Once addicted to games, he dropped out of school and became a teacher who won a gold medal at the World Vovinam Championship, inspiring his students.

Vovinam - Ảnh 1. — Teacher Nguyen Tu Cuong guides 300 students in a Vovinam martial arts performance at Binh Chanh Sports Gifted High School - Photo: NGOC KHAI

On the morning of November 13, at Binh Chanh Sports Gifted High School, teacher Nguyen Tu Cuong and other teachers guided 300 students in a Vovinam martial arts performance. Many students were excited and enjoyed the movements.

"Mr. Cuong's instructions are very easy to understand, so we can easily absorb them in practice. He recently won a gold medal at the World Vovinam Championship, so I told myself I would try harder in practice," Dang Thanh Phat shared.

Once addicted to games, he dropped out of school and fell in love with Vovinam.

Sharing with Tuoi Tre Online, Mr. Cuong recalled the time when he dropped out of school in 6th grade because he was addicted to games. "At that time, my family and teachers were very disappointed. My mother did not scold me, she just gently said a sentence that I still remember: "Your parents worked hard so that you could go to school. Our family is not rich, only education can help you." That sentence woke me up, helping me realize that if I did not try hard, I would never have a chance to rise up," Mr. Cuong confided.

From then on, the 6th grader was determined to study hard so as not to disappoint his parents. In the summer of 6th grade, he accidentally fell in love with Vovinam. At first, he only saw martial arts as a way to improve his health, but the more he studied, the more he felt the depth of this martial art - where the mind, body, and spirit are trained.

"I realized the spirit of discipline, ethics and strong will that Vovinam brings. Thanks to the encouragement of my teachers, I love and am more attached to it," he shared.

Vovinam - Ảnh 2. — Teacher Nguyen Tu Cuong instructs a student to perform Vovinam movements - Photo: NGOC KHAI

The period of studying at Nguyen Thi Dinh High School for the Gifted in Sports was an important milestone that helped Mr. Cuong choose the teaching profession.

"I am grateful to this environment for giving me a solid cultural foundation, along with training in discipline and sportsmanship. I chose to become a teacher to pay tribute to Vovinam, with the desire to guide students, especially gifted students like me in the past, to study better, practice more effectively and contribute to the country," he confided.

Hope to inspire students

Master Cuong shared that the 8th World Vovinam Championship in 2025 took place in Bali, Indonesia, gathering athletes from 26 countries. Thanks to the training process and encouragement from the coaching staff, he successfully completed the assigned task.

Before winning the gold medal at the 2025 World Vovinam Championship, he won gold medals at national championships for many consecutive years, the National Sports Congress in 2022; gold medal at the 2023 World Vovinam Championship; silver medal at the 32nd SEA Games in 2023; silver medal at the 2023 Southeast Asian Vovinam Championship; gold medal at the 2024 Asian Vovinam Championship.

In 2024, athlete Nguyen Tu Cuong of the national Vovinam team received a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister .

Regarding the achievements, Mr. Cuong sent his deep thanks to the teachers who supported and created conditions for training and competition during the past time, as well as the leaders of Binh Loi commune, the school's Board of Directors, teachers and students who cared and congratulated him.

"I hope my achievements will become a source of motivation and inspiration for students, especially gifted students of the school, to try harder on the path of training, achieve high results and contribute to the Fatherland," he expressed.