« PHASE 1976 – 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.

In June in 1980, Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao was invited to participate in martial arts festival in Ho Chi Minh City which was organized by Educational Scientific Institute and Central Sports and Gymnastics Pedagogical College 2. In the year 1985, Guard Department of Ministry of the Interior invited martial arts instructor Nguyen Van Chieu to train a southern martial arts research class (4 month concentrated course). An important event in 1980s was the establishment of HCMC Viet Vo Dao Association in 1989 which somewhat affected specialized work, human resources and the interest of provinces and cities to this subject. With the restoration of the movement, General Sports and Gymnastics Department (Sports and Gymnastics nowadays) brought Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao to 3th regional technique game program in 1990. Till September this year, four martial arts instructors including Nguyen Van Chieu, Nguyen Anh Dung, Le Thanh Liem and To Manh Hoa went to Bélarus for demonstration and Nguyen Anh Dung was assigned to stay to train. In order to make the condition for the development of Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao, General Sports and Gymnastics Department accepted to hold the first national Vovinam championship (Dec 4-6, 1992) which attracted 178 athletes from many provinces and cities in the competition of 2 contents: technique performance and antagonistic contest in HCMC.

In order to unify the management and specialty guideline, from April, 1994, General Sports and Gymnastics Department decided to form Vovinam Temporary Administrative Committee. Then, the resoundingly successful performance trip of Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao in world’s second Traditional Sports and Gymnastics and Cultural Festival in Thailand in December, 1996 and the training invitation of Nguyen Van Chieu in Spain (April 1997) for a half month took the interest of people who preferred Vietnamese martial arts. n the sixth nationwide championship (Dec 27-30, 1997), with the participation of 215 athletes in 12 provinces, cities and 2 branches (Military and Sports), Vovinam- Viet Vo Dao started to prove its position in the inland sports events through the medals that Sports and Gymnastics Committee conferred. Recently, a guide training course of 32 learners to Northern provinces was opened at Sam Son (Thanh Hoa) on June 15-25, 1998. And the 7th nationwide championship gathered about 300 fighters of 16 provinces, cities and branches. Especially, on the occasion of welcoming 300th anniversary of Saigon – HCMC and 60th celebration of sect foundation (issuing badge for keepsake), the first Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao Game took place on July 20, 1998 at Phan Dinh Phung competition hall, District 3, HCMC with the participation of 4 countries: Vietnam, France, Italy, Spain, the second (France, Spain, Rumani, Italy), the third (Poland, Germany, Rumani, France: 2 groups). At the same time, training classes of Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao in 9 provinces of northern, Vovinam competition of HCMC ‘s Phu Dong healthy festival in 1999- 2000, HCMC Sports and Gymnastics Festival in 2001 and nationwide in 2002 gave out many good prospects in the support and development of Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao movement.

All in all, after more than 20 years of experiencing many difficulties, with the care of Sports and Gymnastics branch at all levels, Master Le Sang ’s advice and the support and the devotion of the martial arts instructors and coaches, up to now, Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao consists of 25.000 disciples who frequently trained in most Southern provinces and Northern provinces such as Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thanh Hoa, Ha Noi, Hoa Binh, Lai Chau, Ha Tay, Yen Bai, Lang Son, Phu Tho. Sect's activities in Viet Nam are gradually in order and discipline. Most provinces and cities set up associations and specialized quality is partly improving.

In international aspect, Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao existed in many countries in the world such as France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, United States, Morocco, Australia, Canada, Bélarus, Uraina, Rumani, Poland, Algerie, Tunysie. Every year, some nations such as France, Italy and Switzerland organized international Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao Cup with the participation of athletes of surrounding countries. Lately, the first international Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao Cup was organized in Tenerife on Oct 20, 1998 and 54 fighters from Vietnam, France, Italy, Germany and Spain attended this game. Meanwhile, Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao was also present at international martial arts festival in Bercy (France). Many foreign disciple groups went back the ancestral land to visit Founder Nguyen Loc and greet Master Le Sang as well as train techniques, take the level exam and demonstrate in HCMC, Nha Trang, Can Tho, Ha Noi…

60 years was over, from a little sect in Hanoi under the rule of French colonist, up to now Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao was growing up in strength and spreading many places. It was the process of sharing joys and sorrows and devoting among martial arts instructors, coaches and disciples under the model of Grand Master Nguyen Loc.

Though sixty years was just very brief compared with social history, Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao had certain contribution into the sports and gymnastics movement of the country and the world. However, in order to have fast, strong and steadily step and be well-matched with other international martial arts disciplines, Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao needed to look back its shortcomings. In general, all of martial arts instructors, coaches and disciples must have the spirit of solidarity and the reunification of ideologies and actions in order to train youngster who was patriotic, well-educated, healthy, brave, humane, generous and had good lifestyle. In the process of changing martial arts into a sport, it was necessary to reform bravely, unify training program, complete technique theory and print in books, alter competition law, regulate the discipline, build modern and scientific working style, train a strong staff and so on. These were basic elements to set up national federation and international federation at ancestral land in a near future.

For 60 years, each Vovinam- Viet Vo Dao martial arts instructor, coach and disciple has the right to be proud of achievements each reach. However, each looked back the strong and weak points to continue to self-improve morality, train the specialty and learn from the others to enhance knowledge in many aspects, help the disciples as well as struggle bravely with wrong things. This would gradually step steadily in 21th century and carry out the advice of Grand Master Nguyen Loc: “for people and for human”.

<< Phase 1938 – 1963

<< Phase 1964– 1975