Vovinam Viet Vo Dao Canada
Founder Nguyễn Lộc
Born:
April 8th, 1912 – Thạch Thất District, Sơn Tây Province (now Hà Nội), Vietnam
Date of Passing
April 4th, 1960 in Saigon
Legacy:
Remembered as the visionary founder who created Vovinam as a martial art to strengthen body, mind, and national spirit during a time of colonial hardship
Brief History
Vovinam Việt Võ Đạo was founded by Grandmaster Nguyễn Lộc (1912–1960), who completed his research and systemization of the art in 1938. Born in Thạch Thất District, Sơn Tây Province (now Hà Nội), Nguyễn Lộc grew up during the French colonial period in Vietnam. As a young man, he was deeply concerned by the growing influence of Western games and activities introduced by the French, which he believed weakened the spirit, patriotism, and combat readiness of Vietnamese youth.
From an early age, Nguyễn Lộc devoted himself to martial arts, cultivating discipline, resilience, and insight. Drawing upon traditional Vietnamese martial arts and incorporating elements from global practices, he developed Vovinam as a way to restore national pride, resilience, and inner strength. His guiding philosophy was rooted in the principle of “Cương Nhu Phối Triển” (“the harmony of hard and soft”), emphasizing balance—strength tempered by flexibility, and gentleness reinforced by determination.
The art was first introduced to the public in the fall of 1939, when the first demonstration of Vovinam took place at the Grand Auditorium of Hanoi. This was followed in the spring of 1940 by the first official training class at the Faculty of Education (École Normale) on Cửa Bắc Street, Hanoi. Alongside technical training, Grandmaster Nguyễn Lộc advanced the doctrine of the “Mind-Body Revolution,” encouraging practitioners to live with integrity, pursue self-mastery, and contribute positively to their communities and country. For him, martial arts were never about aggression, but about building character, resilience, and service to others.
When Grandmaster Nguyễn Lộc passed away in 1960, leadership of Vovinam was entrusted to his disciple, Master Lê Sáng (1920–2010). Master Lê Sáng carried forward his teacher’s vision, refining training programs, safeguarding the philosophy of Vovinam, and overseeing its expansion throughout Vietnam and abroad. His leadership was instrumental in transforming Vovinam into an enduring martial art with a global presence.
Over the decades, Vovinam expanded beyond Vietnam’s borders, gradually becoming known worldwide as Vovinam – Việt Võ Đạo. The shortened name “Vovinam” made the art more accessible to international practitioners, helping it spread across continents. Today, thousands of people train in Vovinam around the world, carrying forward its techniques, values, and cultural heritage.
Vovinam in Canada
In Canada, Vovinam has flourished since the late 1990s, with family-run schools in Calgary and Montreal that have been active for over 25 years. These dojos continue to pass on both the martial techniques and the cultural traditions of Vietnam, inspiring new generations to embrace discipline, resilience, and pride in heritage.
History of Vovinam Canada
Vovinam officially arrived in Canada in the 1990s. The first Vovinam Training Centre was established in Vancouver in 1996, followed by Vovinam Hoa Lư (1999–2008). The Calgary Vovinam Training Centre was founded in March 1999, growing into a hub for training and examinations—over its first 12 years, it held 18 examinations, with 14 students advancing to intermediate ranks, some of whom went on to teach as instructors.
Toronto’s Vovinam centre was formally established in late 1996, later expanding into two training centers in Oakdale and Mississauga. In Montreal, the IHTUS club was founded in 2000 and remains active, joined in 2011 by the Blue Phoenix club.
In February 2001, the Canadian Federation of Vovinam – Việt Võ Đạo was established in Vancouver, uniting training centers in Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto, with Montreal joining later. The Federation is a proud member of the Vovinam Việt Võ Đạo World Federation, headquartered in Paris, France.
Over the past two decades, Canadian Vovinam schools have organized national examinations, technical seminars, and joint training events to strengthen community ties and advance the level of practice. Key milestones include the first national technical seminar in Toronto (2012), a national intermediate examination in Calgary (2013), and the annual technical seminar in Montreal (2014).
Today, Vovinam schools in Calgary and Montreal remain family-run and community-oriented, fostering cultural pride while welcoming students of all backgrounds. For more than 25 years, they have carried on the mission of sharing Vovinam as both a martial art and a cultural legacy, inspiring new generations in Canada and connecting them to a worldwide community.
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Timeline
1912 – The Beginning
1938 – Research Completed
1939 – First Demonstration
1940 – First Training Class
1960 – Legacy Continues
1960s–1970s – Expansion Under Master Lê Sáng
1996 – Vovinam Arrives in Canada
1999 – Calgary Dojo Founded
2000 – Montreal Expansion
2001 – National Federation
2012 – First National Seminar
2012 – First National Seminar
2014–Today – Growing Community
Founder Grandmaster Nguyễn Lộc is born in Thạch Thất District, Sơn Tây Province (now Hà Nội).
Nguyễn Lộc finalizes his research and systemization of Vovinam.
Vovinam is publicly introduced at the Grand Auditorium of Hanoi in the fall.
The first official Vovinam class takes place at the Faculty of Education (École Normale) on Cửa Bắc Street, Hanoi.
Grandmaster Nguyễn Lộc passes away. Leadership of Vovinam is entrusted to his disciple, Master Lê Sáng (1920–2010).
Master Lê Sáng formalizes training programs, preserves the philosophy of Vovinam, and oversees its spread throughout Vietnam and abroad, laying the foundation for its global growth.
The first Canadian Vovinam Training Centre opens in Vancouver.
The Calgary Vovinam Training Centre opens, growing into a hub for training and examinations.
The IHTUS Vovinam club is established in Montreal.
The Canadian Federation of Vovinam – Việt Võ Đạo is created in Vancouver, uniting Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto; Montreal joins later.
Canadian Federation held its first technical training seminar at Vovinam Toronto, with members of each of the Vovinam training centers affiliated with the Federation participating.
Calgary hosts the first Canadian national intermediate examinations.
Annual seminars, examinations, and events strengthen ties between Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, and the global Vovinam family. Family-run schools in Calgary and Montreal continue to pass on Vietnamese martial traditions to future generations.