The event took place from July 6 to 8, attracting the participation of more than 200 martial artists and students from 10 countries around the world such as France, Germany, Algeria, Portugal...
The journey to the origin
The event opened with a sacred ritual at Vovinam Road Group, where the portraits of ancestors such as the Sang of Nguyen Loc, Khuc mon Le Sang, and Vu su Tran Huy Phong were placed.
In a solemn atmosphere, each international martial artist bowed his head in turn - a touching image, proving that Vovinam is no longer a martial art of the Vietnamese people, but a part of the spiritual life of thousands of people around the world.
Martial artist Vo Danh Hai - Vice President of the World Martial Arts Association (WoMAU) shared: "Wrestling is not only a technique, but a memory, a cultural core that has been carefully cared for by many generations. When international martial artists shed tears in front of the Road Team, I understood that: The teachings of the ancestors are gradually becoming a reality, bringing Vietnamese martial arts to spread throughout the five continents.
From France, Germany, Algeria to Portugal, international students come to Vietnam not simply to learn martial arts, but also to live, to feel, to "touch" the roots where Vietnamese martial arts originated - a journey in which martial arts is not separated from religion, and religion is always associated with national culture.
The strong vitality of Vovinam
Three days is not long, but it is a moment of being away from a journey of more than half a century spreading martial arts to the world. Since the 2000s, when Vovinam had not been included in the SEA Games competition system, until now, when this sport has been present in more than 60 countries and territories - it is a process of persistent efforts of many generations of martial artists, coaches and those who love Vovinam.
Within the framework of the special training course, students not only practice in-depth parallel training, kick-offs, and self-defense combat, but also participate in theoretical - medical topics, such as martial arts injury treatment methods.
Martial artist Tran Nguyen Dao - Chairman of the World Martial Arts Council said: "The theme of "Returning to the origin" is not only to find the place of the origin of the profession, but to understand more deeply about the people, culture, and society of Vietnam, which has produced a martial arts philosophy that is not only humane, but also global".
When martial arts is associated with tourism culture, education
This year's training course also marks an important turning point, connecting traditional martial arts with promoting national culture and tourism.
Within the framework of the trip, the international delegation had a working session with the Department of Physical Education and Sports and the General Administration of Tourism of Vietnam, opening the orientation to turn Vovinam into an educational, sports and cultural bridge between Vietnam and the world.
Master Nguyen Van Hiep - Director of the Vietnam Institute of martial arts Training Science emphasized: "We have gone a long way to return to the starting point, with a heart, with the kindness of martial arts learners. And now is the time to open a new era: Vovinam as a cultural product with human values.
Martial artist Pham Quang Long, representative of the host country, shared at the end of the event: Training courses like this are not only professional training, but a place for physical, mental and cultural intersection. I believe that each student today is a "seed" bringing the Vietnamese spirit to the world".
Most notably, as shared by international martial artists, Vovinam is not commercialized, not framed in a slogan, but is developing as a living value, a cultural symbol that is respected and protected by the international community.
