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Grand Master Le Sang
Master Le Sang resided in Thanh Hoa Province, 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.
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