Tiếng ViệtVovinam (Viet Vo Dao) is a Vietnamese martial art, developed based on traditional wrestling combined with the quintessence of martial arts schools around the world. world such as: Karatedo, Wushu, Taekwondo… In Nam Dinh, in recent years, the Vovinam training movement has developed strongly in all districts and cities, especially in schools. With the motto “Learn Vietnamese martial arts, love Vietnam”, Vovinam has gradually become a sport popular with many people, practiced daily, equipped with necessary self-defense skills, trained in a healthy lifestyle, strong will, discipline, independence, increased endurance, improved health, enhanced physical and mental health.
A physical education teacher guides children through basic Vovinam exercises
Coach Nguyen Duy Hai, Head of Phu Quy Duong Vovinam School, said: Vovinam appeared in the province around 1999-2000, but it was not until 2010 that the Vovinam movement developed strongly. In addition to basic techniques such as punching, kicking, blocking, elbowing, slashing, and wrestling, Vovinam’s moves stand out with beautiful neck-clamping and chokehold moves. The exercises using weapons, practicing hard and soft techniques, and qigong help practitioners to practice health preservation and regulation. The predecessor of Phu Quy Duong Vovinam School is the Vovinam Club of the Provincial Youth Culture and Sports Center. The main place for activities and training of Phu Quy Duong Vovinam School is on the 4th floor of the Trade Center. Nam Dinh Tower (Nam Dinh city). After 13 years of operation, up to now, Phu Quy Duong Vovinam School has developed 20 member clubs in Nam Dinh city and the districts of Vu Ban, Truc Ninh, Y Yen, Nghia Hung, My Loc, attracting nearly 500 students, mainly young people, teenagers, and children to practice daily. Currently, the school has 12 coaches in charge of training and education; including one coach with the Second National Yellow Belt, one coach with the First National Yellow Belt and 10 coaches with the National Yellow Belt.
Every year, Phu Quy Duong Vovinam Martial Arts School organizes referee training courses, technical standardization for martial arts coaches in the province; Vovinam Elementary Belt promotion courses for students and many martial arts talent classes for students in the summer at the Provincial Youth Culture and Sports Center and clubs. Every year, Phu Quy Duong Vovinam Martial Arts School organizes 3 tournaments including: Tiger Cup Preschool Vovinam Competition, Zero to Hero Martial Arts Tournament; Provincial Open Vovinam Youth Tournament. Phu Quy Duong Vovinam Martial Arts School regularly participates in the Provincial Martial Arts Festival, Vovinam tournaments in the Northern region and the country. In 2022, participate in the National Vovinam High School Student Tournament held in Phan Thiet city, Binh Thuan province, the martial arts school has excellently won 1 Gold Medal, 1 Silver Medal for the junior high school age group, ranked 9th overall. The first Tiger Cup Preschool Vovinam Competition organized by Phu Quy Duong Vovinam in April 2023 left many impressions. This is the first playground for preschool children in the province, gathering nearly 50 athletes from 4 units including: 1-6 Kindergarten, Vang Anh Kindergarten, Hoa Trang Nguyen Kindergarten and Vovinam Phu Quy Duong; competing in 13 weight categories. As a result, 1-6 Kindergarten excellently won the first prize for the whole team.
Along with Phu Quy Duong Vovinam School, currently, in the province there are many Vovinam clubs and schools in the localities; typically Vovinam clubs in the districts: Giao Thuy, Hai Hau, Nam Truc, Xuan Truong; Cuong Trang School (Y Yen)… Each club and school has from 60-80 students. The clubs and schools in the province gather many experienced coaches in teaching and guiding such as: Vu Van Loi, Nguyen Huy Phuong, Dao Ha An, Pham Thi Thanh Thao, Do The Anh, Nguyen Trong Cuong, Tran Van Dang… In order to encourage students to practice Vovinam, over the years, the departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Education and Training of the province have opened training classes for teachers. education physical education of schools, and at the same time encourage schools to make martial arts an optional sport for students to practice, including Vovinam. Currently, Vovinam is the main martial art included in the competition program between schools and the Department of Education and Training of districts and cities in school martial arts tournaments, Phu Dong Sports Festival and Sports Festivals at all levels. Many schools have proactively coordinated with Vovinam clubs and martial arts schools to open martial arts classes for students; typically in Nam Dinh city, there are primary schools: Tran Nhan Tong, Pham Hong Thai, Le Quy Don, Ho Tung Mau, My Xa, Loc An, Le Hong Son, Tran Te Xuong, secondary schools: Han Thuyen, Quang Trung… The two primary schools: Le Hong Son and Le Quy Don are bright spots in bringing Vovinam into teaching and training; attracting dozens of teachers and students to participate. The teaching curriculum is prepared by teachers to suit each age group and the requirements for physical training, improving physical fitness, absorbing the spirit of martial arts and the ability to apply martial arts to self-defense in bad situations. Schools integrate Vovinam into extracurricular activities; at the same time, they organize competitions, create performances to compete in martial arts and combat during each holiday and New Year every year.
From the development of the Vovinam movement, units and localities have provided a source of quality athletes for training and coaching at the Provincial High Performance Sports Center and have become the core force to achieve many high achievements at national Vovinam tournaments. Coaches develop lesson plans, supplementary and advanced exercises for key athletes. The Vovinam coaching board prioritizes investment in talented athletes who are capable of competing for medals, striving to maintain achievements in strong events, thereby finding opportunities to “wear the shirt” of the national team to participate in regional and international tournaments. In addition, innovation in the selection of talented and young athletes is considered a decisive factor in the success of Vovinam martial arts in the province. Improving the quality from the work of discovery, selection to training, fostering, coaching, creating the best conditions for athletes to participate in competitions has contributed to helping Vovinam Nam Dinh maintain achievements in martial arts arenas. In 2022, the Nam Dinh Vovinam team participated in many domestic tournaments and won 4 Gold Medals, 1 Silver Medal and 5 Bronze Medals. In 2023, participating in the National Vovinam Tournament for Strong Teams, the athletes brought home 1 Gold Medal and 2 Bronze Medals.
Vovinam training movement in our province has grown strongly in both breadth and depth, contributing to preserving and promoting the quintessence of the nation’s traditional martial arts, improving health and spirit, and building a comprehensively developed human being.
Articles and photos: Khanh Dung – Nam Dinh Newspaper