• Vietnamese fighting styles are from a rich heritage of self-defense and self-respect.arts martiaux 3 image by Nathalie P from Fotolia.com
  
  Vietnam has a historic tradition of fighting styles resulting from the efforts of its people defending themselves from foreign invaders. China’s thousand-year occupation of Vietnam left behind influences in culture and philosophy along with martial arts, which the Vietnamese people called vo thuat. Many Vietnamese fighting styles feature open-handed combat, without weapons, using principles of defense. Vietnam adapted techniques to their cultural, economic and technological identity, based on a history of opposing tyrannical and often bloody invasions.
  
  

Viet Vo Dao

• Martial arts in Vietnam were taught in secret while China occupied the country. The Vietnamese fought to protect their cultural identity and ancestral traditions. Viet vo dao involved techniques using the axe, short sword, spear, bow, crossbow and pole, along with various weaponless self-defense practices. Viet vo dao was an educational tool to teach the people to resist hardship during hard times, to persevere and remain spirited despite the invaders. More than just a fighting technique, Viet vo dao was a philosophy summarized by the principle, “To be strong in order to be useful.”
  
  

Vo Binh Dinh Sa Long Cuong

• This fighting style originated in the province of Binh Dinh and is based on the idea that the opponent is a foreigner, non-Vietnamese, therefore taller and heavier. Vo binh dinh uses these weaknesses against the opponent, changing positions and direction of movement, and using counterstrikes to arm and legs attacks. The school's founder, Truong Thanh Dang, attempted to uphold the ancestral heritage of Vietnamese martial arts by researching and consolidating a variety of forms into a single creative system. The Binh Dinh School is considered an unyielding, majestic approach whose techniques were passed down from traditional Vietnamese arts and the Shaolindo Temple. This fighting style is one of the most popular in Vietnam.
  
  

Vovinam

• Vovinam can be practiced with or without weapons, based on the principles of hard and soft harmony. Like any other combat training, it is as much a philosophy as it is a martial art. Grand Master Loc Nguyen founded the school in 1938. He taught defense and attack moves, with foot tactics and classic wrestling. This fighting style is known for its famous leg training, sweeps, blocks and scissor kicks, as well as jumping kicks and attacks with a final jump on the opponent. In addition to training the body, vovinam attempts to develop the mind. The school teaches discipline of spirit; respecting elders and peers; protecting justice and loyalty; and behaving with self-control, confidence and modesty.