But after leaving the ring, he chose a quieter path, one of sowing the seeds of a movement, persistently cultivating physical fitness, character, and a chivalrous spirit in the younger generation of Vietnam.
For coach Nguyen Dinh Toan, 10 years of building and developing Taekwondo Kids Vietnam is not just a journey of teaching martial arts. It's a true journey of "nurturing people," where each child is trained to be healthy, disciplined, and willpower-driven, learning to overcome their own limitations to grow up healthy, confident, and positive in the digital age.
From global glory to a journey of quiet sowing.
On the evening of January 18th in Hanoi, the 10th anniversary celebration of the Vietnam Kids Taekwondo Center took place in a moving atmosphere. Amidst hundreds of parents, students, and representatives from sports management agencies, Coach Nguyen Dinh Toan, General Director of Vietnam Martial Arts Training and Development Company Limited and Founder of Taekwondo Kids, quietly reflected on a decade of persistent effort and overcoming difficulties.
Born in 1986, Nguyen Dinh Toan is one of Vietnam's most accomplished Taekwondo practitioners in the poomsae (forms) category, with titles at the Southeast Asian, Asian, and World championships.
Upon retiring from his peak competitive career, he chose not to rest or relax, but instead ventured into the field of grassroots training following a modern sports business model, where martial arts not only produces champions but also shapes individuals.
From its humble beginnings as a small class, Taekwondo Kids has grown into a system of 7 centers in Hanoi, Quang Ninh, and Ho Chi Minh City. Looking back on that journey, coach Nguyen Dinh Toan shared:
“The past 10 years have been a journey of dedication, childhood, and growth. Taekwondo Kids has never stopped at just teaching techniques; it’s also a place where children learn to live disciplined, compassionate, and strong lives.”
With the theme "Steadfastness and Reaching Further," coach Nguyen Dinh Toan affirmed the overarching philosophy that Taekwondo Kids pursues: using the movement as a foundation, and taking physical education and the spirit of chivalry as its core.
Not only does Taekwondo Kids contribute to expanding the Taekwondo movement in the community, but it also plays a crucial role in improving physical fitness, stature, and building a healthy and positive lifestyle for children – especially in the context where many young children are caught up in the digital world, lacking physical activity and social skills.
The center applies a "pyramid" training model, building a widespread foundation for children to access Taekwondo from an early age. Through persistent training for 3-4 years, talented martial artists will be selected and guided towards professional competition, gradually participating in national and international tournaments and becoming the next generation of Taekwondo talents for Hanoi as well as the national team.
The effectiveness of this model has been proven by concrete achievements. 2025 is considered a milestone year, with Taekwondo Kids winning many international medals, notably Vo Viet Anh (Southeast Asian Gold Medal, Asian Bronze Medal) and Nguyen Pham Thanh Nguyen (Southeast Asian Gold Medal). At the Tirak International Taekwondo Tournament (Thailand), the team excellently won 29 medals, including 21 gold medals.
However, for coach Nguyen Dinh Toan, achievement is not the ultimate goal. What makes him most proud is that many generations of martial arts students have grown up healthy, confident, disciplined, and compassionate – enduring values that martial arts brings.
Pioneering innovation, but never forgetting the core objective.
Taekwondo Kids Vietnam is also one of the pioneering organizations in applying digital transformation in martial arts training. Introducing AI, facial recognition technology, and intelligent management systems into the classroom helps parents monitor their children's training process in a transparent and scientific manner.
However, the biggest goal of applying technology is… to get children away from screens. “We want to create an environment that is engaging and disciplined enough for the children to find joy in real-world movement, in the sweat and smiles on the mat,” shared coach Nguyen Dinh Toan.
The spirit of "training in martial arts is training the will" is also spread through community and charitable activities such as the "Taekwondo Kids & Friends" program, where children learn to share and live responsibly towards society.
Concluding its first 10 years, Taekwondo Kids Vietnam embarks on a new journey with greater confidence and ambition. Strategic partnerships with centers in South Korea and Canada open the door to integration, aiming to train a generation of global citizens: physically healthy, mentally strong, and possessing strong character and integrity.
From a world champion to a pioneer, Nguyen Dinh Toan's journey is a vivid testament to the enduring value of sports: it not only creates medals, but also shapes people.
And with every step taken by today's generation of Taekwondo Kids, the aspiration to elevate Vietnamese Taekwondo is being continued through sweat, willpower, and a spirit of chivalry.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/thap-ki-trong-nguoi-and-khat-vong-nang-tam-taekwondo-viet-198331.html
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