The Binh Dinh – Sa Long Cuong Martial Arts School was founded by late martial arts master Truong Thanh Dang (1895-1985) on the basis of the rules of the coastal white sand dunes in Binh Thuan Province. When alive, master Truong Thanh Dang was called “Sa Long Cuong” meaning “a dragon lying in the sand” by martial arts circles.
Born in a family with a traditional martial arts history, from an early age, Truong Thanh Dang was taught basic martial arts techniques by his grandfather. At the age of 14, he was sent to Binh Dinh to learn Tay Son martial arts from famous masters at that time, such as Truong Thach, Hai Cut and Dinh Cat.
During his 15 years of diligently practising martial arts there, Truong Thanh Dang was also taught by master Vinh Phuc who excelled in the Shao-lin School in China, which helped broaden his knowledge of martial arts. In 1930 he went to Saigon to popularise martial arts at his home on Nguyen Cu Trinh Street in District 1. In 1964, he officially founded the Binh Dinh – Sa Long Cuong Martial Arts School which quickly became known in martial arts circles in Saigon at the time.
After he died, his eldest son Truong Ba Duong, Deputy Chief of the school, and martial arts master Le Van Van continued the management and development of the school. They established many branches in Ho Chi Minh City, the southwestern and southeastern provinces and Da Nang.
The Binh Dinh – Sa Long Cuong Martial Arts School has a system of basic fighting techniques and diverse weapons, such as swords, knives, sticks, whips and long-handled spears. It also has less common weapons, such as Song si and Song to. But above all, the school always trains its disciples in the virtues of modesty and respect for opponents. The typical features of the school include flexibility in fighting and using this flexibility against firmness and short against the long in the most effective way.
A student who is enrolled in the martial arts school, first of all must learn the “Bat bo chan quyen” exercise which was initiated by master Truong Thanh Dang. This exercise is a combination of all techniques of Vietnamese traditional martial arts, which include than phap (technique of body), thu phap (technique of punches) and cuoc phap (technique of kicks). After that, depending on the level, they will practice the exercises of the Binh Dinh Martial Arts, such as Lao Mai, Thien Su, Than Dong, Ngoc Tran and Phuong Hoang.
The school has established the International Binh Dinh – Sa Long Cuong Traditional Martial Arts Federation in Italy and branches in the United States, France, Italy, Australia and Canada, attracting a great number of foreign students. Now, the school is managed by master Dang Phuoc Bay, Chairman of the Martial Arts Masters’ Council. Besides the traditional black costumes of the Vietnamese traditional martial arts, the Binh Dinh – Sa Long Cuong Martial Arts School also has its own traditional costumes which include a white short-sleeved outfit and a black belt with a hem of different colours to show the belt levels.
In August, 2014 the disciples from overseas branches came to Vietnam and collaborated with the local disciples to organise an exchange martial arts performance with the disciples of Vo Quyen and Tan Khanh – Ba Tra Schools at the Youth Cultural House in the Ho Chi Minh City. This event marked a new development of the popularization of Vietnam’s martial arts to international friends.
During his 15 years of diligently practising martial arts there, Truong Thanh Dang was also taught by master Vinh Phuc who excelled in the Shao-lin School in China, which helped broaden his knowledge of martial arts. In 1930 he went to Saigon to popularise martial arts at his home on Nguyen Cu Trinh Street in District 1. In 1964, he officially founded the Binh Dinh – Sa Long Cuong Martial Arts School which quickly became known in martial arts circles in Saigon at the time.
 A class of Binh Dinh – Sa Long Cuong Martial Arts School at the Youth Cultural House in Ho Chi Minh City.  The disciples practise a basic posture of the martial arts school.  The new students practise defensive techniques and are trained in the virtues of modesty of the martial arts disciples.  A female student performs the “Le hoa kiem”, an exercise of the school.  A unique chopping position in the “couple of knives” exercise of the school.  The exercise of a woman’s self-defense against two opponents.  The disciples practise using different weapons, such as swords, knives, sticks and long-handled spears  Using the “song si” weapon for self-defense.  The school pays much attention to training the younger generations. |
After he died, his eldest son Truong Ba Duong, Deputy Chief of the school, and martial arts master Le Van Van continued the management and development of the school. They established many branches in Ho Chi Minh City, the southwestern and southeastern provinces and Da Nang.
The Binh Dinh – Sa Long Cuong Martial Arts School has a system of basic fighting techniques and diverse weapons, such as swords, knives, sticks, whips and long-handled spears. It also has less common weapons, such as Song si and Song to. But above all, the school always trains its disciples in the virtues of modesty and respect for opponents. The typical features of the school include flexibility in fighting and using this flexibility against firmness and short against the long in the most effective way.
A student who is enrolled in the martial arts school, first of all must learn the “Bat bo chan quyen” exercise which was initiated by master Truong Thanh Dang. This exercise is a combination of all techniques of Vietnamese traditional martial arts, which include than phap (technique of body), thu phap (technique of punches) and cuoc phap (technique of kicks). After that, depending on the level, they will practice the exercises of the Binh Dinh Martial Arts, such as Lao Mai, Thien Su, Than Dong, Ngoc Tran and Phuong Hoang.
The school has established the International Binh Dinh – Sa Long Cuong Traditional Martial Arts Federation in Italy and branches in the United States, France, Italy, Australia and Canada, attracting a great number of foreign students. Now, the school is managed by master Dang Phuoc Bay, Chairman of the Martial Arts Masters’ Council. Besides the traditional black costumes of the Vietnamese traditional martial arts, the Binh Dinh – Sa Long Cuong Martial Arts School also has its own traditional costumes which include a white short-sleeved outfit and a black belt with a hem of different colours to show the belt levels.
 The school has developed very strongly in Ho Chi Minh City, the southeastern and southwestern provinces of Vietnam as well as in Italy, France, the United States, Australia and Canada.  The disciples from overseas branches attended the martial arts exchange performance at the Youth Cultural House in Ho Chi Minh City in August, 2014.  A general performance of the Binh Dinh – Sa Long Cuong disciples at the martial arts exchange programme.  The foreign disciples perform the exercise of a woman’s self-defense against two opponents. |
Story: Son Nghia - Photos: Nguyen Luan
