Vovinam Viet Vo Dao carried out its roles with the following purposes:
To achieve the above purposes, Vovinam Viet Vo Dao follow five beliefs:
There are three essential objectives:
The most common explanation is that Cuong means hard and Nhu means soft. In martial arts teachings, the styles that favour Cuong often have strong and tough discipline, using external strength as its base, often very stern and direct in its dealing in life. The styles that favour Nhu often have yielding and adapt quickly to changes. In the observation of the bamboo of Vietnam, the hard, soft, durable and sharp elements equally interconnected to become one form. The bamboo is then said to be the truest essence of the Vietnamese people. Through that observation, after thorough research from many martial arts disciplines throughout the world and within national boundary, Late Founding Master Nguyen Loc utilised the principle of “Hard Soft Co-development” as the basic foundation and essence of Vovinam Viet Vo Dao. Hard-Soft Co-development is not simply a mix of both characteristics but an ever changing and adaptation in endless shapes and forms depending the environment and situation.
A salute is a way in which friendly people greet one another using a gesture. Each society has its own unique way of doing this. In the martial arts community, there are many ways for martial artists of various styles to greet and/or pay respect to each other and their instructors.
Vovinam’s salute : the right hand symbolises an individual’s strength or power and his/her ability to utilise that strength and power. By yielding such strength or power to the heart, the student recognises and reminds him/herself that he/she must always apply strength and power with loving intention, with humility and kindness. It is vitally important for Vovinam’s disciples of all ranks to always remember and apply the essence of
the Vovinam’s salute in his/her everyday life activity. By doing so, he/she will gain and develop friendships and respects from others, thus creating crucial and positive environment that fosters teamwork and success.
The Vovinam’s end of the belt will be on the left of the student and the Viet Vo Dao’s end will be on the right of the student. However, to the opposite viewer, Vovinam will be on the right and Viet Vo Dao on the left – exact order of historical development of these two terms.
Constant practice will ensure that the two ends of the belt will always be equal in length; thus, the student demonstrates a high degree of self-respect, pride in the uniform and pride in the martial arts discipline.
As a Vovinam Viet Vo Dao Disciple, I shall:
Translation of lyrics: Vovinam, a martial arts discipline created by Vietnamese people. Vovinam is a way of life that fosters the courage and indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people. Vovinam is where youth is tempered to be beneficial to society. Vovinam instills in the mind of youth: positive belief, compassion and noble cause…to enable one to enhance his/her nation and humanity. With the steel hand and compassion heart, a Vovinam disciple will fight for justice and heal the wounds of others; with the steel hand and compassionate heart, a Vovinam disciple will champion social progress and write a bright chapter of history…Vovinam, Vovinam – covering space passing time – Vovinam, Vovinam, Vovinam.
Vovinam, môn phái võ đạo sáng tạo do người Việt Nam.
Vovinam đây nguồn sống anh dũng, bất khuất của cháu con Lạc Hồng.
Vovinam nơi rèn đúc thanh niên thành người hữu ích hiên ngang.
Vovinam truyền vào tâm tư thanh niên: một niềm tin lên hương, một tình thương bao la, một hoài bão cao xa.
Quyết vì đất nước nêu cao gương hy sinh
Điểm tô non sông uy linh huy hoàng dưới ánh bình minh.
Với bàn tay thép, với trái tim từ ái
Người môn sinh Vovinam đấu tranh cho công bình bác ái
Xoa dịu vết thương đau cho mọi người.
Với bàn tay thép, với trái tim từ ái
Người môn sinh Vovinam phát huy tinh hoa đời sống mới
Tô đậm trang sử mới cho Việt Nam.
Vovinam, Vovinam…trùm không gian, vượt thời gian
Vovinam, Vovinam….Vovinam.
The interpretation of Emblem and Flag of Vovinam Viet Vo Dao is based on the Color and Shape.
Vovinam Viet Vo Dao has four rank colors: blue, yellow, red and white
Blue: Represents the color of hope, which means that the disciple begins to enter in the life of a martial artist and to perceive the philosophy of martial arts.
Yellow: Represents the color of earth, which means that the martial arts and its philosophy have permanently become a part of the Vovinam’s disciple.
Red: Represents the color of fire, which means that the martial arts and its philosophy develop into a torch that guides the path for the Vovinam’s disciple.
White: Represents the color of chastity, which means that the disciple’s martial arts and its philosophy has reached the absolute level and the disciple has also become the figure of the martial arts discipline of Vovinam.
Flag: width is 3/5 of length; there is a Yin-Yang circle in the middle. Between the Yin-Yang is the map of Vietnam representing the life of the two opposite elements. A white circle representing the way to harmonize the difference between the Yin and Yang to preserve the eternal life surrounds the Yin-Yang circle.
Emblem: the above ½ is the shape of the square, the below ½ is the shape of the circle, which represent the Truth-Perfection-Beauty. In the middle of the circle are the Yin-Yang circle, the map of Vietnam, and the circle of the way in corresponding to the flag.