The evening of July 28 marked the opening ceremony of the 15th National Championship for Traditional Martial Arts Clubs 2026, held at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square in Quy Nhon, Gia Lai Province. This prestigious event saw the participation of nearly 900 individuals, including team leaders, coaches, athletes, and judges from 33 different federations, provinces, cities, and international clubs. The large turnout underscores the professionalism of traditional martial arts in Vietnam while fostering international exchange and collaboration.
Organized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Sports, the Vietnamese Federation for Traditional Martial Arts, and the Provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Gia Lai, the tournament runs from July 26 to August 5 at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square. As the highest-ranking tournament within the national system of traditional martial arts clubs, it also serves as a platform for international exchanges. This championship holds significant importance for assessing the quality of training and coaching, discovering and nurturing future generations, and promoting the sustainable development of training and competition in traditional martial arts.
This year’s championship is particularly noteworthy as it marks the first official participation of traditional martial arts clubs from Morocco, Russia, France, and other countries. The presence of international delegations not only enhances the significance and quality of the tournament but also broadens opportunities for professional exchange and collaboration, thereby promoting Vietnam's image, its people, and its culture through the lens of traditional martial arts.
The competition is divided into three age categories: 17-40 years, 41-50 years, and 51-60 years, providing multiple generations of martial arts masters, trainers, and athletes the chance to compete, connect, and share experiences. This initiative plays a crucial role in preserving and promoting the unique values of traditional Vietnamese martial arts.
Athletes compete in two main categories: martial arts demonstrations and sparring. The demonstration category features required forms, freestyle forms, and sparring, comprising a total of 348 matches. The sparring category includes 229 bouts, with 51 in the first round and 178 in the second round. Given the extensive scale, diverse competition categories, and thrilling matches, the tournament is expected to reflect the professionalism and growth of traditional Vietnamese martial arts significantly.
More than just a competition, this tournament serves as an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of training and coaching locally, contributing to the preservation and promotion of traditional Vietnamese martial arts values. It also lays the groundwork for identifying and fostering future athletes, preparing the team for participation in the 10th National Sports Games in November 2026, as well as the World Championships and Youth Championships of Vietnamese traditional martial arts scheduled to be held in Italy from September 30 to October 5, 2026.
As reported by vietnam.vn.
