The competition, jointly organized by the Gia Lai Taekwondo Federation and the Pleiku Ward Youth Union, is being held to mark the 30th anniversary of the Vietnam Taekwondo Federation while promoting the sport among local communities.
According to Nguyễn Văn Quý, chairman of the provincial Taekwondo Federation, the event aims to present a more creative and accessible image of taekwondo to young people.
Members of the Chư Păh Taekwondo Club actively practice for their martial arts music performance. Photo: N.D
“The harmonious combination of music and martial arts movements makes the performances lively, creative, and more appealing to young people”, Quý said. “This brings a new perspective to taekwondo, showing that it is not only about training or competition but also incorporates artistic elements”.
At Chư Păh Taekwondo Club in Chư Păh commune, students have been using every afternoon training session to perfect routines for the competition.
Club member Cao Đàm Xuân Long said adapting from traditional technical routines to martial arts music performances initially proved challenging, particularly in maintaining rhythm and formation.
“But after some time practicing, I found it very interesting because it not only improves physical fitness but also allows us to express emotions through movement,” Long said.
The 2026 “Martial Arts Music” competition runs from April 25 to June 6. The preliminary round takes place from April 25 to May 30. Taekwondo clubs across the province will create performances lasting up to 7 minutes, record them on video, and submit them to the organizers for online judging.
Based on the preliminary results, the top 8 teams will advance to the finals, performing live on the night of June 6 at Chợ Nhỏ Night Street (Pleiku ward).
According to the organizers, 23 taekwondo clubs from across the province have registered to participate, with each team comprising 10 to 40 members. Performances are encouraged to use Vietnamese music and feature creative choreography.
Coach Vũ Thanh Bách said the club divided training into stages, beginning with helping students familiarize themselves with the music before integrating movement sequences and formation changes.
“Formation transitions are the easiest place to make mistakes, so we focus heavily on synchronization,” Bách said, adding that students regularly review video recordings of their practice sessions to improve performance quality.
The club selected the song “Hào khí Việt Nam” for its routine in an effort to combine traditional spirit with modern presentation and broaden taekwondo’s appeal within the community.
Elsewhere in the province, members of the Phước Mỹ Taekwondo Club in Quy Nhơn Nam ward are also stepping up preparations. The club chose Nguyễn Tất Thành Square in Quy Nhơn ward as the filming location for its competition entry, featuring 17 performers from elementary to high school age groups.
Coaches said the inclusion of younger and older students adds variety to the performance while giving more participants exposure to martial arts music.
Training has presented challenges, particularly as students balance practice schedules with academic responsibilities. Coaches also noted that combining martial arts techniques with rhythm, speed and expression requires sustained discipline and coordination.
However, previous experience performing martial arts music at school events has helped many students adapt more quickly to competition requirements.
Lê Minh Tấn, coach of the Phước Mỹ Taekwondo Club, said the club’s performance carries the theme “Hồn Việt võ đạo” (“The Vietnamese martial spirit”).
The routine combines the songs “Vũ nông dân” and “Nam quốc sơn hà” in both original and remixed arrangements, blending traditional Vietnamese cultural elements with youthful energy.
Performers will wear traditional martial arts uniforms and use props including red flags with yellow stars, dragon motifs and Tây Sơn flags to reinforce the performance’s national spirit.
“The theme showcases the powerful techniques of taekwondo from the Land of Kimchi, blended with the Vietnamese spirit,” Tấn said. “While embracing the essence of international martial arts, Vietnamese people always preserve their unique identity and spirit.”
The provincial taekwondo team is also taking part in the competition, with training plans focused on synchronization, group coordination and stage management.
Coach Nguyễn Đức Nhật said instructors are paying close attention to both technical precision and performers’ ability to move naturally with the music.
“For a martial arts music performance to be beautiful, it must first be precise and synchronized as a group,” Nhật said. “Each member has different strengths, and when combined, every individual contribution becomes clear.”