In recent years, internal martial art practice in Khanh Hoa Province has become prevalent with the participation of many senior citizens. Internal martial art clubs have become a rendezvous for the elderly to meet, socialize and entertain themselves to live a happy and healthy life.
In recent years, internal martial arts practice in Khanh Hoa Province has become prevalent with the participation of many senior citizens. Internal martial art clubs have become a rendezvous for the elderly to meet, socialize and entertain themselves to live a happy and healthy life.
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| Vinh Nguyen Ward Internal Martial Arts Club members. |
Early in the morning, nearly 100 members of Vinh Nguyen Ward Internal Martial Art Club, Nha Trang City gather to practice mind and body relaxation exercise. At 5.am every day, nearly 200 members of Hoa Binh and Doan Ket Internal Martial Art Clubs also begin to practice internal martial arts at the local cultural house in Van Gia Town, Van Ninh District.
“My health has improved thanks to the regular exercise,” says Nguyen Van Vinh, Director of Hoa Binh Internal Martial Art Club. “I am in good health partly because I usually take part in the physical and musical activities at the club. I used to suffer from rheumatism with mobility difficulty. Thanks to the regular internal martial arts practice, I feel much better,” adds 90-year-old Duong Chi, member of Dien Khanh Town Internal Martial Art Club.
Martial Arts practice has become popular not only in cities but also in the countryside. Besides relaxation exercises, they practice sports such as badminton, table tennis, chess, chant poems, etc. The clubs also provide opportunities for the elderly to meet and socialize.
Every year, on the occasion of the Vietnam Elderly Day (June 6) and the International Day of Older Persons (October 1), most of districts and towns also organize internal martial arts exchange programs and contests among the clubs, helping to promote the Internal Martial Arts practice.
Internal Martial Arts Clubs in Khanh Hoa have increased from only 40 in 2010 to more than 100 so far, mostly in Nha Trang City, Dien Khanh, Van Ninh, Cam Lam and Cam Ranh City, according to the Representative Board of Khanh Hoa Association for the Elderly.
“Relaxation exercises help not only enhance health but also protect and nurture emotional well being. Therefore, we continues developing Internal Martial Arts clubs as well as boosting propaganda to attract more participants,” says Le Xuan Hanh, Chief of the Representative Board of Khanh Hoa Association for the Elderly.
Van Giang
Translated by N.T
