Ten Philosophies of Vovinam Viet Vo Dao

As a Viet Vo Dao disciple, I shall:

1. Strive to reach the highest level of martial arts in order to serve my people and humanity.
2. Remain steadfast in developing the school and building a new generation of Viet Vo Dao youth.
3. Stand in unity, respect my seniors and love my fellow disciples.
4. Absolutely respect discipline and uphold the honour of a martial artist.
5. Respect other martial art schools, and use my skills only for self-defence and to defend justice.
6. Study diligently, train my mind and cultivate moral character.
7. Live a pure, simple, honest and noble life.
8. Forge a firm, steely will to overcome tyranny and violence.
9. Be clear-sighted in judgement, steadfast in struggle and resourceful in action.
10. Be self-confident, self-disciplined, humble and generous, and constantly examine myself in order to improve.

Basic knowledge of Vovinam Viet Vo Dao

VOVINAM is the internationalised term for Vietnamese martial arts and martial way. Vovinam Viet Vo Dao consists of two parts:

1. VOVINAM – Vietnamese Martial Arts (Vo Thuat Viet Nam)

2. Viet Vo Dao – Vietnamese Martial Way (Vo Dao Viet Nam)

VOVINAM is the root and origin, while Viet Vo Dao is the fruit that has grown from VOVINAM over several decades of development. You may call it Vovinam or Viet Vo Dao, but the fullest and most accurate name is "VOVINAM Viet Vo Dao".

Meaning of placing the right hand on the heart

When performing the formal salute, a Viet Vo Dao disciple places the right hand on the heart. This signifies the steel hand placed on the compassionate heart: courage must go together with benevolence; martial techniques must be united with the martial Way.

A Viet Vo Dao disciple may use martial skills only to warn and help transform people, not to punish or take revenge.

Meaning of the Vovinam flag

The Vovinam flag has a width equal to three-fifths of its length. It bears a Yin-Yang circle in the centre, with the map of Viet Nam inside the Yin-Yang symbol and a white circle surrounding it.

The symbolism of the flag:

• The Yin-Yang symbol represents life arising from two opposing elements.
• The map of Viet Nam represents the Vietnamese origin of the discipline.
• The white circle represents the path that harmonises differences between Yin and Yang, maintaining eternal life around the Yin-Yang circle.
• Instructions from Grandmaster Lê Sáng

Meaning of the Vovinam emblem

The emblem has a square upper half and a round lower half, symbolising squareness and roundness – completeness – directed toward Truth, Goodness and Beauty (Chan – Thien – My). In the centre are the Yin-Yang circle, the map of Viet Nam and the Dao-form circle, which carries the same meaning as the flag design.

The shapes and colours of the Vovinam flag and emblem represent the ideal of Viet Vo Dao and the path and goal of the school and its disciples over more than 85 years. These meanings form the official explanation of the origin and orthodox direction of the school for all Vovinam students.

Colours of Vovinam

The Vovinam-Viet Vo Dao school chose four main colours – blue, yellow, red and white – to represent the meaning of the flag and emblem:

• Blue: symbolises the colour of hope, representing the disciple who is beginning the life of a martial artist and beginning to feel the philosophy of martial arts.
• Yellow: symbolises the colour of earth, representing martial arts and its philosophy becoming a permanent part of the Vovinam disciple.
• Red: symbolises the colour of fire, representing martial arts and its philosophy developing into a torch that lights the way for Vovinam students.
• White: symbolises the colour of purity, representing martial arts and its philosophy reaching an absolute level, when the disciple becomes a living symbol of Vovinam.

The four belt colours and their meanings

The four basic belt colours of Vovinam and their meanings are:

• Blue belt: symbolises hope – the student is nurturing the hope to go deeply into martial arts and to cultivate the spirit of the martial Way.
• Yellow belt: symbolises the colour of skin and earth – martial arts and martial ethics have begun to penetrate into the body.
• Red belt: symbolises the colour of blood – martial arts and martial ethics have soaked into the blood, circulating throughout the body.
• White belt: symbolises the colour of bone – martial arts and martial ethics have penetrated into the bone and marrow, transforming into the disciple's very being and representing the essence of the school.

At Vovinam Hung Vuong, students are encouraged to keep their uniform and belt clean as a sign of respect for their teachers, training partners and the traditions of Viet Vo Dao.

Vovinam's concepts of using martial arts

The spirit of Vovinam Viet Vo Dao consists of three levels of living:

• Live for oneself.
• Let others live.
• Must live for others.

Vovinam's ideas about how martial arts may (and may not) be used include:

• Do not enter the ring merely to fight for victory or show off.
• Do not start fights or challenge others just to test skills – only defend yourself when necessary.
• Cherish and uphold justice.

Viet Vo Dao disciples are not encouraged to fight in the ring, because VOVINAM is a school of martial arts and martial Way with clear principles and direction. Its purpose is to help improve society and build complete human beings, rather than merely to compete as a sport.

When may a Viet Vo Dao disciple use martial arts?

A Viet Vo Dao disciple is allowed to use martial arts only in serious situations, such as:

• When honour is seriously offended or one's right to live and personal safety are threatened.
• In order to uphold fairness and integrity, resist injustice and protect the weak.

Three rules of discipline in the Vovinam dojo

Every Viet Vo Dao disciple must remember these three basic rules of dojo discipline:

• Attend classes regularly and on time. If you are late, you must explain the reason to the Master or Instructor in charge. If you need to be absent, you must ask for permission.
• During training, practise diligently, be friendly and help your classmates.
• Show proper respect to seniors. When meeting a Master or Instructor, salute them using the formal Vovinam salute. When arriving at the dojo and before leaving, salute the portrait of the late Founding Master of the school.