The "fire" of Vovinam always burns

(QBĐT) - Over time, on the resilient land of Quang Binh , Vovinam-Viet Vo Dao martial art is still preserved and promoted day by day. The movement of practicing the national martial art has been strongly developed by many generations of students. Keeping that "flame" burning is also a way to show gratitude to the origin of Vietnamese martial arts.

Spirit of Vietnamese martial arts

In early August, amidst the scorching summer sun, the atmosphere at the Provincial Police Gymnasium became even "hotter" as the 4th Quang Binh Provincial Vovinam Club Championship took place. More than 170 athletes from 12 clubs in the province gathered here to compete. For those who love this martial art, this is a great festival for martial artists, coaches and students from all over to exchange, meet and learn from each other after a year of hard training. Sweat on the arena mixed with smiles and joy. A martial arts spirit spread on every face. To have such a strong connection, in recent years, the Quang Binh Vovinam Federation has played a leading role in the movement and become a bridge between clubs in the province.

Founded in 1938 by martial artist Nguyen Loc, Vovinam is the crystallization of humanistic philosophy, martial spirit and rich cultural foundation. Today, the Vovinam-Viet Vo Dao movement has been widely developed in the country and around the world , with a presence in more than 70 countries and territories with more than 2.5 million martial artists. Since the establishment of the World Vovinam Federation, the martial art has grown even stronger as continental and regional federations were established. Notably, in November 2023, Vovinam-Viet Vo Dao was included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage and is on the way to building a plan to be recognized as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Practice session of Vovinam Club students of SOS Children's Village Dong Hoi.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Tuyen, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vovinam Federation of Quang Binh, in Quang Binh, Vovinam-Viet Vo Dao was brought back in 1997 with the opening of the first class at the Quang Binh Children's House. This was also the first brick to build the Vovinam training and competition movement in the locality. Over the past 27 years, Vovinam-Viet Vo Dao has attracted a large number of participants and is loved by many people. Over nearly 3 decades, thousands of students have been trained in martial arts, martial arts, and martial strength. Many students have grown up and become useful citizens to society, continuing to train and educate generations of Vovinam students, developing the movement of practicing martial arts among Vietnamese people.

The province currently has 17 Vovinam clubs, with nearly 500 students practicing. Each club is a close-knit, united community, full of responsibility. Each training session is a time for students to find their passion, practice patience, courage and will to overcome all challenges. From the mountainous areas with many difficulties to the bustling city center - where children and sports enthusiasts have many choices, the Vovinam training movement is still developing strongly and persistently.

Practice sports to preserve culture

As one of the clubs established in the difficult area of Tuyen Hoa, Chau Hoa Vovinam Club has still affirmed its position in the Vovinam competition movement of the whole province. Right in the 4th Quang Binh Provincial Vovinam Club Championship, surpassing 11 other clubs, Chau Hoa Vovinam Club excellently won the first prize of the whole delegation. The club's students won 3rd prize at the Central Highlands Vovinam Tournament in 2023. This is the "sweet fruit" for days of hard training, in difficult conditions, in the harsh sun and wind.

Master Truong Cong Dai, Head of Chau Hoa Vovinam Club, said that the club was established 4 years ago and currently has nearly 30 students of all ages. What is admirable is that the students' passion has overcome the difficulties of their family's and hometown's economic conditions. Mr. Dai said that teaching martial arts is not simply teaching the moves and correcting the movements, but the martial arts teachers also teach the students about martial arts, so that they understand the history and meaning of the moves, and the stories of their predecessors. When exposed to and deeply understand this cultural heritage, no one else but the students themselves become an inseparable part of the journey to preserve the heritage.

To do that, Vovinam clubs in the province are both a bridge connecting the spirit of martial arts and a place to nurture the passion of students for this martial art. Vovinam is both a sport and the quintessence of traditional culture of the nation. Practicing Vovinam is to train strength and will, but also to join hands to preserve the beauty of long-standing culture.

From those good meanings, Mr. Tu Duc Quyen (Nam Ly ward, Dong Hoi city) decided to let his son study Vovinam among many other choices. At the age of 9, the boy Tu Le Quyen Anh has spent more than 4 years studying this martial art. From coming to Vovinam with curiosity, now, the boy has become truly passionate. At the 2 recent Vovinam championship tournaments of the provincial clubs, Quyen Anh won 3 silver medals. Mr. Quyen said that this achievement has encouraged and motivated the boy and further fostered his son's determination to pursue this special passion. The time of hard training and the glorious moment of victory will be unforgettable memories for each student. But more than that, it is the spiritual and physical values that this martial art brings that are worth cherishing.

For Vovinam-Viet Vo Dao, developing sports and preserving culture are not two separate tasks, but a journey that goes together and complements each other. Developing sports is also joining hands to preserve the cultural values that our ancestors left for future generations. The journey of "keeping the fire" of Vovinam in Quang Binh will always be joined hands and contributed by those who love and cherish traditional values.

Bao Phuoc

Source: https://www.baoquangbinh.vn/the-thao/202408/ngon-lua-vovinam-luon-chay-2220372/