The University of Florida is proud to be the first place Cuong Nhu was taught in America. Originally the Aikido Club, then Cuong Nhu Karate, and then Cuong Nhu Oriental Martial Arts, the school was officially formed and named 'Cypress' in 1977.

Master Ngo Dong founded Cuong Nhu in Vietnam, then took his talent and philosophy overseas to the University of Florida in 1971. Master Dong is an accomplished martial artist, and he has studied and achieved rank in many styles such as Vovinam, Shotokan, Judo, Aikido, Wing Chun, Tai Chi, and Boxing. He has taken the best of those styles and incorporated them into one unique style called Cuong Nhu.

Cuong Nhu translates to 'hard' 'soft', and has been thriving throughout the United States since the style's inception. Currently there are approximately 100 schools nationwide, and three overseas. There are two schools in Gainesville, including Cypress.

Cuong Nhu's ranking system is very simple. There are four basic belt colors: white, green, brown, and black. There are also two ranks in between each belt, indicated by stripes of the next belt color. In all, there are 9 ranks which must be earned before black belt. The ranking order is shown below:

White Belt		Black Belt
One Green		Shodan
Two Green		Nidan
Green Belt		Sandan
One Brown		Yondan
Two Brown		Godan
Brown Belt		Rokudan
One Black		Shichidan
Two Black		Hachidan

An important facet of Cuong Nhu is the philosophy from which the style was founded.

Students should strive to abide by the code of moral conduct:

1. Cuong Nhu students should strive to improve themselves and their abilities in the martial arts in order to serve the people.
2. All students should be faithful to the ideals of Cuong Nhu, and attempt to spread and develop these beliefs within the younger generation so that they too will be morally and physically fit.
3. All members of Cuong Nhu are unified in spirit and respect each other and their instructors.
4. Only by absolute discipline of mind, body, and spirit do students maintain honor in Cuong Nhu.
5. All members should respect all other styles of martial arts, and only use martial arts techniques for self-defense and to protect truth and reason.
6. Cuong Nhu students, through dedicated daily practice, increase their spirit, stamina, and moral character.
7. The goal of Cuong Nhu students is to maintain a pure, simple, sincere, and noble life.
8. Self-confidence, self-control, modesty, and a non-defeatist attitude are the mental keynotes for students of Cuong Nhu.

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Last update: August 2008