III.
Martial Clothing

       The Martial Clothing in the SA-LONG-CƯƠNG School System designed before by the Grand-Master Trương-Thanh-Đăng for Martial Students - Tee-Shirt and Boxer Short replaced later by the baggy long Trousers - is only suitable for tropical lands and within the framework of home training.

       During the establishment of the first Sa-Long-Cương Drill Hall abroad, in 1968, we had presented the Students Martial Clothing design for Grand-Master Trương-Thanh-Ðăng approval according to the vietnamese tradition : Crossed neckline Jacket, long sleeves with puffed cuffs, ankles baggy long Trousers (pants) and a large soft Belt tied waistline round. This Belt represents also the Rank and Degree of the Martial Arts practising.   

      In addition, Martial Students wear sport shoes for feet protection.

       The Martial Clothing according to the vietnamese tradition : Crossed neckline Jacket, long sleeves with puffed cuffs, ankles baggy long Trousers (pants) and a large soft Belt tied waistline round is truthly convenient for Martial Arts training anywhere and on foot fighting as on horseback :

       - The Crossed neckline Jacket is closed from armpit into hip ; what makes it doesn't come undone while the combat.

       - The long sleeves with puffed cuffs make convenient the wielding of Medieval Weapons (Scimitar, Sword, Blade-Breaker, War Axe, etc.)

       - The ankles baggy long Trousers (pants), holding a large bottom, is truthly convenient to train for Postures and Kicks techniques, as for the Equestrian Archery and the wielding of Pole Arms (Vouge, Pertuisane, Spear, Halberd, etc.) on horsebackl.

       - The large soft Belt feld longitudinally in half and tied waistline roundlarge below the navel is both a belt* for making really the use of Internal Work easier and the one representing the Rank and Degree of the Martial Arts practising.

       *Remark : This belt is aided efficiently by a second belt, tied on the inside, called "Internal Energy Belt".

       The Martial Students belonging to Đại-Việt Martial Arts Section, in addition to the Martial Clothing qoted forwards, wear a Turban and a Belt, as well as the Leggings and the Shoulder Straps for training on foot fighting and on horseback :

              - The Turban is a kind of cloth headgear with protection of the neck against sunstroke, that is a kind of headgear Võng-Cân for wearing war helmet when using the armour ;

              - The Ceinturon is a kind of thick and large belt, enveloping kidneys and the bottom half of the one's back into the front of stomac ;

              - the Leggings are used to protect shins and ankles so that these latter aren't hurt by stiirrups and stirrups leather during training on horse back ;

              - The Crossbelts are used to bear Sword ; it exists two kinds, those for having Sword slung over one's shoulder and those for bearing Sword on the left flank.

       In addition, the Võ-Trận Đại-Việt Department uses also traditional dark red colour Medieval Military Clothing for wearing under the steel tempered Armour during the training for Armoured Medieval Tournament on foot fighting and on horseback fighting.

(To be continued...)