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During my freshman year, an old friend invited me to join Vovinam. I had never heard of it before and didn’t know it was Vietnamese martial arts. Nonetheless, I agreed and her mom took us to a gas station. There, an SUV pulled up alongside us. My friend and I climbed in and settled among these kids in blue uniforms. I realized that I technically shouldn’t be getting into a car full of strangers but I knew these were nice people. What I didn’t know was that these Vovinam kids and their parents would show me what it means to be a hero.
We drove into a gravel driveway in front of a small house. This was the Vovinam dojo! Inside, the walls were knocked down to form one giant room lined with mirrors. In front of the room teaching were two boys who couldn’t have been older than me. I took my place and began to copy them. The warm up had everyone sweating since it was a typical smoldering summer in Houston and there was no air conditioning. I felt out of place as I tried to follow the other students, but as I punched and kicked I was already becoming a part of the Vovinam family.
Master Tai, Instructor Vinh and the other students showed me what the Vovinam family is all about. Master Tai started “Lac Long Vovinam” to serve the community. His family renovated the house. They run the school three evenings a week. Tuition is $40/month/student. That’s roughly $1/hour but they only seek enough to keep the facility running. When there is a belt test or holiday, funds go towards a party. We even do camping, beach trips and picnics. Master Tai and Instructor Vinh manage this in addition to their jobs. Instructor Vinh wakes up at 4 A.M. each day and every week you can find him teaching until 9 P.M. In Master Tai’s free time, he’s been waking up at 5 A.M. to oversee the construction of a new Vovinam building!
When they teach class, they emphasize hard work in Vovinam and in life. It’s always important to strive for improvement in every area. Before long, the other students and I were given chances to teach class so that we could learn leadership and confidence. Education in particular is stressed. Once, we held a science enrichment camp. Each summer, I have study groups with Vovinam students as well. Instructor Vinh even convinced us to start Vietnamese school. When we go, we cram into his SUV just like always.
Now that I am a senior in high school, I’ve learned more than how to fight. Discipline, perseverance and compassion are the true skills of the Vovinam martial artist. Master Tai and Instructor Vinh are real heroes, doing honest work to take care of their families, giving back to their community and leading by example with only the wish that their deeds are paid forward. I’m inspired by them to be similarly heroic.
We drove into a gravel driveway in front of a small house. This was the Vovinam dojo! Inside, the walls were knocked down to form one giant room lined with mirrors. In front of the room teaching were two boys who couldn’t have been older than me. I took my place and began to copy them. The warm up had everyone sweating since it was a typical smoldering summer in Houston and there was no air conditioning. I felt out of place as I tried to follow the other students, but as I punched and kicked I was already becoming a part of the Vovinam family.
Master Tai, Instructor Vinh and the other students showed me what the Vovinam family is all about. Master Tai started “Lac Long Vovinam” to serve the community. His family renovated the house. They run the school three evenings a week. Tuition is $40/month/student. That’s roughly $1/hour but they only seek enough to keep the facility running. When there is a belt test or holiday, funds go towards a party. We even do camping, beach trips and picnics. Master Tai and Instructor Vinh manage this in addition to their jobs. Instructor Vinh wakes up at 4 A.M. each day and every week you can find him teaching until 9 P.M. In Master Tai’s free time, he’s been waking up at 5 A.M. to oversee the construction of a new Vovinam building!
When they teach class, they emphasize hard work in Vovinam and in life. It’s always important to strive for improvement in every area. Before long, the other students and I were given chances to teach class so that we could learn leadership and confidence. Education in particular is stressed. Once, we held a science enrichment camp. Each summer, I have study groups with Vovinam students as well. Instructor Vinh even convinced us to start Vietnamese school. When we go, we cram into his SUV just like always.
Now that I am a senior in high school, I’ve learned more than how to fight. Discipline, perseverance and compassion are the true skills of the Vovinam martial artist. Master Tai and Instructor Vinh are real heroes, doing honest work to take care of their families, giving back to their community and leading by example with only the wish that their deeds are paid forward. I’m inspired by them to be similarly heroic.
