Overcoming challenges

Chu Thi Huyen and Chu Thi Trang were born in 2009 (Huyen is the elder sister). When talking to the reporters, they expressed a charming and witty communication style.

One training session of the twin sisters Chu Thi Huyen and Chu Thi Trang.

Huyen and Trang have had passion for sports since they were little girls, especially marital arts and wrestling. They both regularly participated in the school’s team to compete shuttlecock kicking, table tennis and volleyball organized by the Education Department since they were at grade 3 to grade 7.

Jujitsu was opened in Bac Giang province in 2021. With their talents for marital arts and introduction by their acquaintances, Huyen and Trang applied and they were selected to Bac Giang Jujitsu team in 2022.

Although Huyen and Trang had passed the selection process, their parents were reluctant to let them pursue martial art as a career because they worried about hardships and future difficulties in seeking a suitable job for them. However, seeing their daughters' determination to pursue their passion, their parents eventually gave them a nod.

In addition to technical training, the two athletes had to endure intense physical practices, including weightlifting (lifting and squatting with weights from 20 to 50 kilograms), running 4 to 8 kilometers, and doing push-ups.

Despite their young age, both Huyen and Trang weighed over 70 kilograms. At many tournaments where there was no 70-kilogram weight category, they had to adjust their diet and training to “cut weight”, shedding about 7 to 8 kilos.

According to Tran Vu Quang, Jujitsu instructor of the provincial Sports Training and Competition Center, who directly coaches Huyen and Trang, Huyen and Trang stand out with exceptional talents compared to other athletes, who are intelligent in handling situations with good judgement skills.

Reaping gold seasons

To improve their techniques and tactics, in addition to the exercises in the training programme provided by their coach, Huyen and Trang also take advantage of online resources.

Chu Thi Huyen (left) and Chu Thi Trang.

They often watch foreign fighters compete to gain experience. While balancing school studies with training, they encourage each other to try their best and support one another.

Huyen and Trang participated in the National Jujitsu Club Championship held in Bac Lieu for the first time in 2023. The two female fighters wowed the experts when Huyen won a bronze medal (individual) in the under 63 kilo Fighting category while Trang also bagged a bronze medal (individual) in both under 70 kilo Newaza and Fighting categories.

Continuing these achievements, the twin sisters participated the National Youth Jujitsu Championship in Thanh Hoa in July 2023.

Huyen competed in 3 categories and won 3 medals including 1 gold medal in Fighting category and 2 bronze medals in Newara và Nogi. This is the first gold medal in Huyen’s competing career.

Chu Thi Trang also bagged 1 silver and 2 bronze medals at this championship.

In 2024, Huyen and Trang competed in 2 national tournaments and 1 Southeast Asian championship, winning 9 medals including 6 gold medals in total.

A total of 26 countries and territories participated in the 2025 Asian Youth Jujitsu Championship held in Thailand in February. The Vietnamese delegation participated in the tournament with 48 athletes.

With her experience gained through different tournaments, Chu Thi Huyen defeated the fighters from Kazakhstan and the host country Thailand, winning gold medal in under 70 kilo Fighting category. Chu Thị Trang also secured two bronze medals in Newaza and Fighting.

These results helped the Vietnamese team finish third overall, proving strong competitiveness of Vietnam Jujitsu in the continental arena.

Chu Thi Huyen and Chu Thi Trang will actively practice for upcoming prestigious tournaments from now until the end of the year, including the Southeast Asian Jujitsu Championships to be held in the Philippines in July 2025.

The two female fighters plan to enroll in Bac Ninh University of Sports, with the dream of becoming martial arts instructors in the future.