Cuong Nhu Oriental Martial Arts was founded on the concept of community development. Working to develop leaders that will contribute to the well being of members of their community. Cuong Nhu is a national non-profit organization.

Cuong Nhu is a fairly new martial art, founded in 1965 in the city of Hue Vietnam, by O’Sensei Ngo Dong. The first US school opened in Gainesville FL, at the University of Florida, in 1971.

Cuong Nhu is a unique martial art utilizing the hardest ("Cuong" in Vietnamese) to softest (“Nhu” in Vietnamese) aspects of the Martial Arts. Cuong Nhu studies hard styles such as Shotokan Karate, Wing Chun Gung Foo (Viewed as a hard and soft style) and American Boxing as well softer styles such as Judo, Aikido, and Tai Chi. Additionally Cuong Nhu is influenced by Vietnam’s native art of Vovinam (Viet Vo Do), a martial art using both hard and soft techniques. In keeping with its inclusive and boundryless nature, Cuong Nhu instruction extends beyond the traditionally martial arts to public speaking, poetry, painting, and philosophy. There is a strong emphasis on developing self control, modesty, and a non-defeatist attitude.

Beginning students focus on the hard, linear arts, mostly modified Shotokan Karate techniques and katas. Beginners begin to learn basic mats skills such as rolling forwards and backwards as well as simple dropping techniques to prepare them for Judo and Aikido throws that they will be learning as they gain experience.

Experienced students add Movements and applications from more advanced softer, circular arts such as Aikido, Judo and Tai Chi. All levels get some exposure to the entire range of styles, especially when developing applications utilizing matt skills.

Training emphasizes moral and philosophical development, and students discuss the "Code of Ethics" and selections from Cuong Nhu philosophy in class. As with other styles, belt color indicates rank which are tested at regional events.

Cuong Nhu has an annual training camp called the IATC – International Annual Training Camp. Students come from all over the United States, from Berkley to Miami, as well as all over the world, like Germany, France and Venezuela. IATC is always held on Memorial Day Weekend in May and every student is encouraged to make this event a yearly event in their lives as a Martial Artist. It is a must see event to believe how cool it really is.