Dedicated to the school of Lien Phong kung fu founded by the film star’s grandfather, kung fu master Nguyen Chanh Minh, the school has attracted a large number of young students, including many underprivileged kids.

Nguyen said the school was founded not only to spread his family’s good fortune but also to develop kung fu as a sport.

“Martial arts are no longer dedicated to combat, but are considered a sport that requires the harmony of body and spirit,” he said.

Although all of his family members studied martial arts at a young age, including boxing, aikido, and judo, Nguyen is the only who has pursued and developed his grandfather’s Lien Phong kung fu.

His martial arts school has been built in a typical Vietnamese architectural style featuring clay walls and palm-leaf roofs on a 1,700sp.m site within University Village on Nguyen Huu Tho Road in District 7.

Together with his best friend and martial arts master Patrick Huan Nguyen and four talented stuntmen, the actor is one of the instructors at Lien Phong school.

Students from nearby universities and poor children living in the area get special attention from Johnny Tri Nguyen.

University students get reduced fees, while underprivileged kids are able to train free-of-charge.

The actor also believes that the school will help him to find potential stunt artists for his and other Vietnamese action movies.

Lien Phong kung fu was founded by master Chanh Minh in the southernmost province of Ca Mau in the early 20th century. It’s a combination of esoteric acts that were handed down in his family from generation to generation and is famous for rapid movements which often consist of seven to eight consecutive blows.