Tiếng ViệtJapan is a country with many world-famous martial arts. But the precious thing is that Vovinam can still sow seeds and take root in this land rich in martial arts traditions thanks to the conscientious and love of Vietnamese martial arts of Japanese friends.
Mr. Fugo (right) with the Japanese Vovinam team competing at the 2023 World Cup – Photo: N.K.
The 7th World Vovinam Championship in 2023 at Ho Chi Minh City is the third world tournament that Japan participates in. The continuation of Japanese Vovinam is very good as this competition in Vietnam includes new elements participating for the first time.
The charm of Vietnamese martial arts
Japanese martial arts are famous for Karate, Judo, Aikido, Jujitsu, Kendo… so it is very difficult to import other foreign martial arts. But it like a lucky arrangement, Vovinam came to Japan in 2012 thanks to a professional wrestler Fujisaki Tadahiro – familiarly known as Fugo.
Mr. Fugo was fascinated by Vovinam’s beautiful moves when he went to watch the 2nd Vovinam World Championship in 2011 in Ho Chi Minh City and determined to learn the martial art. Then he thought it was necessary to promote this Vietnamese martial arts, in his homeland.
“Every job has its difficulties. Bringing a new martial art and spreading it throughout Japan is not simple. But I enjoy this job,” Mr. Fugo said.
During the past 12 years, Vovinam has developed continuously in Japan. Vovinam was introduced by Mr. Fugo to many provinces and cities in Japan and currently has 10 martial arts classes with about 300 practicing students.
At the 7th World Vovinam Championship in 2023, Japan participated with 12 athletes (4 women). Among them, performing Form accounts for 11 athletes and only 1 athlete competes countervailing in the men’s 68kg weight class.
Although it is difficult to compete for achievements, Japanese Vovinam athletes all seemed happy to come to Vietnam to compete for the first time. Especially for athletes who are still in high school as Sowa Omine and Tamaki Azusa.
Sowa Omine learned Vovinam from the ten age and still maintains his passion for Vovinam. He chose to practice scimitar and sword – two very opposite weapons in terms of weight and expression. At the tournament, Sowa Omine will perform “Sun- Moon broadsword Form” – a test that he is very fond of.
“I learn Vovinam because I find my teacher’s practice quite interesting. Thanks to learning Vovinam, I feel healthier and practicing the scimitar is no problem. In addition to beautiful moves, Vovinam also teaches students how to treat people”, he said.
For Tamaki Azusa, a girl studying Judo, coming to Vovinam is was encouraged by her mother because the training ground was near her house, and then she liked it without knowing it. After 6 years of training, the 7th Vovinam World Championship 2023 is Tamaki Azusa’s first international tournament. Feeling a bit nervous, but this girl is also ready to be able to enter the women’s sword team competition in this the tournament.
The fate with Vietnamese martial arts
Sasaki with the Dragon-Tiger Form exam – Photo: QUANG THINH
Vovinam classes in Japan have many people from all backgrounds attending. Among them were actors and singers, who previously only knew Vovinam through television. Among them, the most prominent is Shiho Sasaki – a familiar face as a singer in cultural exchange programs between Vietnam and Japan over the years. Loving Vietnamese martial arts, the Japanese girl born in 1990 even decided to marry a Vietnamese man. Sasaki’s life changed direction about 5 years ago when he met Mr. Hoang Linh in Da Nang during a cultural exchange event between Vietnam and Japan. The two became friends since then, before they deciding to get married in early 2023 and moving to Ho Chi Minh City to live in October 2023.
This is Sasaki’s second time participating in the Vovinam World Championship, after winning the bronze medal in the women’s fencing teammate at the 6th tournament in 2019 in Cambodia. She started studying Vovinam in 2016 even though she had never been familiar with any martial arts before.
Sasaki admitted that her love for Vietnam helps her stay motivated, especially when her husband is cheering at this tournament at home.
“My goal was to win a medal in the Dragon-Tiger Form event, but only ranked 7th. However, I still have two more events, basic technical teammate and women’s fencing teammate to try”, Sasaki said.
Sasaki knew full well that her strength was not martial arts. However, practicing Vovinam helps her research and get inspiration to compose the most authentic songs about Vietnam. When she has an idea, she and her husband work together to produce music products to serve overseas people Vietnamese and Japanese in both countries. Mr. Hoang Linh said: “Sasaki is the performer of the song Vietnamese Pride – the song chosen as the theme of the Vovinam sect in Japan.”
(Source: Tuoi Tre Newspaper)