What is Vovinam?

Vovinam, also known as Việt Võ Đạo, is a traditional Vietnamese martial art founded in 1938 by Grandmaster Nguyễn Lộc in Hanoi. Designed as a system for national self-defense and character development, Vovinam blends striking, grappling, joint locks, sweeps, and weaponry into a comprehensive discipline. It also emphasizes moral philosophy, mental resilience, and social responsibility. Vovinam practitioners wear a distinctive blue uniform and progress through a belt ranking system, starting from light blue to black belt, with advanced degrees marked by yellow stripes. Unlike many martial arts, Vovinam includes both offensive and defensive techniques, making it practical for self-protection and suitable for all genders and ages. Today, Vovinam is practiced in over 60 countries under the leadership of the World Vovinam Federation (WVVF), which promotes the art as both a sport and a vehicle for personal and societal development.

PROJECT SUMMARY

In September 2025, the World Vovinam Federation (WVVF)—the international governing body of sport Vovinam, a martial art originating from Vietnam—signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Guardian Girls International (GGI) to officially launch and implement the global initiative Guardian Girls Vovinam (GGV). The project begins in its homeland, Vietnam, making it the first country in Southeast Asia to launch a Guardian Girls project, and marking the first time a Southeast Asian martial art—Vovinam—has been used as the foundation for a global women's empowerment initiative. GGV seminars, academies, demonstrations, and related activities will be carried out through authorized WVVF National Federations, led by certified female GGV instructors, in accordance with official GGV Guidelines. 

MISSION STATEMENT

Guardian Girls Vovinam (GGV) is a global initiative that empowers women and girls through the Vietnamese martial art of Vovinam, promoting gender equality, fostering personal agency, and helping prevent violence against women and girls. In partnership with the World Vovinam Federation (WVVF), GGV delivers culturally rooted, community-based programs led by certified female instructors to create safer, more inclusive societies worldwide.

Global Partner

The World Vovinam Federation (WVVF) was officially established on September 25-26, 2008 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This event marked an important step in the internationalization of the traditional martial art Vovinam Viet Vo Dao – a martial art founded by Master Nguyen Loc in 1938 in Vietnam. WVVF has over 60 national federation members, which are part of their continental and regional federations worldwide. The President of the WVVF is Dr. Mai Huu Tin.

OBJECTIVES

    • Promoting GGI and WVVF’s core values, culture, and mission through the GGV project, reinforcing its global relevance as a martial art that empowers and uplifts communities;
    • Combating violence against women and girls (VAWG) by providing accessible, inclusive, and culturally sensitive self-defense training rooted in Vovinam principles;
    • Enhancing the physical and mental well-being of women and girls through the implementation of a structured and holistic GGV curriculum;
    • Fostering leadership, confidence, and personal agency among women and girls within both the martial arts community and society at large;
    • Creating safe and supportive learning environments by integrating gender-sensitive instruction and investing in capacity building within National Federations;
    • Promoting gender inclusion and equal participation of women and girls across all levels of Vovinam practice, leadership, and representation within WVVF structures.

What We Do

Seminars

All authorized WVVF National Federations and their certified GGV female instructors are required to register online with GGI to ensure authenticity and official recognition.

Certification

All authorized WVVF National Federations and their certified GGV female instructors are required to register online with GGI to ensure authenticity and official recognition.

Demonstrations

The authorized WVVF National Federation and its certified female GGV instructors must adhere to the GGI Program Standards, GGV Project Guidelines, and WVVF standards worldwide.