The teacher keeps the flame burning in the "steel forging furnace".

This is the story of a teacher at the Special Forces Officer School whose daily work involves honing dangerous fighting techniques, but the greatest lesson he wants to impart to his students is patience and humility.

"Steel" isn't forged naturally. The "iron will" of a special forces soldier is also not. It must be honed through thousands of hours of arduous training in a highly specialized "training ground." The philosophy of special forces martial arts is encapsulated in four words: "Simple, effective, quick takedown, swift elimination." In this philosophy, techniques aimed directly at vital pressure points, capable of incapacitating, paralyzing, or instantly killing the opponent, represent the life-or-death line.

But how do you teach young trainees to control those dangerous techniques, to teach them patience so they never abuse their strength, which could cause harm at any time? That's no longer just the story of a martial arts master, but the calling of an educator. A calling that Lieutenant Colonel, Master of Science Nguyen Van Duan, Head of the Martial Arts Department, Faculty of Martial Arts and Physical Education, Special Forces Officer School, is fulfilling every day.

"Fiery passion" on the training ground

We arrived at the Special Forces Officer School's training ground on a sunny November afternoon. The atmosphere was serious and tense, filled with sharp commands and powerful clashes. In the midst of the tense training area, I recognized Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Duan as his sharp gaze followed every movement of the trainees, and at times he even directly demonstrated a dangerous technique.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Duan at the training ground.

Born in 1983 in a coastal region of Thanh Hoa province rich in revolutionary traditions, he was instilled with a love for martial arts from a young age through the story of the exceptional talent of General Yet Kieu during the Tran Dynasty. The image of this heroic figure, skilled in martial arts, adept at swimming and diving, and capable of sinking enemy warships, motivated the young man to strive relentlessly. This determination grew stronger, and in 2003, at the age of 20, he fulfilled his dream of successfully passing the entrance exam to the Special Forces Officer School.

With over 20 years of service in the Army, serving in various units before becoming an instructor at the Special Forces Officer School, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Duan not only teaches technical movements but also inspires a unique fighting philosophy. “Special Forces martial arts differ from other martial arts in that the techniques used are all based on simplicity, effectiveness, and swift, decisive victories. This stems directly from the 16-word motto of the Special Forces: 'Exceptionally elite - Brilliantly brave - Resourceful and daring - Strike decisively and win big' and from the practical combat experience of our nation,” Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Duan stated, further explaining: “The targets of special forces combat are often equipped with modern weapons and are tall and strong. Our soldiers are smaller in stature, and their weapons may be more rudimentary. If we are not quick, decisive, and decisive, it is very difficult to complete the mission and return safely to base.”

 

 

Sergeant Nguyen Huy Dong, a trainee in the intermediate class of Battalion 1, Platoon 2, Company 3, shared: “If I had to use two words to describe Instructor Duan on the training ground, those two words would be 'fiery'. Because on the training ground, he is very enthusiastic, always inspiring the trainees, helping us to have more spirit to study and train.”

That "fiery spirit" is not only confined to the spiritual aspect but is also clearly demonstrated through action. Major Nguyen Huu Phuc, Lecturer in the Martial Arts and Physical Fitness Department, and a close comrade of Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Duan, said: "The martial arts training for Special Forces soldiers are close-combat techniques with many dangerous sparring, jumping, and somersaulting maneuvers. Lieutenant Colonel Duan was the one who invented those techniques. He also directly practiced and demonstrated the content before training the students."

And in order to train his students to master those dangerous techniques, the teacher had to be passionate and absolutely strict.

Contrasting images

The training session ended, and the tension dissipated. The passionate and enthusiastic instructor from earlier now presented a completely different image. "My first impression of Mr. Duẩn was that he was an extremely cheerful and sociable teacher," said student Nguyễn Huy Đông.

It can be said that while he is a strict instructor on the training ground, in everyday life, Lieutenant Colonel, Master of Science Nguyen Van Duan is like a father or older brother, close and caring towards his students. "He is very attentive to his work, not only during office hours but also outside of them. He always stays close to the trainees in the battalions to provide supplementary training in physical fitness, specialized skills, body exercises, acrobatics, and martial arts techniques," added Major Nguyen Huu Phuc.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Duan (wearing a K17 uniform) examines a trainee's wound.  

That closeness wasn't just empty words. During that training session, a young trainee was walking along the path with a pained expression on his face. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Duan immediately ran over, rolled down his sleeve, meticulously adjusted his arm, inquired about his condition, and checked his wound. It was a kind of care that would warm the hearts of anyone who witnessed it…

The biggest lesson is about patience.

Following Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Duan, I realized that his work wasn't simply about teaching martial arts, but more profoundly, about cultivating character. His greatest concern, and the most difficult one, wasn't teaching a dangerous technique. He shared: "Teaching soldiers how to control that dangerous technique is much harder. Because we live in peacetime, our main task is training for combat readiness, but if we don't know how to be patient and restrain ourselves while performing our duties, we can cause harm at any time, whether intentionally or unintentionally."

 

That flame has been spreading. Lieutenant Phan Thanh Long, a former student who studied under Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Duan and is currently the Deputy Platoon Leader of the Guard Team at the Special Forces Officer School, expressed: “The lessons my teacher taught me helped me develop courage, discipline, endurance, and especially self-control. This makes me more confident and alert when carrying out any assigned task.”

For a dedicated instructor, the greatest pride is not personal achievements but the results of their students. "What makes me proud is that generations of trainees, upon returning to their units, whether within or outside the Special Forces, develop and mature quickly, and achieve high results in all-army competitions and sports events," Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Duan confided.

When asked about the most important lesson he wanted his students to learn, he didn't mention martial arts but rather character: "Always be humble, always strive to cultivate and improve yourself continuously, and always uphold a sense of responsibility."

Leaving the elite Special Forces Officer School as the afternoon sun was setting, I carried with me the image of a teacher where "steel-like resolve" and "a passionate heart" were perfectly intertwined: "Steel" to forge deadly blows and "a passionate heart" to uphold the integrity of a soldier of Uncle Ho's army.

 

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/phong-su/nguoi-thay-giu-lua-lo-luyen-thep-1012905