Cuong Nhu (Vietnamese-American Martial Art)
Cương NhuMartial art founded, according to the style's association, by Ngo Dong in 1965 in Huế, Vietnam. It combines hard and soft techniques from seven styles, from karate to aikido.
Quick Facts
VietnamCharacter & Origin
Organisation & Competition
What the style is built from
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Catalogs & Databases for Cuong Nhu (Vietnamese-American Martial Art)
About Cuong Nhu (Vietnamese-American Martial Art)
Cuong Nhu is a martial art which, according to the Cuong Nhu Martial Arts Association (CNMAA), Ngo Dong founded in 1965 in Huế, Vietnam. According to the association, the name means hard (cuong) and soft (nhu) in Vietnamese. According to CNMAA, the style combines principles and techniques mainly from seven other styles, Shotokan karate, aikido, judo, wing chun, vovinam, tai chi and boxing. We have not found an independent source on the origin of the style or its founder, all information comes from the style's association and Wikipedia. According to CNMAA, Ngo Dong taught biology at the University of Huế and in 1971 left for doctoral studies in entomology at the University of Florida, where he opened the first Cuong Nhu club in the USA in September 1971. In spring 1973 the Cuong Nhu Karate Association, today's Cuong Nhu Martial Arts Association, was registered, according to the association. After returning to Vietnam he was under house arrest in 1975, according to CNMAA, fled with his family by boat to Indonesia and returned to the USA in 1977. According to the association, Ngo Dong led the style from 1965 to 1998, then his son Quynh Ngo. According to CNMAA, Quynh Ngo died of covid-19 on 1 September 2021 and John Burns took over leadership.
History
According to the CNMAA, Ngo Dong was born on 4 October 1937, studied biology and chemistry in Vietnam, and taught biology at the University of Hue from 1961 to 1971. As a child, he learned vovinam from his brother Ngo Quoc Phong, one of the five best students of vovinam founder Nguyễn Lộc, and wing chun from his two oldest brothers, according to the association. After moving to Hue in 1956, he trained in Shotokan karate under former Japanese captain Choji Suzuki, and in judo, according to the CNMAA.
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According to the CNMAA, he founded the style in 1965, as his training until then lacked a mental and spiritual side, in his view. After the Tet Offensive in 1968, he organised people's self-defence units in Hue with a programme of karate, games and friendly contests, according to the association. In 1971 he left for doctoral studies in entomology at the University of Florida, where he opened the first Cuong Nhu club in the USA in September 1971, and in spring 1973 the Cuong Nhu Karate Association, now the Cuong Nhu Martial Arts Association, was registered. According to the CNMAA, he earned his doctorate in three years and returned to Vietnam in 1974. According to the association, he was under house arrest in 1975, fled with his family by boat to Indonesia, and in 1977, in October according to one recollection of the association and in November according to another, returned to the USA, working at the University of Florida's entomology department. Wikipedia quotes his letter, according to which the family sailed on 18 June 1977, ran out of fuel on 22 June, and an Indonesian ship brought it to Jakarta on 27 June. According to the association, Ngo Dong died on 15 May 2000.
How it differs
According to the CNMAA, Ngo Dong wanted to add a mental and spiritual side to physically demanding training, and combined principles and techniques of many arts with a philosophy of self-improvement, community service, and love and respect for others. Training begins, according to the association, with hard karate techniques then adds soft skills like throws and immobilisation.
Technique
According to the CNMAA, Cuong Nhu combines principles and techniques mainly from seven other styles, Shotokan karate, aikido, judo, wing chun, vovinam, tai chi and boxing. According to the association, the name means hard (cuong) and soft (nhu) in Vietnamese.
Training
According to the CNMAA, a beginner mainly learns hard techniques known from traditional karate, stances, blocks, kicks, strikes and weapons. Later, according to the association, the student adds soft skills, off-balancing, deflecting attacks, throws and immobilisation.
Ranks and progression
According to the CNMAA, the order of belt colours represents the life cycle of a tree. For adults, the association lists a white belt, one green stripe (8th kyu), two green stripes (7th kyu), green belt (6th kyu), one brown stripe (5th kyu), two brown stripes (4th kyu), brown belt (3rd kyu), one black stripe (2nd kyu), two black stripes (1st kyu), black belt and then dan grades. The black belt brings the student the title sensei, according to the association.
Today
Per its own website, the Cuong Nhu Martial Arts Association oversees the style. According to the association, Ngo Dong headed the style from 1965 to 1998, when illness made him leave and leadership was offered to his son Quynh Ngo. According to the CNMAA, Quynh Ngo led it twenty-three years and died of COVID-19 on 1 September 2021. According to the association, his successor is John Burns.
Did you know
According to the CNMAA, the name Ngo Dong means tallest tree in Vietnamese, and he himself compared belts to a tree's growth. According to Wikipedia, he took up distance running in 1986 and completed 23 marathons, eight 50-mile ultramarathons and fourteen 100-mile ones. Wikipedia also states that Gainesville and Alachua County proclaimed 14 August 1994 Dr. Ngo Dong Day.
Frequently asked questions
What does Cuong Nhu mean?
According to the CNMAA association, hard (cuong) and soft (nhu) in Vietnamese. According to the association, a beginner learns mainly hard karate techniques and with progress soft ones, such as throws and deflecting an attack.
Which styles is Cuong Nhu based on?
According to CNMAA, mainly seven, Shotokan karate, aikido, judo, wing chun, vovinam, tai chi and boxing.
Who leads Cuong Nhu today?
According to CNMAA, John Burns, who took over after the death of Quynh Ngo on 1 September 2021. According to the association, Quynh Ngo was the son of founder Ngo Dong.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.