Positive signs from the Vovinam World Championship

Increase both quality and quantity

Mr. Nguyen Binh Dinh, Secretary General of the Vietnam Vovinam Federation and Deputy Secretary General of the World Vovinam Federation, said that a positive sign at this year's World Vovinam Championship is the breakthrough in the number of participants, with delegations from countries like Japan, Taiwan, Algeria, China, and Thailand having larger contingents than in previous years. "Besides countries and territories with long-standing Vovinam traditions, the growth of newly established delegations is a positive sign for Vovinam – Vietnamese martial arts. Another noteworthy point is that after four days of competition, experts have assessed that the level of international athletes has clearly improved. Teams like Algeria and Cambodia have showcased their strengths in the forms category, while Russia and Iran have an advantage in the sparring category. Other teams such as France, Germany, Italy, and the Philippines are seen as a promising new force for the future," Mr. Dinh said.

Tín hiệu vui từ giải vovinam vô địch thế giới - Ảnh 1. — The French men's vovinam team competes in the attacking leg techniques category.

The Thai vovinam team, host of the 33rd SEA Games in 2025, and the Laotian vovinam team have also shown significant progress after receiving support from experts of the Vietnam Vovinam Federation and the world. If the current level of investment is maintained, Thailand will have a strong force to prepare for the 33rd SEA Games on home soil, as vovinam is likely to continue to be included in the competition program. Besides competing, vovinam athletes from other countries are also taking advantage of their valuable time in Ho Chi Minh City to train and interact with Vietnamese athletes to learn the essence of Vietnamese martial arts.

Continuously promote Vovinam.

One notable feedback from the delegations participating in this year's World Vovinam Championship was the desire for the World Vovinam Federation to send experts to guide them on the latest changes in vovinam competition rules, as well as to update them on both kata and sparring techniques so that international delegations can quickly adapt. "The recent World Vovinam Federation Congress in Ho Chi Minh City unanimously approved the adjustment of activities and regulations according to Olympic standards to integrate vovinam into major arenas such as the ASIAD and the Olympics. There is a great need for experts to guide and disseminate these changes, as well as to improve the skill level of vovinam teams in various countries, but we still face certain difficulties that need to be overcome to implement this. The ultimate wish of vovinam practitioners everywhere is to soon have a vovinam academy in Vietnam to train both domestic and international athletes," said Mr. Nguyen Binh Dinh.

To increase the chances of athletes from various countries competing in the 2023 Vovinam World Championship, the organizing committee has stipulated that each team can register for a maximum of 10 out of the 18 sparring events. "Each Vietnamese Vovinam athlete, in addition to competing fairly for titles, also carries the role of an ambassador promoting and spreading the love of Vovinam to international friends. Generations of martial arts masters and coaches in over 70 countries around the world have tirelessly strived for over 85 years to bring Vovinam to millions of practitioners. These efforts aim to develop the martial art, contributing to spreading the best cultural values of Vietnam, which are also the best values of humanity, to more people across the five continents," said Mr. Mai Huu Tin, President of the Vietnam Vovinam Federation.

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