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
Gary Alexander (martial art pioneer) to Hand Combat and Defense Systems". Gary Alexander (martial art pioneer) Gary Alexander is an American martial artist, karate fighter, author and actor. He was Black Belt Magazine's Co-Instructor of the Year (1974) and is known as the "First International Bare Knuckle Contact Karate Champion. On November 17, 1962, Gary Alexander won the first Canadian Karate Championship sponsored by Mas Tsuruoka. On November 24, 1962, Gary Alexander won the North American Championship sponsored by Mas Oyama, which was held at the Madison Square Garden. Both events were bare knuckle full contact, whereas the winner was the fighter still standing. Alexander