Ham Huu Nghia - multi-tasking martial arts master

27/6/ 2010

Martial arts Master Ham Huu Nghia is considered “rare and unique” individual in martial arts circles. His “rare and unique” being show not only through his devotion to the cause of martial arts but also through his willingness to take on many helpful honorable social works.    At his age of 74, Master Ham Huu Nghia still teaches his followers with all his heart   More than 50 years of devotion to the cause of martial arts Real name of Master Ham Huu Nghia is Nguyen Huu Nghia. He was born in 1937, in a family knowledgeable in the martial arts tradition. After learning the martial arts with Master Huong Kiem Kinh and Master Tam Tu who respectively lived in Phu Cat and Tay Son districts, Binh Dinh province, he made his way to Saigon and kept on studying the arts under instruction of Great Master Le Dai Quang and then Khmer instructor Kit Dem Xay. He has taught so far thousands of learners from all over the country, including many martial arts fighters who win high prizes in big competitions. He has been sitting as Chairman of Tuy Phuoc district Martial Arts Association since 1978. Over 50 years of devotion for the martial arts movement, he has been awarded a lot of certificates of merit by Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts Federation. After such a long time of learning the martial arts with the famous masters, do you draw any know-how of your own?

- I’m sorry. I really don’t want to talk much about the martial arts. My instructors taught me that as a martial arts practitioner, you shouldn’t show off. So, I just try my best to learn and practice the martial arts, avoiding talking about it. When I was young, I entered some competitions in the south and the central regions with aim to test my competence after being allowed by my instructors. Through which I knew I did meet the instructors’ expectations.

What is your philosophy of training your followers in the martial arts?

- Any martial arts practitioner must have sense of morality. I pay much attention to teach them morals and virtues, rectifying each manner of their conversation and their look at others. I consider them my blood descendants. Most of my learners come from countryside. They are poor and have to work very hard to earn their living. At times, aiming to summon them to a tournament, I go to their home in the morning to find that they are busy with rice harvesting. I immediately involve myself in the task till mid-afternoon. Then, I ask permission of their family to let them join the competition.

You are well-known for training many generations of qualified martial arts fighters who win high records. What makes your success?

- I do not get such success! (Laugh merrily). Truly speaking, in the first consecutive years, my learners lost all of the games. Being asked about the reasons, they frankly explained: ‘You teach me good stances but our competitors are good and more experienced than us’. I acknowledge the weakness and find ways to make good the shortcomings of my training, improving my expertise, accustoming the learners to keeping calm and employing “right stances at right time” during the competition in order to win.

You are 74 years old now and have gained all types of glory. Why do you remain strongly attached to the martial arts?

- Many of other masters stop following the cause of the martial arts because of earning pressure. Thus, I should assume responsibility of maintaining and developing the traditional martial arts movement. At times, I feel tired and discouraged. My students who works in field of sport encourage me: “There are so many martial arts fighters but there are so few lifetime devoted martial arts instructors like you. For sake of the martial arts future, please pursue your road till the very end…” I can’t turn my back on their expectations. That’s the reason why I still teach many students at home now.

“I practice medicine to help people”

Ham Huu Nghia was adopted by the Khmer Master Kit Dem Xay and his wife. He guided to Cambodia to learn medicine in the whole three years. Realizing the meaning of the job, he strived for mastering it, enhancing his qualification and committing both to the medicine and the martial arts. He has been the chairman of Tuy Phuoc branch of Vietnamese Traditional Medicine Association.

Is there any difference between your philosophy of the martial arts teaching and your principles of medicine practicing?

- I don’t think there are so many differences. I consider the medicine my profession. So, I determine to wholeheartedly learn it, never do things by halves, cautiously practice it and carefully treat patients. The medicine is such a dignified job whose practitioners are highly respected by the common people. Thus, it’s improper to lay too much emphasis on the material interests while treating diseases and saving the patients. Instead, the doctors should cure the patients with all of their heart and soul. 

What kind of the diseases do you often treat?

- I try to study about many kinds of diseases and injuries such as sprain and strain, sciatic nerve pain, heterotopic calcification of spinal column, sinusitis, anaphrodisia, etc.  My knowledge of the martial arts is particularly helpful in my strong point of treating bone fracture, dislocation and sprain. I am also good at treating snake bites with traditional medicine and save many people.

When you were at the age of 67, you gained so much fame in the medicine practicing. Why did you decide to enroll in Binh Dinh Province Medical Secondary School? Did you want to obtain an official degree and acknowledgement?

- No, I didn’t. I didn’t gain such fame, did I? I enroll in the school not for sake of qualifications but for acquirement of deeper medicine knowledge. The traditional medicine is so vast. The better I master it, the better I cure the patients. Moreover, my existing knowledge is just hereditary know-how gained through self-teaching. With the official regular training, my knowledge is broadened and becomes more systematized. So, I benefit a lot from the studying. In addition, I want to set a good example for my descendants.

Every beginning of week, I rode about 20 kilometers to Qui Nhon City for the class and returned home at the weekend. I was busy myself with the studying in four consecutive years, finishing 10 credits on internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, etc. I graduated with good score. I felt happy because I had opportunities to share my experiences with much younger students whom I dearly called schoolfellows.

“Count each step on the road of multi-tasking”

“Grey haired son takes a loving care of his white-haired father. Count each (of his) step on the road of multi-tasking”. The two verses are written by Master Ham Huu Nghia as token of his respect to his father, Master Nguyen Tuu, on the occasion of the father’s 95^th birthday. The verses also reveal his thinking and emotions as he himself has taken on many helpful social works. He has been running Tuy Phuoc-based Red Cross as a chairman and operating a volunteer group of the humanitarian organization as a deputy leader. “Being a fool for people’s pains” for such a long time, he has been given many certificates of merit which are hung all over the walls of his house. Particularly, he is awarded 5 campaign medals, including “Honor of contribution to the cause of Vietnam Red Cross”, “Honor of contribution to the care and empowerment for Vietnamese elderly”, “Honor of contribution to Vietnamese traditional medicine development”, “Honor of contribution to the great national unity”, “Honor of contribution to community healthcare”.

Why do you take on so many social works? Does your family complain about it?

- I am willing to contribute anything that I can do for the community. Phuoc Hiep commune Association of the Elderly runs with a philosophy “the older you are, the stronger your will is”. The elderly should set an example for the young generations, playing an active role in encouraging a civilized lifestyle at the locality. I have participated in the district Red Cross for 30 years. Helping unlucky souls and families in need, I find my life more meaningful. Witnessing my satisfaction, my family backs me.

It is said that being a multi-tasking person means to embrace hard work. Do you experience such thinking?

- I am a martial arts instructor who likes to take on various tasks physically and mentally. You know, I have such an artistic temperament! (Laugh). Before 1975, I had studying fine arts for 3 years at Song Be Province Fine Arts School. I preferred to create art works and associate with circles of poets and writers. After 1975, I worked as an officer responsible for culture and information of the district and commune in 10 years. During that time, I had chances to learn dancing and bai choi, a kind of unique and original folk song in central Vietnam. Whether the multi-tasking means hard work depends on each individual’s way of thinking about life. I myself feel good at my contribution to the community.

• Hoai Thu