The World Vietnam Traditional Martial Arts Federation is organizing the 2026 World Vietnam Traditional Martial Arts Championship and Youth Championship in Cervia, Italy, bringing together international competitors to contest traditional martial arts disciplines from September 30 to October 5, 2026, according to official tournament announcements.
Vietnamese National Team Roster and Leadership
The Vietnam national traditional martial arts team comprises 83 members, led by Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, president of the Vietnam Traditional Martial Arts Federation, according to sports delegation documents. Regional contingents like the Gia Lai delegation contribute a 12-member sub-delegation to the broader national effort. Tran Duy Linh, head of the Binh Dinh Traditional Martial Arts Center, joins the official delegation as a referee. The Gia Lai contingent also fields 10 athletes, split between three combat fighters and seven kata performers, with track athlete Tran Vo Song Thuong actively training in anticipation of international competition.
Tournament Rules, Divisions, and Weight Classes
According to official tournament regulations, competition formats span across sparring (combat) and kata (form) categories divided by age brackets. The 18-to-40 age division for combat splits into two distinct structural forms. Form 1 (H1), which excludes helmets and protective gear, features five men’s weight classes at 54, 57, 60, 64, and 68 kilograms, alongside three women’s weight classes at 54, 57, and 60 kilograms. Form 2 (H2), which mandates helmets, protective gear, and elbow pads, expands combat across 12 men’s weight classes ranging from 51 to 95 kilograms and six women’s classes spanning 51 to 68 kilograms.
Martial arts categories feature individual and combat groupings based on age. Athletes aged 18 to 40 compete in structured forms, free forms, and combat bouts. Competitors aged 41 to 60 participate in free forms and combat matches. Youth divisions segment participants into 15-to-17, 11-to-14, and 6-to-10 age groups, competing in compulsory and optional events. Athletes in the under-17 bracket also contest team performance and combat categories.
Strategic Goals and International Development
The championship provides an official platform for Vietnamese athletes to gain high-level competitive experience, test professional skills, and accumulate international stage exposure, according to federation briefs. Competitors interact with practitioners of diverse martial traditions to build confidence, refine tactical execution, and spread the cultural value of Vietnamese traditional martial arts on the global stage.
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