Vovinam
Việt Võ Đạo
Vovinam — Việt Võ Đạo (Vietnamese Martial Way) — is a Vietnamese martial art known for its spectacular scissor kicks — đòn chân (leg techniques) — and throws where the practitioner leaps onto the opponent. It combines hand strikes — đấm (punches), kicks — đá (kicks), grappling — vật (wrestling), and weapons.
AI-generated content — may contain inaccuracies
Vovinam develops full-body athleticism with some of the most spectacular techniques in martial arts. Its đòn chân kéo (scissors kick) takedowns and flying techniques are unique to this art.
At a Glance
Who It's For
What You'll Learn
Spectacular đòn chân kéo (scissor kick) and flying takedowns
Striking combinations — đấm (punches) and đá (kicks)
Throwing — vật — and grappling techniques
Traditional Vietnamese weapons — kiếm (sword), đao (broadsword), quạt (fan)
Self-defense — tự vệ — against armed and unarmed attacks
Quyền (forms) for solo practice — thảo pháp (technique sequences)
Your First Class
Wear a Vovinam uniform (blue) or athletic clothing. Expect basic kicks, punches, and falling practice. You may see advanced students performing scissor techniques. Classes run 60-90 minutes.
Watch & Learn
Legends of Vovinam
Bruce Lee (李小龍)
Bruce Lee was a martial artist, actor, and philosopher who is widely considered the most influential martial artist of all time. He bridged Eastern and Western martial arts, founding Jeet Kune Do — a hybrid philosophy that rejected rigid style boundaries in favor of practical, adaptable combat.
Nguyen Loc
Le Sang
Tran Huy Phong
Related Styles
Taekwondo
Taekwondo (태권도) is a Korean martial art known for its fast, high, and spinning kicks. It is one of only two martial arts in the Olympic Games and is practiced by over 80 million people worldwide.
Judo
Judo (柔道, "the gentle way") was founded by Jigoro Kano in 1882. It is a throwing-dominant grappling art with groundwork — newaza (寝技). It has been an Olympic sport since 1964 and is practiced by millions worldwide.
Kung Fu
Kung Fu — gongfu (功夫) — is a broad term for Chinese martial arts, or wushu (武術), encompassing hundreds of styles. Training typically includes forms — taolu (套路) — conditioning, and combat applications with an emphasis on philosophy and tradition.
Pencak Silat
Pencak Silat is the umbrella term for Indonesian martial arts encompassing hundreds of styles. Pencak (artistic performance) and silat (combat application) together feature flowing strikes, devastating sapuan (sweeps), and intricate kuncian (joint locks), often incorporating spiritual and cultural elements.
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