Traditional Martial Arts Targets National Medals

Expanding Grassroots Strength

According to Luong The Dien, President of the Lam Dong Traditional Martial Arts Federation, the province now has over 60 training halls with more than 3,000 regular practitioners.

Training activities have expanded from urban areas to remote and ethnic minority communities, helping preserve traditional Vietnamese martial arts while promoting physical fitness and enriching community cultural life.

In recent years, traditional martial arts have also gained traction in schools. Many school-based clubs are operating effectively, contributing athletes to national competitions.

At the end of 2025 and early 2026, the federation, in collaboration with the provincial education sector, organized a large-scale tournament with over 500 athletes. Based on the results, a representative team was selected for provincial and national student competitions, with the goal of finishing in the overall top three.

The federation aims to further expand by establishing martial arts branches across 20 competition clusters and increasing training coverage in underserved localities.

Strong Medal Prospects

According to head coach Ho Tuan Linh, the provincial team currently includes 15 athletes (5 women, 10 men), selected from youth, club, and provincial championships.

In 2025, the team competed in eight national tournaments across traditional martial arts and kickboxing, winning a total of 77 medals—including 11 gold, 16 silver, and 50 bronze—marking their best performance in the past three years.

Notably, the team has moved beyond its traditional strength in performance events to post stronger results in combat categories.

Key athletes include:

• Nguyen Trong Hong Hoang, gold medalist in the 60–64 kg category
• K’ Quang, gold medalist in the 51–54 kg category
• Young talent Dao Gia Hung, who won gold at an international youth championship

Focused Preparation for 2026

In 2026, kickboxing has been separated into a dedicated team, allowing the traditional martial arts squad to focus fully on specialized training.

Athletes are currently undergoing intensive daily training in preparation for major national competitions, including youth and club championships, with the National Sports Games as the season’s highlight.

Despite fierce competition, the team has set clear targets: one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal at the national level.

With strengthened grassroots development, improved athlete quality, and focused training strategies, Lam Dong’s traditional martial arts are positioning themselves for a breakthrough on the national stage.