Tiếng ViệtLeaving the podium of glory, Pham Thi Phuong returned to her role as a family woman, earning a living by doing all kinds of jobs. Different from what we previously imagined about the life of a Vovinam “queen” who won the number one position in two consecutive world championships, she lives a hard life in a simple, modest house in a small alley in District 8 (Ho Chi Minh City)…
Learn martial arts, learn how to be a human
Her main job is a tailor. Sometimes she goes out on the street to sell coconut water, or make marketing and advertising… In general, she would do anything as long as she had money to cover her difficult life, when her husband was only a driver and her children were still too young.
Looking at the small, slender woman, few people would expect that she is the world champion of Vovinam martial arts. Fate brought her to martial arts by chance. Pham Thi Phuong said that when she was a child, she was often bullied. When I told my mother, she didn’t defend me and scolded me: “You didn’t tease them, so why did they bully you?” At that time, Phuong was both angry and sad because her mother did not understand her and thought she was a naughty child.
In 1988, the secondary school where Phuong was studying introduced Vovinam martial arts as a physical education subject. The school required everyone to attend, and if a student refused, they had to have a commitment from their family. Thinking about the times she had been bullied, Phuong immediately enrolled. She came home to ask her mother for permission to study but did not dare say she was going to learn martial arts, only said she was taking extra classes. She studied silently for three years and was selected to take the belt exam. The more she studied, the more fascinated she became by the martial arts moves and punches. She didn’t know when she became passionate about it.
The first time she participated in the competition, Pham Thi Phuong won first prize in the whole school and was awarded a two-striped gold belt. She brought the prize home to hang on a pillar as a souvenir and used it as motivation for her journey to pursue a martial arts career. One day, mother saw a yellow cloth strip on a pillar. She intended to take it down to use as a hammock rope, but Phuong’s brothers stopped her and told her that it was a martial arts certificate. At this time, the family just knew Phuong went to learn martial arts. The father strongly objected and absolutely did not agree to let his daughter learn martial arts. The mother enthusiastically supported it. She understood that, with such a weak daughter, practicing martial arts would help her improve her health and be able to defend herself in times of risk and uncertainty in life. Finally, Phuong got the consent of everyone in the family.
Phuong’s path to pursuing a martial arts career was full of hardships and difficulties. She lived in a poor family with many siblings. Her parents worked as hired laborers everywhere, so after school she had to work hard to help her parents. While studying sewing, she and her brother also had to sell coconut water on the street; but no matter what she did, Phuong never gave up the idea of practicing martial arts every evening. Not only that, she also passed on her passion for martial arts to all her siblings. Out of 10 siblings in the family, 9 love martial arts. The more she practices, the more she realizes that learning martial arts is learning how to be a better person and love people more.
The thought of learning martial arts to take revenge suddenly disappeared when Pham Thi Phuong understood the truth of martial arts. The first quality is that a martial arts practitioner must know how to be humble and patient. When someone hits you, you can only block, not hit back. If possible, you will run away because you are stronger than your opponent.
She said: “Once my brothers teased me, the more annoyed I got, the more they teased me. I reflexively swung my arm behind me to block it, but unexpectedly it hit my brother right in the back. He fell to his knees, staggered, and then silently walked away. From then on, every time we had an argument that couldn’t be resolved, I just cried.”
In school and district level tournaments, Phuong has made many opponents falter. She is often chosen by teachers to compete with older students. Phuong explained: “In martial arts, there is no discrimination. Whoever has health and faith can compete.” The memory that Pham Thi Phuong will always remember is the time she fought with a male classmate. In the middle of the arena, in front of many students, Phuong defeated her friend spectacularly. From that day on, he gave up learning martial arts. After many years of meeting again, he told Phuong: “I really like martial arts, but because of Phuong, I gave up. Phuong made me feel ashamed in front of my friends and teachers. I am a boy, but I was defeated by a girl, fainting on the spot. I think that even if I step up to the stage of glory in the future, I will still be tarnished by that defeat.” Phuong just smiled and felt sorry for her friend. That is the rule of martial artists, once they “enter the battle”, they must play with all their might in the spirit of dedication. There is no room for falter or yield.
Behind the glory
The year 1992 marked the beginning of Pham Thi Phuong’s path to conquering the top when she won the bronze medal in the city-wide tournament. In the following years, Phuong won gold medals in combat and individual punches. From 1994 onwards, she won first place in almost every competition.
Martial artist Pham Thi Phuong and her husband are happy on their wedding day.
Phuong’s husband is also a Vovinam martial artist of high class. After knowing each other for 8 years on the training ground, experiencing the joys and sorrows of martial arts, in 2003, they decided to get married. Before getting married, Phuong often confided in her future husband about her passion for Vovinam. After getting married, she delayed having children with her husband to focus on her martial arts career. As a fellow practitioner, her husband understood and shared his feelings with his wife.
Famous in the arena all over the world, but martial artist Pham Thi Phuong’s family life is not well off as people think. Whenever she leaves the ring, leaves from the world’s highest the glory podium, Phuong returns home to immerse herself in her daily work.
Pham Thi Phuong shared: “To balance martial arts training and sewing is not simple. Softness and hardness are two distinct opposites. When practicing, I become a strong, determined person, but when sewing, I am a gentle, quiet woman.”
Learning martial arts and being good at it is just a hobby, not a profession to support a family. So every day, on the dusty roads, people are all too familiar with the image of the “Vovinam queen” riding on a dilapidated motorbike to do business. Her strong, sturdy hands skillfully chisel and peel coconut shells. Although her life is busy, every time a tournament is approaching, Phuong puts her work aside to focus on practicing.
She has traveled to many countries around the world to learn and compete with foreign martial artists. As a small-statured martial artist, weighing only 45kg, but she can unleash amazing kicks that can knock out opponents taller than her. Most of the martial artists in your country know Phuong’s reputation, so every time she competes, she is always the subject of their attention and interest.
The trophies are associated with the glory of martial artist Pham Thi Phuong.
She remembers, the time she went to France to participate in the tournament, while walking around the stadium, she meet a tall and muscular French martial artist. Seeing Phuong, he immediately crossed his arms and stood in front, signaling a challenge. She looked at the coach with concern, but he smiled and said to her: “Let’s show the they our Vovinam ability, if you don’t show it, they will look down on you.” Phuong regained his composure, jumped up and used both legs to clamp the challenger’s neck, then performed a neck-breaking maneuver, causing the opponent to fall to the ground. He stood up and hugged Phuong, patting her on the shoulder. From then on, every time he had a chance to visit Vietnam, this martial artist would often meet her, hold her hand tightly to express his admiration.
In 2011, Pham Thi Phuong successfully defended her world championship title, and then returned home to be a real wife. So after 9 years of missed appointment her husband, now she is happy because she “paid back” her husband with a chubby baby boy. Phuong confided: “I still love martial arts, but I cannot be indifferent to my duties as a wife and mother. My husband has waited for me enough. When I was a young girl, I devoted myself to martial arts, but now it is time to stop.”
(According to Ngoc Hoa – Cong An Nhan Dan Newspaper)