Viet Vo Dao

Viet Vo Dao (Vietnamese: “the way of Vietnamese martial arts”) is the collective term for Vietnam’s indigenous martial arts traditions—a rich and diverse combat heritage developed over thousands of years of Vietnamese history, shaped by the country’s geography, warrior culture, and ongoing contact (and conflict) with Chinese, Cham, Khmer, and French influences. Vietnam’s martial arts tradition encompasses dozens of regional styles and family systems, with the most internationally prominent being Vovinam (Viet Vo Dao’s most systematized modern form) and Vo Co Truyen (traditional Vietnamese martial arts). Vietnamese martial arts are characterized by powerful low kicks, sweeping leg techniques, weapon versatility, and the practical fighting instincts of a warrior people who successfully resisted Chinese, Mongol, French, and American military domination across two millennia.

Two Thousand Years of Vietnamese Warrior Culture

Vietnam's martial arts tradition is inseparable from its history as a nation that has repeatedly defended its independence against larger neighbours and colonial powers. The Trung Sisters (40-43 AD), who led a successful uprising against Chinese Han Dynasty occupation, are among the earliest historical figures associated with Vietnamese martial arts leadership. The martial arts of Vietnam developed in this context - practical systems for fighters who needed to hold their own against better-equipped or numerically superior opponents.

Vo Co Truyen (traditional Vietnamese martial arts) encompasses the classical regional styles that developed across northern, central and southern Vietnam, each influenced by local geography and cultural contacts. Northern styles show more Chinese influence from centuries of proximity; central and southern styles often reflect indigenous Cham and Khmer contacts. Each style has its own weapons curriculum, forms tradition and fighting character.

Vovinam - The Modern Face of Viet Vo Dao

Vovinam (Viet Vo Dao) was founded by Nguyen Loc in Hanoi in 1938 as a modernised, systematised form of Vietnamese martial arts suitable for national physical education. Nguyen Loc synthesised Vietnamese traditional techniques with influences from Judo and other modern martial arts, creating a comprehensive curriculum of strikes, throws, joint locks, weapons and scissor leg throws (don chan - Vietnamese scissors techniques that became the art's signature). Vovinam spread internationally through the Vietnamese diaspora following the Vietnam War, with significant communities in France, the United States and across Southeast Asia.

Training in Viet Vo Dao

Vovinam training follows a structured belt curriculum covering: Co Ban (basics - stances, strikes, kicks, falls), Quyen (forms - empty hand and weapons), Don Luyen (partner drilling), Tu Ve (self-defence applications) and Thi Dau (competition sparring). The scissor leg throw (don chan) - where the practitioner dives low to catch an opponent's legs with their own legs in a scissoring motion - is a signature Vovinam technique that requires considerable practice and athleticism to execute.

Traditional Vo Co Truyen training is more variable by school and master, typically beginning with stances and basic strikes before moving to the school's specific form curriculum and weapons training. The rattan staff, swords and various traditional Vietnamese weapons are integral to the traditional curriculum.

Viet Vo Dao Gear Guide

Vovinam uniform: Blue uniform with yellow trim - distinctive colours that reflect the Vietnamese national flag palette and distinguish Vovinam from other Asian martial arts uniforms.

Sparring gear: Head guard, gloves, chest protector, shin guards and foot protectors for competition sparring. Vovinam competition includes both forms (quyen) and sparring (doi khang) categories.

Training weapons: Rattan staff (con), sword (kiem), broadsword (dao), spear (thang), and various traditional Vietnamese weapons introduced progressively through the curriculum.