Traditional martial arts - the soul of Binh Dinh land and people

In 2012, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism listed Binh Dinh traditional martial arts as a national intangible cultural heritage. In 2013, the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province decided to establish the Binh Dinh Traditional Martial Arts Center to create all legal conditions for the exchange of traditional martial arts domestically and internationally.

APPEARED FROM THE REIGN OF KING LE THANH T ONG

According to recorded documents, Binh Dinh traditional martial arts appeared very early. Under the reign of King Le Thanh Tong in 1471, since Hoai Nhon prefecture was established including 3 districts: Bong Son, Phu Ly and Tuy Vien, Vietnamese people began to live in the land of Binh Dinh today.

Binh Dinh traditional martial arts performance

PHOTO: HAI PHONG

During the Tay Son period in the 18th century, to meet the combat needs of the uprising with a large scope and scale, traditional martial arts entered a new phase, a phase of qualitative change. This martial art is the crystallization and fusion of martial arts lines, martial arts schools and gathered many martial arts masters, martial arts officials, heroes and heroes, thereby creating a martial art lineage imbued with the quintessence of the nation. Since the Tay Son period, traditional martial arts have been preserved and developed.

Up to now, Binh Dinh province has 2 international grand masters, 26 national grand masters, 12 senior masters, 73 masters, 57 martial arts masters, 415 coaches... This is an important force to preserve and promote Binh Dinh traditional martial arts.

In addition, there are 177 martial arts schools and traditional martial arts clubs, with more than 12,000 martial arts students regularly practicing. In Binh Dinh province, there are dozens of famous martial arts villages associated with historical places that have existed for centuries, such as: An Vinh, Thuan Truyen, Phu Thien martial arts villages (Tay Son district); An Thai, Phuong Danh martial arts villages (An Nhon town); An Hoa, Ky Son, Dai Le martial arts villages (Tuy Phuoc district)...

Traditional martial arts of Binh Dinh have become the soul of the land and people of Binh Dinh, containing many morals and philosophies of life.

PHOTO: HAI PHONG

As one of the dedicated folk artists, teaching traditional martial arts, and having one of the 6 typical martial arts schools in Binh Dinh province, grand master Le Xuan Canh (81 years old) and the martial arts school he founded in Nhon Hung Ward, An Nhon Town, are always at the forefront of developing the traditional martial arts training movement for the young generation as well as preserving and conserving the quintessence of traditional national martial arts to reach far and wide.

In the evenings, Le Xuan Canh martial arts school is always bustling with the loud shouts of students practicing the martial arts and whip moves that are typical of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts.

Talking about teaching martial arts for free, without charging, old martial arts master Le Xuan Canh confided: "I not only teach martial arts, but also teach martial arts to serve local festival movements. Learning traditional martial arts is lifelong learning, not learning in a short time, but over many years. If learning for a long time and charging tuition, where will the students get the money to study? Martial arts schools that teach all year round always have students, when there is a festival movement, there is enough students to participate. From there, the quintessence of Vietnamese martial arts is preserved".

BRINGING TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ARTS INTO SCHOOLS

In 2016, the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province issued Decision No. 3818/QD-UBND approving the project to preserve and promote Binh Dinh traditional martial arts for the period 2016 - 2020, with a vision to 2030. In 2022, the People's Committee of the province issued Decision No. 556/QD-UBND on promulgating the plan to preserve and promote Binh Dinh traditional martial arts in 2025.

Grandmaster Le Van Canh teaches martial arts to his students.

PHOTO: HAI PHONG

The introduction of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts into schools in the province has also been implemented since 2016 and included in competitions at Phu Dong Sports Festivals at all levels, thereby strongly promoting the movement of practicing traditional martial arts among students.

Every year, all levels, sectors and localities in the province organize many tournaments and traditional martial arts performances, attracting a large number of martial arts schools and clubs to participate. In particular, Binh Dinh traditional martial arts has become an indispensable activity, imbued with traditional culture and contributing to the solemnity of holidays, Tet and important events of the province.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ai Duyen (51 years old), a teacher at Nhon Tho Primary School, An Nhon Town, Binh Dinh, said that she was very happy when she attended traditional martial arts training. According to her, practicing martial arts is to improve health, protect herself, and help her become agile and active.

Teachers in Binh Dinh train in traditional martial arts

PHOTO: HAI PHONG

"As a female physical education teacher, despite my age, I really enjoy practicing traditional martial arts. Practicing martial arts helps us become healthier and happier. After finishing the training course, I will bring what I have learned to teach the students at school, helping them improve their health and protect themselves. The most important thing is to maintain and promote the value of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts," said Ms. Duyen. ( continued )

Recently, the Department of Culture and Sports of Binh Dinh province coordinated with the Institute of Cultural Research (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences) to organize an international scientific conference "Protecting and promoting intangible cultural heritage and traditional martial arts of Binh Dinh". The conference aimed to gather opinions of experts and researchers on intangible cultural heritage to serve the completion of the dossier on traditional martial arts of Binh Dinh to submit to UNESCO for consideration and inclusion in the list of representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Mr. Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that completing the dossier of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts to submit to UNESCO for inclusion in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is a national task, not only to protect the heritage for current and future generations, but also an opportunity to introduce the quintessence of Vietnamese culture to the world, affirming its position on the global cultural heritage map.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vo-co-truyen-linh-hon-cua-dat-va-nguoi-binh-dinh-185250324235534845.htm