Vovinam becomes a cultural bridge for Vietnamese community in Paris
WVR - In the capital city of Paris (France), a Vovinam club with regular training sessions held several days a week has become a gathering place for martial arts and Vietnamese culture enthusiasts.
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Beyond teaching martial arts techniques and sparring, the club plays a role in preserving national identity, connecting the Vietnamese community, and promoting the image of Vietnam and its people to international friends.
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| Ms Thuy Tien (third from the right) with her father (third from the left) and representatives from the Vietnamese Cultural Centre in France, awarding high-achieving students. |
The club currently has about 40-50 students, ranging from children as young as 7 to martial artists over 70. Classes are held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, with extended sessions on weekends for both children and adults. The teaching is directly managed by Ms Thuy Tien and her father, with support from 2-6 assistant instructors depending on the session.
The head of the club is Ms Thuy Tien, who has been involved with Vovinam for many years and has achieved numerous accolades in international competitions. Alongside her father, she not only maintains the training activities but also persistently promotes traditional Vietnamese martial arts to both the Vietnamese community and local residents.
Ms Thuy Tien shared that the club currently maintains around 40-50 students and organizes four classes for adults, children, as well as joint classes for both groups. According to her, allowing children to train alongside adults helps them gain confidence, develop resilience, and grow in a diverse age environment.
Beyond teaching techniques, the club integrates various aspects of Vietnamese culture into its curriculum. Students are introduced to basic Vietnamese vocabulary, learn about the history of Vovinam, and explore unique features of Vietnamese culture and cuisine.
According to Ms Thuy Tien, in recent years, more people have been drawn to Vovinam not only for their love of martial arts but also for their desire to explore Vietnamese culture.
The club's appeal is evident in the dedication of many students. Student Lysandra shared that she discovered Vovinam through her sister's introduction and quickly developed a passion for the martial art.
Lysandra noted that the most captivating aspects are the competitive spirit and challenges at tournaments, alongside the friendly and united atmosphere among members, which motivated her to remain committed to the club.
In addition to training, Thuy Tien is a familiar face at international competitions. She has participated three times in the World Vovinam Championships, winning a Bronze Medal in sparring at the 2009 tournament in Vietnam; a Bronze Medal in the Double Sword Form at the 6th World Championship in Cambodia in 2019; and two Bronze Medals in the Double Sword and Team Dual Sword Techniques at the 7th World Championship in 2023 in Vietnam.
In the European arena, she has also achieved high accolades. At the 5th European Vovinam Championship in Milan (Italy) in 2018, she won a Silver Medal in the Double Sword Form and a Bronze Medal in the Double Sword Techniques. At the 6th European Vovinam Championship in 2020, she continued to secure a Bronze Medal in the Double Sword Techniques.
Under Thuy Tien's guidance, many young martial artists from the club have also made their mark at the European Youth Vovinam Championships.
In 2017 in Romania, a club athlete won two Gold Medals in the Entry Form and Cross Form, and was awarded the Best Athlete of the Tournament Cup. In 2019 in Frankfurt (Germany), a team of six athletes won a Silver Medal in the Sword Form.
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| Sparring is a mandatory test in the club's belt promotion exams. |
By 2023 in Tenerife (Spain), the club's martial artists continued to win a Gold Medal in the Entry Form, a Silver Medal in the Cross Form, a Gold Medal in sparring, along with the Best Athlete of the Tournament Cup.
With regular training sessions, a dedicated coaching team, and numerous outstanding achievements on the international stage, the Vovinam club established by Chi Thuy Tien and her father has become a familiar destination for the Vietnamese community in France.
Beyond training martial artists, the club contributes to spreading the spirit of martial arts and Vietnamese cultural values, making Vovinam a bridge that brings the image of Vietnam and its people closer to international friends.
