Introduction to Vovinam: A Traditional Vietnamese Martial Art

Vovinam is a traditional martial art that originated in Vietnam in the 1930s. It was created by Grandmaster Nguyen Loc, who combined elements of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese martial arts to develop a comprehensive system of self-defense and personal development.

History of Vovinam

Vovinam was founded by Grandmaster Nguyen Loc in 1938 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Grandmaster Nguyễn believed martial arts could play a crucial role in liberating Vietnam from colonial rule by France, which had been in control since 1859, as well as from other external forces. Vovinam was developed by incorporating aspects of Chinese and Japanese martial arts into traditional Vietnamese martial arts, partially in response to the French occupation, to foster a sense of national identity among the Vietnamese people.

Check out this article for a deeper dive into the history and evolution of Vovinam.

The name "Vovinam" comes from the combination of two Vietnamese words: "Vo" meaning martial arts, and "Vinam" meaning Vietnam. The style was officially recognized by the Vietnamese government in 1979 and has since spread to other countries around the world.

Techniques of Vovinam

Vovinam is a comprehensive martial art that incorporates both striking and grappling techniques. It is known for its speed, power, and fluidity, and is designed to be practical and effective in real-world self-defense situations. Some of the techniques used in Vovinam include:

• Striking techniques: Vovinam includes a variety of striking techniques, including punches, kicks, elbow strikes, and knee strikes. Practitioners learn to strike with speed, power, and precision, and to use combinations of techniques to overwhelm their opponents.
• Grappling techniques: Vovinam includes a range of grappling techniques, including throws, joint locks, and pressure points. These techniques are designed to allow practitioners to control their opponents and incapacitate them quickly and efficiently.
• Weapon techniques: Vovinam also includes training in a variety of traditional Vietnamese weapons, such as the staff, the sword, and the fan. Practitioners learn to use these weapons with skill and precision, and to incorporate them into their overall martial arts training.

Philosophy of Vovinam

The aim of Vovinam is not only to develop the physical abilities of its students but also to nurture their spirit. Apart from the principle of balancing ying and yang techniques, Vovinam training focuses on instilling important values such as courage, tenacity, fairness, modesty, and tolerance. The training also places great importance on developing the students' character by teaching them moral values. Students are encouraged to recognize their ego and overcome it, which helps them become more generous and tolerant towards others. Ultimately, the goal of Vovinam is to teach students to not only help themselves but also help others live in peace and harmony with their surroundings, by recognizing that the most important thing in a human's life are other humans.

For more detailed information:

• Embracing Virtue: From Defense to Inner Strength
• Essence Of Soft And Hard Principles In Martial Arts Spotlighting Vovinam

10 principles of Vovinam Việt Võ Đạo

1. Vovinam's disciples vow to pursue high proficiency in their martial art in order to serve the people and humanity.
2. Promise to be faithful to the intentions and teaching of Vovinam and develop the young generation of Vovinam Viêt Võ Dao.
3. Be united in spirit and heart, respect one's elder, be kind to one's peers.
4. Respect discipline absolutely, maintain the high standard of personal conduct and honour of a martial art disciple.
5. Have respect for other martial art schools, only use martial art skills for self-defense and protect justice.
6. Be studious, strengthen the mind, enrich one's thought & behavior.
7. Live simply, with chastity, loyalty, high principles and ethics.
8. Build up a spirit of steely determination and vigor, overcome powers of violence.
9. Make intelligent judgments, carry out struggles with perseverance and act with alertness.
10. Be self-confident, self-controlled, modest and generous.

More details about 10 principles of Vovinam can be found in this article.

Popularity of Vovinam

According to statistics published on statista.com, Vovinam in 2021 ranked as the fourth most popular martial art in Vietnam with a participation rate of 24%, following Taekwondo (33%), Karate (33%), and Boxing (25%). Muay Thai also made the top 5 list of popular martial arts in Vietnam, with a participation rate of 21%.

In recent years, Vovinam has gained more recognition on the international stage, with the formation of the World Vovinam Federation and the inclusion of Vovinam demonstrations in major international martial arts events.