebrate Nhat Nam school’s 25th anniversary.

Researchers concluded that this martial art is an entirely-Vietnamese traditional art, with, no influence from other schools or reforms. (Photo: Internet)

Nhat Nam originates from the Hoan and Ai regions of ancient Viet Nam (today Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces).

It has since attracted followers from Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, Germany, France, Poland, Czech Republic and Bulgaria.

The school’s head, martial arts master Ngo Xuan Binh, said Nhat Nam was an integral part of the nation’s spirit.

“This martial art helped our ancestors in wars against northern invaders,” he said, adding that this martial art imitated the quintessence of nature.

“Originally, the school founders imitated fighting skills of wild beasts like tigers, bears, pythons and monkeys. They imitated the flexibility of liana and sharpness of bamboo pieces to create the martial art.”

Researchers concluded that this martial art is an entirely-Vietnamese traditional art, with, no influence from other schools or reforms.

Nhat Nam martial artists performed their unique fighting exercises, along with weapons including rods, swords, hooks and tridents. The artists also used a weapon unique to Nhat Nam, a sort of nun chuck made of a silk sash with two steel balls attached at each end.

(Source: Viet Nam News)