The History and Evolution of Vovinam

The Martial Arts Journey of Nguyen Loc, the founder of Vovinam

Nguyen Loc, the founder of Vovinam, was born in 1912 in Huu Bang village situated in the northern part of Vietnam. When Nguyen's family moved to Hanoi during his early childhood, his father made arrangements for him to receive traditional martial arts training. Nguyen received this training primarily with the goal of improving his physical fitness and learning self-defense techniques. Though the exact details of his training curriculum are unknown, spoken history indicates that he was taught various martial arts techniques, including wrestling. While the martial styles Nguyen learned at that time are referred to as traditional, their cultural origins remain a mystery.

The practical intent of Vovinam

During the early 1900s, Vietnam was under French rule, which greatly impacted Nguyen's youth. The inequities imposed by French colonial rule on his people left a deep impression on Nguyen. He believed that martial arts could serve as a means of freeing Vietnam from external domination by honing the physical and spiritual prowess of the Vietnamese people.

After researching and practicing various martial arts forms, Nguyen combined elements of traditional Chinese wushu, Japanese jûdô and related wrestling systems, Japanese karate, and Korean taekwondo with his preexisting knowledge at the age of 26 to create an early version of Vovinam. Therefore, Vovinam is considered a modern eclectic system that was developed out of practical necessity.

In 1938, Nguyen began teaching his new system to a group of friends in the capital city of Hanoi. Today, Vovinam is a globally recognized martial art form that combines traditional Vietnamese martial arts with elements of other global martial art forms. It emphasizes not just physical techniques but also self-discipline, respect for oneself and others, and a holistic approach to life. Nguyen's legacy continues to inspire martial arts enthusiasts worldwide, and his contribution to the martial arts community is immeasurable.

The Martial Art That Fueled Vietnamese Nationalism in the 1940s

In the early 1940s, Vovinam played a crucial role in the political agenda of Vietnam. The Vietnamese people were struggling under French colonial rule, and Nguyen saw Vovinam as a way to promote nationalism and independence.

After demonstrating Vovinam at the Great Theater of Hanoi in 1940, Nguyen and his disciples were invited by Dr. Dang Vu Hy, president of the Sport Friendship Association, to teach the martial art at Hanoi Ecole Normal.

The slogans formed inside of the Vovinam system, such as "Vietnamese practice Vietnamese martial arts" and "Not a Vovinam disciple, not a Vietnamese patriot," showed that Nguyen's goal of using Vovinam to promote nationalism was achievable.

Vovinam became a tool for political activism, and members of the Vovinam group led many demonstrations against the French, including at the University of Hanoi and the Ministry of Agriculture. Nguyen's focus was on promoting Vietnamese independence, and he created techniques that were simple, practical, and focused on endurance, speed, and strength.

To promote Vovinam, instructors were sent to cities throughout Vietnam, and tens of thousands of Vietnamese students participated in the training programs in the first few years of its public opening. Vovinam became a symbol of national pride and resistance against colonialism, and its popularity continued to grow.

Vovinam was deeply affected by politics in Vietnam, and it became a powerful tool for promoting nationalistic ideas and resistance against colonialism. Its popularity and success demonstrate the important role that martial arts can play in shaping the political agenda of a nation.

Political Significance of Vovinam During World War II

During World War II in Vietnam, Vovinam, played an essential role in the fight against foreign domination. The period was characterized by growing resistance against foreign occupation and domination, with Vietnam occupied by Japanese armies from July 1941 to August 1945 and country ruled by a puppet government under the control of the Nazi-backed Vichy French administration. In this political climate, the Communist Party of Vietnam led revolts against foreign occupation, and in 1941, Ho Chi Minh established the Vietminh, a nationalist coalition that opposed both French and Japanese colonialism.

The French puppet regime viewed Vovinam as a threat and ordered the closure of all Vovinam schools in 1942, prohibiting Nguyen Loc from teaching. However, Nguyen continued to teach his students secretly, using Vovinam to further the cause of Vietnamese independence. His program went beyond physical and moral improvement and maintained a political orientation.

At the end of World War II, the French returned to Vietnam, and by 1946, the country was officially at war with France. During this time, Vovinam was used to train military cadets and militias in remote villages. Nguyen Loc led his students in the war effort, with many of them distinguishing themselves in the field. However, a disagreement over tactics led Nguyen Loc to sever ties with the Viet Minh and urge his disciples to follow suit.

As a result, the Viet Minh ordered the capture of Nguyen Loc, making him a wanted man by both the Viet Minh and the French. To evade arrest, Nguyen advised his disciples to return to their hometowns and wait for an opportunity. He himself returned to Huu Bang village, where he trained and organized local militia units in combative techniques and assigned instructors to the Military Academy of Tran Quoc Tuan.

Vovinam in turbulent times between 1950s and 1980s

In the period between 1954 and the 1980s, Vovinam underwent a significant transformation, experiencing unprecedented growth and widespread popularity. This period was characterized by political turmoil in Vietnam, with the country divided into North and South Vietnam following the Geneva Accord of 1954. Vovinam, under the leadership of Le Sang, played a significant role in this era, developing into a vital force for national identity and cultural expression.

After the signing of the Geneva Accord in 1954, Nguyen Loc, the founder of Vovinam, moved to South Vietnam, where he opened a Vovinam school in Saigon. With the establishment of this school, Vovinam began to gain popularity in the region, leading to its introduction into the curricula of the military and police academies. As a result, Vovinam became so popular that the Vovinam association refused to open new classes due to the lack of instructors.

However, in 1960, Nguyen Loc passed away due to illness, leaving a void in the leadership of Vovinam. His senior student, Le Sang, was appointed to lead and further advance Vovinam. Under his leadership, Vovinam continued to flourish, and the system created by Nguyen Loc was preserved. Le Sang was instrumental in the development of the training curriculum and philosophy of Vovinam.

During this period, Vovinam experienced a series of clashes with both the South Vietnamese government and later the Republic of Vietnam. However, through it all, Vovinam remained resilient, continuing to promote Vietnamese culture and national identity.

By the end of the 1980s, Vovinam had become one of the most popular martial arts in Vietnam, with thousands of students and instructors throughout the country. It had become an integral part of Vietnamese culture, providing a sense of pride and national identity to the people.