“Formerly, students used to go to the municipal Youth’s Cultural House to do martial arts. To provide more convenience, our instructors go to their schools to train them,” said Ho Tuong.
The martial arts master also said that they organized such classes, with the hope that they would support young people to learn the techniques of martial arts to protect themselves, and help other people in their community.
“Training in the martial arts is also an effective way to improve the learner’s health,” he confirmed.
In class, students are taught the postures for self-defense and basic moves to attack and fight. In particular, within the training curricula, instructors will set some specific circumstances that often happen in life, and teach the students how to solve the problems. For example, when being pulled at the collar, being choked or attacked by someone with a knife, having bags or backpacks snatched, or being grabbed from behind, the instructor will explain carefully in detailed ways how to cope with each situation.
Le Thi Thanh Thuong, a member of the martial arts self-defense class organized by the Saigon Tourism College’s Trade Union and the Tan Khanh-Ba Tra Martial Arts School, for the college’s students and staff, said she learned basic and effective techniques for self-defense, and at the same time improved her physical health and became more confident.
For each circumstance, the instructor will teach the students carefully first, then help them practice how to do it many times until they get it. The guidance is simple, yet effective. After training at school, students can practice more at home until what they are taught in class become an automatic reaction.
The self-defense martial arts training program for students has been applied in many schools in the city. At the Tang Bat Ho Junior Secondary School A in District 4, the program has been implemented for two years. Le Ngoc Hai, the school principal, said: “We organize this kind of class regularly with the hope that the students will make it a habit to practice martial arts. It provides the students with basic knowledge to protect themselves, and at the same time is an effective way to introduce the Vietnamese traditional martial arts to more people.”
“The school plans to cooperate with the parents’ association to organize more meetings on such topics as life skills, traffic safety, and necessary knowledge about reproductive healthcare, through which the students will get more knowledge and skills in life,” added the principal.
The martial arts master also said that they organized such classes, with the hope that they would support young people to learn the techniques of martial arts to protect themselves, and help other people in their community.
“Training in the martial arts is also an effective way to improve the learner’s health,” he confirmed.
In class, students are taught the postures for self-defense and basic moves to attack and fight. In particular, within the training curricula, instructors will set some specific circumstances that often happen in life, and teach the students how to solve the problems. For example, when being pulled at the collar, being choked or attacked by someone with a knife, having bags or backpacks snatched, or being grabbed from behind, the instructor will explain carefully in detailed ways how to cope with each situation.
 Teaching Tan Khanh-Ba Tra martial arts of self-defense for students at Tang Bat Ho Junior Secondary School A in District 4, HCM City.  Students are taught postures of self-defense and attacks, and basic fighting moves by the Tan Khanh-Ba Tra martial arts school.  A class for self-defense skills at Saigon Tourism College by master Ho Tuong and instructors of the Tan Khanh-Ba Tra martial arts school.  Master Ho Tuong's classes for self-defense skills attract many students.  The instructor gives situations and teaches students, before they practice themselves.  Martial arts master Ho Tuong explains in detail each posture and move to the class.  Following the instructor.  Performing how to control and lock the rival’s hands.  A way to deal with an attack from behind.  Practicing how to lock the rival’s hands.  The training program gives out circumstances that often happen in daily life, such as being pulled at the collar, being choked or attacked with a knife, having hand bags or backpacks snatched, or being attacked from behind.  Watching the instructors.  The martial arts classes have a lot of female students  Learners practice martial arts moves after being taught by the instructor.  Elderly people also join martial arts classes. |
Le Thi Thanh Thuong, a member of the martial arts self-defense class organized by the Saigon Tourism College’s Trade Union and the Tan Khanh-Ba Tra Martial Arts School, for the college’s students and staff, said she learned basic and effective techniques for self-defense, and at the same time improved her physical health and became more confident.
For each circumstance, the instructor will teach the students carefully first, then help them practice how to do it many times until they get it. The guidance is simple, yet effective. After training at school, students can practice more at home until what they are taught in class become an automatic reaction.
The self-defense martial arts training program for students has been applied in many schools in the city. At the Tang Bat Ho Junior Secondary School A in District 4, the program has been implemented for two years. Le Ngoc Hai, the school principal, said: “We organize this kind of class regularly with the hope that the students will make it a habit to practice martial arts. It provides the students with basic knowledge to protect themselves, and at the same time is an effective way to introduce the Vietnamese traditional martial arts to more people.”
“The school plans to cooperate with the parents’ association to organize more meetings on such topics as life skills, traffic safety, and necessary knowledge about reproductive healthcare, through which the students will get more knowledge and skills in life,” added the principal.
Story and photos: Son Nghia
