Grandmaster Oliver Barbey: Vietnamese traditional martial arts are ‘one big family’

For Barbey, however, his connection to the discipline goes beyond teaching and promoting martial arts abroad. Each return to Vietnam, and particularly to the region he regards as the cradle of Vietnamese traditional martial artsm, feels like a journey back to his roots.

On the sidelines of the 9th International Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts Festival - Gia Lai 2026, Barbey spoke with Gia Lai Newspaper and Radio & Television about his lifelong passion for Vietnamese martial arts, their distinctive cultural identity and the sense of belonging he feels whenever he returns to his martial arts “family”.

* Could you share your feelings about returning for this reunion?

Traditional martial arts are my passion and my life. Bình Định is considered the cradle of Vietnamese traditional martial arts, and my martial arts teacher was Vietnamese.

I first came to Bình Định in 1989, probably before you were even born (laughs). Nearly 40 years have passed, and every time I return, I experience very special emotions, particularly when I see how much the region continues to develop.

The land is changing day by day, but it has retained its martial spirit, its hospitality and its warmth toward those who share a love for Vietnamese traditional martial arts.

Whenever I return to Vietnam, particularly for the International Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts Festival, I feel as though I am coming home to my own “family.”

The festival is not only an opportunity for martial arts exchanges. It is also a chance to pay tribute to generations of predecessors who preserved and passed down the valuable traditions of Vietnamese martial arts.

* After so many years devoted to traditional martial arts, what do you believe are the core values that give Vietnamese traditional martial arts their distinctive identity on the global stage?

There is certainly a clear distinction, and it comes from Vietnam’s unique history.

Throughout its history, the Vietnamese people have had to fight to defend their homeland against external forces.

That historical experience helped shape and nurture Vietnamese traditional martial arts, which developed alongside the country itself.

Every form and technique carries the spirit of self-defense, patriotism and the determination to overcome adversity. They are not simply combat movements, but an expression of Vietnamese culture, history and character.

* How have Vietnamese traditional martial arts been received in Switzerland and other countries where Sơn Long Quyền Thuật has developed?

Vietnamese traditional martial arts were not the earliest martial arts to arrive in my country, but over the years, more and more people have come to know and explore them.

People are not only becoming interested in martial arts generally; many are specifically choosing to study Vietnamese traditional martial arts. That growing interest has given the discipline an opportunity to develop further.

Vietnamese traditional martial arts attract practitioners of all ages, particularly young students who are enthusiastic about physical training. Anyone can take part.

You can see that here among my students. They range in age from six to 67, yet they all train together. That reflects the shared spirit of Vietnamese traditional martial arts: everyone treats one another as part of one big family.

* From your experience teaching Vietnamese traditional martial arts overseas, what advantages and challenges have you encountered?

When it comes to challenges, I do not think this is unique to Switzerland. It is a reality in many countries.

Young people today have so many forms of entertainment and other interests competing for their attention that maintaining a long-term commitment to martial arts training can be more difficult than it was in the past. That makes teaching martial arts to younger generations increasingly challenging.

At the same time, I have always believed that people who are genuinely persistent and serious about martial arts will come to appreciate the values that training brings.

Martial arts help people achieve a balance between physical and mental well-being while developing discipline, perseverance and resilience. Training makes the body more flexible and stronger while sharpening the mind and strengthening the spirit.

These are among the core values of Vietnamese traditional martial arts, and they are values that every student can experience throughout their training journey.

* What significance does the International Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts Festival hold for the global Vietnamese martial arts community?

I have always regarded the festival as a celebration for everyone who shares a love of traditional martial arts.

Each time we return, we do more than reunite with old friends, perform or compete together. We also reconnect with the roots of the martial art to which we have devoted our lives.

It gives generations of masters and students an opportunity to exchange knowledge, learn from one another and carry forward the values that our predecessors worked so hard to preserve.

This year, I am delighted to lead a delegation of masters, coaches and students from five countries back to Vietnam.

For me, this is more than a journey. It demonstrates the vitality and international reach of Vietnamese traditional martial arts.

As more people from different countries come to appreciate and practise the art, I believe its cultural, spiritual and philosophical values will continue to be preserved and passed down from one generation to the next.