Scottish woman gets medal for martial arts

(18-03-2008)

HA NOI — A woman from Scotland is the first non-Vietnamese to win a medal at the annual competition of the Ha Noi Martial Arts Association.

Marianne Brown, who works as a sub-editor at Viet Nam News, won a bronze medal for her Tam Thap Nhi Hinh Thu (a 32-movement routine centred on the use of the hands).

She was the first foreigner ever to participate in the competition.

After two weeks of training with a master of the Thieu Lam Hong Gia school of martial arts, Nguyen Quang Dung, Brown was able to perform at the top of her abilities, Dung said.

More than 400 martial artists participated in the competition, representing 16 martial arts clubs, including Thieu Lam Hong Gia (Shaolin Hunggar), Thieu Lam Son Dong (Shaolin Shandong), Nam Hong Son, Nam Long Quyen (Southern Dragon) and Thang Long Vo Dao (Righteous Dragon).

The competition is held every year with the aim of preserving and improving the citywide practice of traditional martial arts.

A large audience and representatives from broadcast and print media attended this year’s 22nd annual competition, held in the city’s at Trinh Hoai Duc Gymnasium, watching 151 matches and performances in various categories, such as weapons, boxing, combat and "internal force".

"Traditional martial arts have been a quintessential element of the culture and iron will of the Vietnamese people for over ten centuries," said Dang Danh Tuan, deputy secretary general of the Viet Nam Martial Arts Federation. — VNS