Vovinam Lộc (1912 – 1960) in 1938, with the intent of providing practitioners with an efficient method of self-defense after a short period of study. Nguyễn believed martial arts would contribute to freeing Vietnam, which had been ruled by France since 1859, from outside domination. Vovinam, which Nguyễn synthesized from Chinese styles of kung fu, his own knowledge of traditional Vietnamese martial arts, and elements of Japanese and Korean systems, was thus created partially as a response to the French occupation, meant to promote a sense of national identity for the Vietnamese people. Vovinam thus has anticolonial origins. After being invited
Lê Sáng Lê Sáng Lê Sáng (1920 – September 27, 2010) was the Chairman of the Vovinam Vietnamese Martial Arts World Federation, a position he held from 1960 until his death. Le Sang was born to Le Van Hien (also known as Duc Quang) (1887–1959) and Nguyen Thi Mui (1887–1993). He was sickly as a child, which made it difficult for him to walk. His mother advised him to study martial arts in order to strengthen his legs. In Hanoi he learned Vovinam at Nguyễn Lộc's Vovinam school. Soon Le Sang was a teacher himself and, together with Nguyễn Lộc, continued to