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Historians of Vietnamese Martial Arts usually trace the roots to Vietnam's origin(first settlement on this territory arised at 2876 B.C.). A more realistic date seems to be about the X-XI centuries A.D. At this time a state was founded in the area of today's northern Vietnam. Its name changed -Nam Viet, Dai Co Viet, or simply Dai Viet ("Great Viet").
Great Viet State grew and got stronger during contiuous wars against mountain tribes, Khmers, Chams (their state, in the South of today'sVietnam, was finally conquerred at 1471), and China. There were a lot of wars between China and Vietnam. Sometimes the Vietnamese won, sometimes the Chinese conquerred Vietnam
Since the XI century there was an academy (or university)of martial arts in the capital, Thang Long city(today's Hanoi). This academy prepared master-teachers, who had a diploma of "doctor of military science". Every candidate had to pass 11 exams, then he studied for 3-5 years until passing the graduate exam. This time also is known for its variety of competitions, and for the creation of numerous treatises on marital arts. The most widely known treatise is "Linh Nam Vo Kinh" ("On Vietnamese Martial Art") written in the XVI century.
Many martial arts were created during XVI-XVIII centuries, when Vietnam was separated in several states. It was a good situation for the developing of martial arts. Many martial arts surfaced during the TAY SON Rebellion (1771-1788), the first serious attempt for unifying the country. The rebel's base was in BINH DINH Orovince which still is a place with many martial arts.
The threat of neighbouring Middle Empire constantly forced Vietnam to prepare its troops and, as a result of the problematic but always intimate relationship, numerous details of Chinese state structure, Chinese philosophy, and Chinese culture were adroped. For instance, Vietnam borrowed the Chinese system of state exams. Officials had to be able to use brush as well as sword. The curriculum of military eduacation included, in particular, hand-to -hand combat.
Of course, martial arts were taught in family schools and in buddhist temples as well. We don't know too much about people's styles of that time, but the tradition of martial dances is still alive. At that time all martial arts were known as VO THUAT (art of hand-to-hand combat) or VIET VO DAO (martial way of Viets).
The country was finally united at the beginning of XIX century. But during the period of 1858-1884 Vietnam was conquerred by France and became its colony. During the colonisation martial arts had to be kept underground and were transferred in family schools only, from father to son. Studying was kept secret, students sweared to never use their martial art without serious reason and to not divulge its secrets.
The revival of the tradition in Vietnamese martial arts is connected with Nguyen Loc (1912-1960). He was born in SON TAY (HA TAY Province, near Hanoi). In 1938, he founded the forst club of VO THUAT for all interested people (including foreigners!). He named his schoolVOVINAM VIET VO DAO (often referred to as "the best from Vietnamese martial arts")
In 1945, a first public demonstration of VOVINAM VIET VO DAO took place in Hanoi and subsequently VIET VO DAO clubs arided in all regions of northern and central Vietnam. After the death of NGUYEN LOC, his successor-LE SANG-organized a big meeting of masters in Saigon for fostering the plan of speading Vietnamese martial arts worldwide. I n1972, the EUROPEAN Viet Vo Dao Federation was established and in 1980 the corresponding World Federation followed (president: Phan Hoang).
Now 90% clubs of World Viet Vo Dao Federation practice VOVINAM. Others are THANH LONG (strong dragon), Han Bai (white crane), Tran Minh Long and Nguyen Trung Hoa (family schools).
