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News » Essay Fri - 03/29/2024 01:42
A new chapter - Master Samuel Nguyen
Thu - 10/28/2010 21:09

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At about 5am on Monday 27th September 2010, my mobile phone rang, I pressed the answer button and this story began. “Master Duc, I am Quan, from To Duong. Grand Master LE Sang passed away at 3 am this morning. His body is being transported to To Duong.”

At about 6.50am, I arrived at To Duong. The Grand Master LE Sang’s (VSCM) body was dressed in the Vovinam uniform and lay on the first floor in front of the Founder master Nguyen Loc. Masters Nguyen Van Nhan and Mai Van Hiep were sitting on the window side parallel to VSCM, there were three or four Vovinam students also at To Duong at this time. The hall was almost empty, VSCM lay on a timber single bed, a candle, a flower vase and a few incense were burning nearby. He lay very still and it was unimaginable that the VSCM that I knew could be that still with not a smile on his face.

 It was a scene and a moment of time that will never leave me. I stood behind Masters Nhan and Hiep watching VSCM lay there motionless. I could never have imagine this from a man that I have never seen a smile leave his face and there were no warm welcoming eyes greeting the Vovinam students at his office or whenever he saw students. Students from France, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, Italy, Romania, ReUNI0N Islands, Russia, India, Iran, Spain, Thai Land, Cambodia and Australia train at To Duong. The VSCM would walk up or down the stairs of the training hall – waiving his hands at the students greeting him to show that he was so happy to see them there. I could still see his warm smile and the happiness that exuded from his luminous face when he saw Master Nguyen Van Sen teaching international Vovinam students at To Duong. VSCM loved to entertain young students and the young students that I took to see him in 2008 said “He a cool old guy.”; an 18 year old black belt female student, Anastasia Marangou said “Before coming here to see the Grand Master, I thought everything would be very restricted, but the Grand Master is a down to earth man. And he made us all very welcome.” To Grand Master LE Sang, all Vovinam disciples belong to the Vovinam family, no one own Vovinam but Vovinam is there for all to share. Those who learnt it first have the responsibilities to share or teach it to the new members.

I have been visiting and training at To Duong since 1994. Whenever I met VSCM Le Sang at To Duong, he was always happy to know that I was still learning, practicing and teaching Vovinam. He was extremely happy that I liaised with other Vovinam students from around the world and participate at tournaments. His words of advise to me always “Technical programs are the major focus that students joining Vovinam. But Vovinam moral concepts and the Vietnamese heritage create and form camaraderie bonds amongst senior Vovinam instructors and masters. These were so important to him. This time at To Duong, I saw him lay there motionless. Not a word, not even a smile from him.

The Vovinam students came to To Duong to see VSCM and to do whatever had to be done. None of us brought our Vovinam uniforms with us. Vs Hiep said “VSCM will be wrapped in a shroud and placed in the coffin at 10am. We need two students stand guard and we must do this 24 hours a day until he is cremated on Friday. Students must wear Vovinam uniform”. I rushed home to get the two uniforms that I have in Vietnam and rushed straight back to To Duong.

 Groups of people began to organise tasks. Refreshments were organised by Vs. Sen’s wife and other students; the main alter was organised by Vs. Mai Van Hiep; VSCM’s great niece (Ngoc Han) and her mother (Vs. Phung) were the donation receivers with the assistant of Master Nguyen Van Chieu’s wife and also the organisers for the mourning apparel (the white bands that students wear on their heads). Vs Hai was the main announcer of visitors. Vs. Vang and Vs. My were the organisers for other tasks, including reception, occupying guests, funeral ceremony, and processions services. Vs. Sen, Vs Chieu, Vs. Nhan, Vs. Khoa and Vs Tam were busy organised the VSCM eulogy and commemoration service, transport and security for the crematorium day.

Typically, organisation for a large unexpected event can be chaotic. There was not only the urgency of what had to be done for the cremation but also contact to all leaders of Vovinam both in Vietnam and Internationally. Those took the form of emails and direct phone calls. Not only the urgency of what has to be done, but the people the VSCM funeral organisers try to contact does not know or realised that the VSCM has passes away. I am sure some Vovinam students in Vietnam and internationally still are yet to receive the sad news that VSCM has passed away.

 At 10am, there was a brief ceremony of burning incense and VSCM’s body was wrapped neatly in his coffin together with some of his clothes. Vs. LE Van Hung and I were first to stand guard by VSCM. I stood there numb, watching and listening to the Venerable monk performing his ceremony ritual. I could see that Master Nhan was also numb and in shock from the expression on his face. Vs. Nhan followed the Most Venerable Buddhist Monk’s instructions of when to bow and kneel. Vs. Nhan’s health prevented him from kneeling for long, but he knelt down without a complaint of discomfort. Vs. Sen brought a pillow for Vs Nhan to kneel on to relief some of Vs Nhan’s discomfort. Vs. Nhan slumped forward to relieve the pain from kneeling, but he maintain this kneeling position for the whole service.

The first flower wreath arrived for VSCM’s coffin and wreaths of flowers continued to arrive from Vovinam national and International organisations, other martial arts, government organisations, individuals and from VSCM families, relatives and friends.

 Visitors and representatives brought flower wreaths to To Duong, burnt incense, paid their final respects and to said good bye to VSCM at To Duong. They also shared with other’s stories and deeds about VSCM when he was alive. The loss and grief were shared amongst the hundreds and thousands of Vovinam and non Vovinam students in and out of Vietnam.

Eulogies for VSCM are being organised by Vovinam Associations in countries around the world in memory of this great man, Grand Master Le Sang. 

Students from other provinces in and out of Vietnam began to arrive. By Wednesday morning, the Training Hall of To Duong was full of flower wreaths and visitors. Smoke from the incense filled the hall

Vs. Nguyen Van Chieu was in Indonesia for a meeting about the South East Asia Games. He arrived at To Duong on Wednesday afternoon. He came straight from the airport. Vs. Chieu reaction at To Duong when he saw VSCM LE Sang’s picture in front of the coffin filled those at the hall with tears. Vs. Chieu’s action without words spoke of what the passing of VSCM LE Sang meant to him and the responsibilities bestowed upon him as the VSCM Le Sang had decided that he and Vs. Nguyen Van Sen must lead VOVINAM – Viet Vo Dao at VSCM’s passing. Vs Chieu appeared to feel numb and the responsibilities weighted heavily on his shoulders. 

VSCM commemoration and eulogy service was held on Thursday 30th October 2010 at 6pm. VSCM’s family and friends, Masters and students from afar in and out of Vietnam arrived at a steady rate during the day. Masters and students of Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao representing their clubs - National, International and World Association’s from Australia, Germany, France and USA brought with them contributions from personal and their association contact with VSCM, They expressed their deep sorrow and mourned the passing of VSCM.. Eulogies, statements and poems were read after they paid their respect by offering two (2) sticks of incense, one (1) for the Buddhist shrine and one (1) for the VSCM Le Sang’s shrine.

Some cried and spoke of not being able to speak to VSCM anymore; they were sorry that they were not able to travel to Vietnam so see him before he passed away, promised to always remember his teaching of being honourable Vovinam students, and sorry for not following VSCM’s teaching of continuing to practise Vovinam.

 The commemoration service started at 6pm. The organising committee specifically stated that only two (2) representatives from any association outside Saigon, one representative from Districts in Saigon, Masters from overseas, special government and departmental guests and VSCM family members could attend this service. Some Masters, Instructors and students that travelled a long distance to be with VSCM were not happy with this decision. The To Duong’s hall is small and could not cater for all wanting to attend the commemoration service; however, they could watch the service via a television monitor live outside the training hall.

Vs. Hai, started the proceedings by introducing the overseas representatives: the Masters representing Vietnam Vovinam Association; the special guests; the family members; the Masters Committee chosen by VSCM to lead Vovinam after his passing and the VSCM’s funeral leading bearers, the VSCM sister and Vs. Nhan, stood near the VSCM shrine.

 Vs. Sen read the eulogy of VSCM family life from childhood to death, including VSCM first starting Vovinam with the Vovinam founder the late Master Nguyen Loc at 20 years of age due to his weak leg ailment. He started Vovinam at the request of his late mother to get his weak leg stronger. As the young Le Sang’s leg got stronger so did his will to learn more of Vovinam techniques. His belief in his teacher, Vs. Nguyen Loc, was so great and Vs. Le Sang’s determination and willingness to learn Vovinam that he followed his mentor to South of Vietnam. In 1960, the Late Founder. Master Nguyen Loc chose Master Le Sang as his successor. VSCM has chosen Vs Sen as the deputy chief and technical head of Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao

Vs. Chieu read of the great contribution made by VSCM Le Sang to Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao and his teaching of unity, moral concepts and accepting of differences for progress. Master Nguyen Van Chieu spoke of the late VSCM Le Sang as the chosen one from the founder. VSCM Le Sang was able to promote Vovinam as a sport to the world. This promotion of a Vietnamese martial art to martial arts for all. Many Vovinam students will tell you, for Vietnamese persons, to learn Vovinam is to learn about the Vovinam’s unique martial art techniques and the preservation of the Vietnamese culture. For non Vietnamese, Vovinam is about learning a unique martial art techniques, new way of living, the discipline, the camaraderie and serving the local community. 

Ms. Do Thi Nghia repeated VSCM comments on Vovinam’s development in her dissemination of the commemoration service in Washington, Oregon, Vancouver BC. Ms. Do quoted VSCM “Lấy tình thần võ đạo làm phương châm để tạo tình đoàn kết gắn bó cùng nhìn về một hướng. Góp sức xây dựng một đội ngũ Võ sư, HLV trẻ đầy năng lực, tâm huyết, bản lĩnh, nhằm đẩy manh công cuộc phát huy và quảng bá Vovinam-VV Đ tại các quốc gia trên thế gìới.”

I am sure there are many quotes that can be used from this great VSCM, but let me use this quote that was used to invite Vovinam students to attend the VSCM commemoration service. I translate the quote as follows “Using the Vovinam moral concept as a starting point for a united Vovinam group that is focus on one goal; to develop a young generation of masters and instructors with energy, focus, determination, perseverance and self assurance to push the development and preservation of VOVINAM – Viet Vo Dao in countries around the world”.

 The VSCM eulogies ended with more tears and whaling expressions of grief. The To Duong training hall was filled with smoke from burnt incense. The atmosphere of end is near and preparation of the funeral procession for the next day became a focus for this Thursday evening. For many of the students (masters, instructors and Mon sinh) who had been at this hall since Monday, Friday meant our beloved VSCM would leave this hall and will never comes back. VSCM had laid motionless in the coffin for the last four days. Tomorrow, when the coffin lid would be closed, we would not see him again. This emotional pain will never be forgotten.

At 4am on Friday. Students were already lined up outside 31 Su Van Hanh street for more than 50 meters. At 5am, the Most Venerable Buddhist Monk arrived to preside over the service to close the coffin lid. More whaling from VSCM families and Vovinam students.  Only VSCM families, the poor bearers and the masters selected by the VSCM to lead Vovinam at his passing were included in this service.
Master Samuel Nguyen
Vovinam Sydney - Australia




Othe article:
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VITTORIO CERA
Principal of Life - poverty
Vovinam Camp
Vovinam
Tears, Sweat, and Blood
My Vovinam life
Vovinam Volunteer Organization Proposal
The Evolution of the Vietnamese Community and Vovinam
Developing the next generation of Vovinam.


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Other article:
The Vovinam Ideal - Master Kim Thuy [Mon - 07/11/2011 09:12]
VITTORIO CERA [Mon - 01/17/2011 15:49]
Principal of Life - poverty [Sun - 02/24/2008 17:46]
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