* Foundation & Development of VOVINAM - VIET VO DAO*

VOVINAM -VIET VO DAO –a self-defense and struggle martial arts of Vietnamese- found by Martial arts Master NGUYEN LOC, born on April 8th, 1912 in Huu Bang Village, Thach Nhat County, Son Tay Province (Ha Tay Province nowadays).

VOVINAM Sect-VIET VO DAO was founded on the base of traditional wrestling as a core, harmonized from other martial arts disciplines in the world, especially techniques' improvement according to hard and soft principle. After martial arts instructor Nguyen Loc drew his breath, Master Le Sang and other disciples gradually re-arranged the organization, systematized kungfu techniques, theory, level and so on and contributed to develop Vovinam- Vietnamese Martial Arts strongly nowadays.

<< Phase from1938 to 1963

Nguyen Loc grew in the period which Vietnam was still under the French colonial rule for more than half century. At that time, Vietnamese youth was controlled by 2 tends: first was throwing oneself in danger spot into the country's revolution and another was following the gaudy Western civilization with depraved pleasures and the sports movements of the snobbish upper class that French colonists encouraged. As a young man, Nguyen Loc really sorrowed at his homeland’s situation...

<< Phase from 1964 to 1975

On Nov 1st, 1963, Duong Van Minh Group toppled Ngo Dinh Diem. Along with other martial arts disciplines, Vovinam started to operate publicly in early 1964. At this time, the T-shirts without sleeves and shorts which martial arts learners wore in stages from 1954 to 1963 were replaced by sky-blue martial arts uniforms nowadays. After first school of martial arts (in 1964) was established at No. 61, Vinh Vien street, District 10 (Saigon), Kung fu Master Le Sang, martial arts instructor Tran Huy Phong(1938- 1997), Nguyen Van Thu anh other members had a meeting to compose Vovinam’s regulation and give out the orientation to support and develop it...

<< Phase from 1976 to 2000

About nearly a year after national reunification, some Vovinam-Viet Vo Dao instructors and coaches gathered, reviewed and practised martial arts at District 8 (Ho Chi Minh City) under the conduct of martial arts instructor Nguyen Van Chieu; later performed kung fu in this district’s stadium and other places such as district 3, Binh Chanh County and so on. On Dec 15th, 1978, under the accept of Ho Chi Minh Sports and Physical Training Department and District 8 People Committee, Vovinam- Viet Vo Dao class was officially opened at Hoa Binh Swimming Pool (Chanh Hung-District 8), trained by Nguyen Van Chieu and begun a reviving process of martial arts movement in city. Up to early 1980s, such other martial arts instructors in cities and provinces as Nguyen Huu Hanh (Can Tho), Nguyen Ba Thuan (Nha Trang), Dinh Van Ha (Binh Dinh), Nguyen Cong Hoa (Lam Dong) and so on also asked permission of Local Sports and Physical Training Department to open training classes. ...