Vovinam: France defend their European title in Liège

The French vovinam viet vo dao team compete at the European Championships in Liège, Belgium, from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November. Run by the European federation (EVVF), the event brings together fighters and technical athletes from across the continent. France are defending the team title they won at the previous edition in 2024.

A new-look squad

The French karate federation, which oversees vovinam viet vo dao in France, has picked a largely renewed squad, with many young athletes making their international debut. Both children and adults are travelling. The federation has not published the names of the athletes.

Selection came in two stages. Athletes were first picked on their season results at home and abroad, then assessed at a training camp on 25 and 26 April, where each one performed their events before a first group session. Commitment, attitude and team spirit also counted.

Fighting, forms and weapons

The European Championships are not only about fighting. Many titles are decided in technical events: set forms (quyen), self-defence techniques against one or more attackers, and the traditional vovinam weapons such as the staff, the sabre and the fan. A panel of judges scores these events, as with kata in karate.

The team held two national camps over the summer to raise the level and harmonise technique between clubs. The referees selected for Liège received specific training there.

The staff

Maxime Chung represents the French team, Le Huu Nghia is technical coach and team manager, Simon Jacquet coaches the fighters and Alexandre Gouret advises on refereeing and strategy.

Vovinam viet vo dao is a Vietnamese martial art founded in 1938 by Nguyen Loc. It combines punches and kicks, throws, locks and leg scissors, its signature technique. It took root in France in the 1970s with the Vietnamese diaspora.