Master NGUYEN LOC was born on May 24th, 1912 (04.08 of Nhâm year of the lunar calendar) in the Huu Bang village, district of Thach That, Province of Son Tây in the North of Vietnam.
From his earliest years, Master NGUYEN LOC never stopped studying and making research on the various martial arts. He also practised the traditional fight (Vât) as well as the Vietnamese philosophy. He developed the technical and philosophical foundations of the martial arts insisting on the real efficiency in practice.
In 1938, once he had severely tested his knowledge and after a long meditation, Master NGUYEN LOC began to codify and to structure the techniques. Then he recruited his disciples and created the VOVINAM movement. He brought to light the philosophical bases of the Martial Art to give its true vocation again to the Vietnamese martial art.
One year later, in autumn 1939, the Master presented officially the VOVINAM movement through a show at the Hà Nôi Great Opera. In spring 1940, he gave officially his first lesson at he Hà Nôi Normal School.
From then onwards, there has been a considerable and rapid extension of the VOVINAM Movement whose training aims at the development of "True Man". This result was obtained thanks to the very scientific methods of training applied to the chivalrous concepts of the martial arts that laid stress on the autonomy of Man.
On April 29th, 1960 (04.04 of Canh Ty year of the lunar calendar), before passing away in Saigon surrounded with his disciples, the Master expressed his last wishes and left his last will and testament. He also appointed Master LE SANG – Master Patriarch of the Vovinam Viet Vo Dao to be his successor.
In the image of the Vovinam Viet Vo Dao ideal, Master NGUYEN LOC’s life was simple, helpful and rich of meanings. His greatness lies in that simplicity and the nobleness of spirit of the VOVINAM. He perfectly knew how to transmit them forever to million practitioners.
