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| A Hue Jujitsu training session. Photo: Chu Tuan |
Grown from a grassroots movement
Being “a latecomer” and driven by a grassroots movement, Jujitsu in Hue faced a rough start upon its debut in 2016, grappling with skepticism and many challenges.
The reason is that, while other sports operate with a professional framework training athletes across three levels-talent, youth, and elite-Jujitsu, at that time, lacked an organized structure. Its practitioners were mostly amateurs, including students, doctors, teachers, and businesspeople. They joined Jujitsu mainly for fitness and self-defense, as the sport is valued for its practical effectiveness, particularly in close combat.
After just four years of training, however, Jujitsu in Hue made a striking breakthrough by competing in two national championships and claiming 16 medals. Notably, while they won only 1 silver and 1 bronze in 2019, their next appearance marked a significant leap with 14 medals (1 gold, 4 silvers, and 9 bronzes).
With 16 medals from the two national championships, Jujitsu in Hue was fueled with new motivation. They were eager to continue contributing and bringing success back to their hometown. At the same time, sports officials in Hue began to reassess their approach, taking steps to help Jujitsu operate more systematically, with clear direction and strategies for professionalism.
In addition to its core members, Jujitsu in Hue has been bolstered by athletes in two other disciplines: Judo and Wrestling. This collaboration has helped Jujitsu in Hue steadily solidify its position on the national and regional Jujitsu map.
"Jujitsu, also known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is derived from Judo, but its techniques bear significant similarities to wrestling. Except for ground fighting, where wrestling and Jujitsu share about 30% of their techniques due to Jujitsu's focus on locks and submissions, the standing techniques, such as lifts, grips, and pins, are almost identical in both sports," said Chu Minh Tuan, head coach of Jujitsu in Hue.
However, this "shortcut" approach can only be applied for a short period. Objectively speaking, since Jujitsu is still a relatively new sport in Vietnam, from 2016 to around 2020, both Jujitsu in Hue and Jujitsu in Vietnam were primarily using wrestling and Judo techniques to compete under Jujitsu rules, rather than practicing authentic Jujitsu. This approach could put athletes at a disadvantage when participating in high-level regional or continental competitions.
This factor, coupled with Jujitsu’s inclusion in the 2022 National Sports Games, prompted Hue to establish a formal Jujitsu department to provide more systematic and professional training for athletes.
Springboard for "ambition"
Thanks to structured and professional training, Jujitsu in Hue has seen 5 athletes called up to the national team and made significant leaps in major competitions.
Alongside their outstanding performance at the 2022 National Sports Games, where they won 1 gold, 2 silvers, and 2 bronzes, Jujitsu in Hue achieved even greater success in 2024, securing 64 medals in total. This included 1 gold at the National Championship, 2 golds at the Asian Youth Championship, 1 gold at the World Beach Championship & Youth Championship, and 3 golds at the Southeast Asian Championship & Youth Championship. In the early months of 2025, coach Chu Minh Tuan and his team also earned 2 golds, 2 silvers, and 4 bronzes at the Asian Youth Championship in Thailand.
Currently, two of the most promising talents on the Jujitsu team in Hue are Hoai Thuong and Van Suu. Hoai Thuong has earned 2 golds, 1 silver, and 1 bronze at the 2024 Asian Jujitsu Championship & Youth Championship, along with 1 gold and 2 bronzes at the 2025 Asian Youth Championship. As for Van Suu, following his gold medal at the 2022 National Sports Games, he also secured 1 gold at the National Championship and 1 gold at the 2024 Southeast Asian Championship.
Unfortunately, due to her young age (born in 2011), Hoai Thuong is unlikely to take on the challenge of securing a spot for the 33rd SEA Games. The responsibility is expected to fall on Van Suu, an athlete in his prime, with strengths in fast-hand techniques and well-rounded ground combat skills.
As mentioned, Jujitsu in Hue started with many challenges and doubts, but it has since made significant strides. In addition to the notable achievements and promising athletes like Van Suu and Hoai Thuong, the sport boasts several other athletes with great potential, such as Tuyet Nhu, Trong Nghia, and Anh Thien.
This provides a solid springboard for Hue’s Jujitsu team to realize its ambitions—not only to compete for a SEA Games slot, but also to strive for success in larger arenas such as the National Sports Games, and regional and continental tournaments in the years to come.