Vietnamese martial arts spread strongly in the Brittany region of France

The establishment of the Breizh Nhat Nam Association, with the participation of many coaches and practitioners, marked a remarkable development of Vietnamese martial arts in the Brittany region - a small community rich in close-knit traditions.

Illustrative photo. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

According to a VNA reporter in Paris, in the town of Ploumagoar in the Côtes-d'Armor department, Brittany region in northwestern France, Nhat Nam martial arts originating from Vietnam are creating a new breeze in the local sports scene.

The establishment of Breizh Nhat Nam Association in 2025, with the participation of many coaches and practitioners, marks a remarkable development of Vietnamese martial arts in this small community with a rich tradition of solidarity.

The image of groups practicing on Sunday mornings at Kergré Park has become familiar to the people of Ploumagoar. Regardless of rain or shine, martial arts enthusiasts still come here to practice under the guidance of Mr. Jean-Philippe Lebouvier, a rare Frenchman who studied directly with Nhat Nam in Vietnam and is currently an important teacher of this art in France.

Since the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, Mr. Lebouvier and Mr. Jean-François Ménard, President of the Breizh Nhat Nam Association, have moved the training sessions to the multi-purpose cultural and sports house of Ploumagoar and opened more fixed classes during the week.

Weekend training sessions also attract many people from neighboring regions of Brittany.

Mr. Jean-Philippe Lebouvier first came to Vietnam in 2002 to open a bakery, but it was a chance meeting with martial arts master Tran Manh Ha in Hanoi that brought him to Nhat Nam.

Not only was he attracted by martial arts techniques, he was also impressed by the combination of breathing and internal movement - an important factor that created Nhat Nam's identity.

After returning to France, every 2 to 5 years, Mr. Lebouvier returned to Vietnam or Asia to continue learning directly from his teacher. Recently, he was invited to perform at the event celebrating 40 years of training with Master Ha in Hanoi, an important milestone for both teacher and student.

According to Mr. Lebouvier, Nhat Nam uses the "energy movement" technique, which helps maintain the body's internal rhythm and increase endurance when facing an attack situation.

Nhat Nam combines circular movements, stretching, contracting and rotating the body, helping practitioners create softness while still ensuring strength.

Some students at Ploumagoar who have practiced Aikido, boxing or Tai Chi say they feel “complete relaxation” when practicing Nhat Nam, thanks to the combination of breathing, soft techniques and rhythmic movements.

Student Anne, one of the first to sign up, shared that the exercises helped her feel more flexible and effectively reduced stress.

To develop the movement, Mr. Lebouvier created the YouTube channel “Nhat Nam France”, introducing basic exercises and training philosophy, attracting the attention of the community of lovers of this Vietnamese martial art in France.

Breizh Nhat Nam Association has also contacted Nhat Nam groups in Paris and the Normandy region to organize exchanges in the near future.

Nhat Nam, built and perfected in Vietnam since the end of the 20th century, is a synthesis of fighting techniques, breathing and philosophy of life. The increasingly widespread appearance of this discipline in France - from Brittany to Paris and some other regions - shows the spread of Vietnamese martial arts in Europe.

Ploumagoar, with its cohesive community activities, is becoming one of the rare places in France that Nhat Nam has systematically developed, contributing to bringing the image of Vietnamese culture closer to local people./.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/vo-thuat-viet-nam-lan-toa-manh-me-tai-vung-bretagne-cua-phap-2025112109422637.htm