Tran Xuan Man (front) teaches the basics of the Vietnamese martial art Ky Son at his school in Hoi An on the central coast

Soon after arriving in Hoi An, Frenchman Karpiel Sebastien and more than 20 of his compatriots decided to take a one-off lesson at the Ky Son Martial Art School.

They donned the appropriate beginner’s garb then stood and bowed their heads in respect before the altar of Ky Son’s founder, Truong Chuong (1899-1988).

On the altar were smoking joss sticks and relics carefully preserved since Chuong invented Ky Son in 1923.

Their teacher was Tran Xuan Man, who addressed his class in French throughout.

Talking of his foreign students, Man said, “Although we meet as strangers and only spend 90 minutes together, I am profoundly moved when they pay homage to Truong Chuong. I think he, in his world, is proud too.”

After the ritual, the class began. Even the bigger students were soon surprised to find themselves prostrate on the ground after the barest of movements by their teacher.

“We perpetuate the philosophy that a minimal, soft approach can overcome brute strength. The way to bring down an opponent is to use his momentum against him, so that he falls down on his own,” Man said.

“This is the essence of Vietnam’s traditional martial arts. I try to get this idea across in my lessons.”

If he had more time, Man said, he would teach them how to increase their resistance to pathogens, cure a hangover, and treat flu and the other ailments that travelers are prone to catching.

Ky Son is the only martial arts school in Hoi An with its original architecture and interior intact.

From 1975 until 1990, it generated very little income as there were so few students. That has since changed.

Today, there are far more learners, especially tourists from abroad. “The money from Western tourists allows me to keep the school going,” Man said.

A class with Man can be booked through a travel agent in Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. The price is VND60,000 (US$3.37) and includes a demonstration bout session.

Reported by Nguyen Tu