Vovinam Secret Training sessions
Folowing the prohibition to teach any martial art in the South Vietnam, almost all martial art centers closed their doors. It was the same for Vovinam. Master Le Sang went to a quiet region called Buon Me Thuot,
and Vovinam activities were almost dead... Almost... As one instructor decided to brave the prohibition of practise. One man decided not letting Vovinam die. This courageous man was Master Tran Huy Phong.
Master Phong trained in secret many people, and formed many instructors in the greatest secret, in order to give back Vovinam a breath. In the number of the instructors that were trained in that era, was Master Nguyen Van Vang (under his real name Nguyen Van Sang). He is the only master in active nowadays that was formed duing this time. (all the other Grand Masters in active today in Vietnam, began Vovinam after this period).
Then, the Chief of South Vietnam government, Ngo Dinh Diem, was assassinated in december 1963. So, in 1964, the ban against Martial Arts was removed and ALL martial arts styles in the South Vietnam could resume their activities. (Note that there were not such prohibition in the North Vietnam). |
