Martial artists must have permission for friendly bout

Local authorities said the friendly match with the martial artist Pierre Francois Flores from Canada in Hanoi must have a permit in case of severe injuries.

Local authorities said the friendly match with the martial artist Pierre Francois Flores from Canada in Hanoi must have a permit in case of severe injuries.

Vietnamese karate artist Doan Bao Chau has asked for a friendly match in Hanoi with the wing chun martial artist Pierre Francois Flores from Canada during his trip to Vietnam. "Please don't take this as a challenge but a martial art exchange," Chau said.

  

Vietnamese karate artist Doan Bao Chau

After talking with each other, the two martial artists want this to be a personal exchange that doesn't need the authorities' permission.

However, Dang Danh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Department of Public Sport, said that the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism were asking for permission from the General Department of Sports.

The department, however, views the match as a public sports event that required an organisation board, specific location, competition rules and how to calculate the scores. Tuan said the match must be held by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and have a permit.

  

Wing chun martial artist Pierre Francois Flores

Lawyer Pham Duc Chanh from Duc Chanh Law Firm said, "Permission is required in case there are injuries, especially deadly injuries. The other participants may be accused of deliberately harming another while the injuries will be considered accidents in sports competitions if the match has the permit."

The participants will discuss insurance with the organiser.

Flores is a student of martial artist Nam Anh, head of Wing Chun Nam Anh Kung Fu School in Canada. Recently, Flores accused Huynh Tuan Kiet, head of Nam Huynh Dao Kung Fu School, of faking his martial art skills and challenged him. However, Kiet didn't respond.

Flores said he would arrive in HCM City on July 12 and Hanoi on July 18 to have friendly matches with Vietnamese martial artists. He already accepted requests from three artists.