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Grand Master Le
Sang
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Translation
by Rosemary Nguyen Master
Le Sang's family traditionally resided in Thanh Hoa Province, but he was born
in autumn of 1920 in a house on the banks of Truc Bach lake in Hanoi, the
oldest son of Mr. Le Van Hien (known professionally as Duc Quang, 1887 - 1959)
and Mrs. Nguyen Thi Mui (1887 - 1993). In 1939, after suffering a severe
illness which left him walking with difficulty, he followed his mother's
advice and began studying martial arts in order to strengthen his legs and
improve his physical health. Good fortune steered him to
Founding Grand Master Nguyen Loc's Vovinam class at the Hanoi Pedigogical
College (Ecole Normale). Due to his natural ability, intelligence, and
diligent practice, after just a few years he was chosen by Founding Grand
Master Nguyen Loc to take part in the work of training others in Hanoi. From
then on, he became as close to Grand Master Nguyen Loc as a younger brother
is to an older brother, sharing in his labors and his hardships, following
him as he taught the discipline of Vovinam in many places: Thach That (Son
Tay Province), Phu Tho, Chu Luu, Dan Ha, Dan Phu (Yen Bai Province), Me Doi
(Vinh Yen Province), etc. In 1954, Grand Master Le Sang
accompanied Founding Grand Master Nguyen Loc to Saigon. Here, he was assigned
the task of opening a Vovinam class on Thu Khoa Huan street in Saigon as well
as in the suburb of Thu Duc. Several years later, when the Founding Grand
Master fell ill, Grand Master Le Sang took over the work of training the
high-level students. In 1960, before passing away, the Founding Grand Master
named Le Sang as the new Grand Master of Vovinam. Due to the state of affairs
in the country at the time, Grand Master Le Sang was forced to travel to Ban
Me Thuot at the beginning of the sixties and work there until late 1963, when
martial art disciplines were once again allowed to be practiced in Saigon. He
returned to Saigon and immersed himself in the work of reinforcing, building,
and developing the discipline of Vovinam. As his closest and most senior
disciple with almost 20 years of working at the Founding Grand Master's side,
Grand Master Le Sang had unparalleled knowledge of Vovinam's philosophy and
techniques. Based on this knowledge and his position as Grand Master, he led
Vovinam into a period of robust growth between 1964 and 1975. Although living
in constrained circumstances, he not only directed the Vovinam movement but
also spent his days training students for hours on end and his nights hunched
by a lamp writing books and articles, systemizing the Founding Grand Master's
philosophy of martial arts as well as enriching the training program with his
own techniques gleaned from his practical experience. In addition, he was
elected to serve as the Director of the South Vietnam General Office of
Martial Arts and Treasurer for the South Vietnam Olympic Committee. From the late 1980's until the
present, Grand Master Le Sang has acted as the spiritual leader of Vovinam
Viet Vo Dao. He continues to support and guide Vovinam Viet Vo Dao martial
arts activities and rate examinations for high-level students as well as
continues his work of studying and systemizing the discipline. He is a
skilled practitioner of the martial arts and a talented leader with many
creative ideas and good management abilities, yet Grand Master Le Sang is
even more than this; he is also a true renaissance man. With clear, beautiful
strokes of the calligraphy brush, he has composed many poems of deep,
intimate feeling and chivalrous nature. In his daily life he lives simply,
always willing to help a friend and always displaying true sincerity in his
encounters with others. To his disciples, he is a whole-hearted teacher,
loving and tolerant. When his parents fell ill, he cared for them
thoughtfully and carefully, never leaving their sides. He has never married, thus avoiding
the burden of family. He has steeped himself in Eastern philosophy. Through
his talent and impeccable morality, he became the star pupil of the Founding
Grand Master Nguyen Loc. Grand Master Le Sang has sacrificed nearly his
entire life to the work of building up and developing the discipline of
Vovinam Viet Vo Dao. |