A Girl In the Vovinam Sport Industry

As of 2023, Cambodia is a host country for the 32nd Sea Game. Not many athletes are under a spotlight like POV SOKHA.

Vovinam was invented in 1939 by Master Nguyen Loc. Vietnam is the birthplace of the martial technique known as Vovinam. “VO” stands for “Martial art,” and “VINAM” for “Vietnam.” Vovinam is a traditional sport. Vovinam is now present in many countries including Belgium, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, and the United States.

Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao (VVVD) was a traditional sport that provides a system of martial arts techniques that includes many forms of self-defences that are highly effective in actual battle. VVVD aims to preserve and advance Vietnamese martial arts through the use of “soft and hard core development.” It also seeks to improve technical resources by conducting research and developing new martial arts techniques. Finally, it trains students in strength, techniques, and philosophy to develop a strong body, strong endurance against disease and obstacles, self-defences and just causes, a rational mind, an invincible will, and gallant character. Students will develop into model citizens who serve everyone—including themselves, their families, the state, and the entire human race—by leading self-disciplined, forgiving lives.

According to Sokha, there are 2 categories. One is fighting and the other is the performance. The unique thing about Vovinam is the special technique which is the neck pinching style. The fighting category is generally like other martial arts, but for performance, there are many forms such as women’s self-defences with weapons and without weapons. The weapons include a sword, a big knife, and a long stick.

Sokha told us about her journey to becoming a VOVINAM national athlete. Sokha joined sport as a swimmer first in 2008, then trained for basketball at her school as well. Then, she started to train as a Vovinam athlete from 2011 until now. She added that it has already been 10 years for her in the sports industry.

Despite only turning 26 years old, the Cambodian woman, POV SOKHA also a Vovinam National athlete won 3 goals medals 1 silver, and 1 bronze. Sokha has joined many international and National competitions. In the last competition, the 7th World Vovinam Championship held in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Sokha won 2 goals and 2 bronzes.

 

Besides facing many challenges SOKHA strives her best as an athlete and raises her own country’s flag to the internationally represent the Cambodian people.

Started training in 2011, and now Sokha has also become a professional in the field of Vovinam martial arts. Sokha said ‘’ Before coming to this point it is not easy’’.

 

There is one thing that Sokha has overcome which is herself. Sokha added being an athlete she needed to wake up every morning around 5 o’clock which is known as the best hour that teenagers or adults love to sleep. More than that the training was difficult. Some of her teammates have broken their hand bones, some have dislocated their shoulders and some have even broken their shoulder blades.

Although she has not met the consequences yet she still fears that one day she might face this also. The thought of that makes her afraid.

When competing in another country​​, the crowd cheering for their own countries has worried her as well. Sokha also told us that when competing there will be wins and losses. The public is happy when an athlete wins, but they also criticize athletes when they fail.  Upon hearing the criticism, it made Sokha feel upset. However, Sokha added that her strong commitment, preparation, training, and support from her family had helped her overcome all those fears.

 

Sokha tells us further about her struggle in sports. Sokha said that there is a saying that women are usually weaker than men some say that as a girl one should not train in martial arts, kicking, or boxing at all.

She said that as females we do have enough body strength to train just like others and sometimes, we can even do better. Some Cambodian people still think that women can only do housework. However, Sokha has proven them wrong by representing her country and winning a gold medal. Sokha raised her Cambodian flag on the international stage. Showing society that a woman is not weak or only doing housework more than that woman can show their talents on the international stage just like a man too.

Many people view that as a girl training in martial arts is not good. Sokha disagrees. She told us that now society has changed and many parents have supported their children to join sports since they were young. Moreover, if a girl gets rejected by their family for joining sports, she encourages them to try their best to persuade their family and not stop asking for what they want.

Chan Sopheakneath Khorn, another girl who plays Vovinam martial arts, said that many women athletes in Vovinam have received criticism as some said as a woman why bother playing that kind of sport?

Chan sopheakneath added ‘’ We strive our best for our dream and also to eliminate the word that people around us said that a girl why we play those sport instead make them think that a girl also has the same right to choose for what they want ‘’

Back in the past Sokha was unhealthy as a kid because her body was weak. Before playing sports Sokha’s health was not in good condition, but after participating in sports her health started to improve immensely.

She said ‘’ Sport is a part of my life. Sports have changed my life entirely. Sports have changed me from a kid who had bad health conditions into a strong woman and not sick like before, and my body now is strong as well as curing from my past illness’’.

She continues to tell us that before people thought that sports were useless and, thus should not be pursued as a career. However, society is changing and it is not like that anymore. Sports not only improves her health it also supports both her education and financial status as well. Whenever an athlete wins an international competition, the government also has a support budget for athletes thus upon receiving the money Sokha can further her studies without asking for her family’s support. She added that last year in the 32nd Sea Game the prime minister also facilitated athletes’ time in other to allow them to train and continue their studies as well.

Sokha told us about her role model. Sokha said her coach is a hero to her. She said ‘’My coach has come to train us since 2012 without a salary. However, he still comes to Cambodia to help train Vovinam Martial arts for Cambodian athletes. Despite being far away from his own family’’. During that time her coach was also an athlete who represented his country, but he put in so much effort in supporting and caring for the athlete.

 

According to Sokha, her coach has watched over their diet. For instance, the fighting category needs to maintain its weight properly. Her coach cares about the athlete’s eating and drinking habits in other to avoid athletes from being overweight. Another thing is that he doesn’t let his students drink anything that contains doping.

Not only care for the athlete’s physical health, but her coach also observes the athlete’s mental health as well. For example, when training as a team one of the team members might not be in the mood or could not keep up with the training. As training as a team, when one does it wrong it affects the whole team. The coach always observes the athlete. When seeing the athlete are feeling unwell or if their performance drops, he will ask the athlete in other to know about their condition. If the athlete is sick, he will not force the athlete.

Furthermore, whenever there is an international competition coming up and she does not do well on her first day, her coach will not blame her instead try his best to motivate his students to try more for the next day of their competition. She added that her coach always comments and tries to correct them when they are training. However, once the competition ends, he will correct the mistake.

Unlike other sports like football or basketball the coach can tell their weakness and strength while playing, Vovinam is not like that. Once you are in the arena you only need to focus on your partner and perform what you have always trained.

 

This made Sokha respect her coach even more. Sokha adds that it is also because of her coach that she has become who she is today.

Although she has not put her Vovinam skill into real life Sokha still encourages everyone to learn about martial arts. According to Sokha, Vovinam has some basic self-defences. For instance, when starting training students will learn about how to unlock the grip of a stranger such as by hugging or shoulder grabbing. The student will also learn about hand and leg standing techniques. Sokha added that for her training for vovinam martial arts at least when facing an unexpected problem, she can be a bit faster than people who do not train for it.

Currently, many training clubs are opened in Cambodia by Cambodian Vovinam senior athletes. Everyone can join. The class is free and highly recommended.

Sokha stated that even though some people do not pursue sports as their career, they still should know some basic self-defences. It is good to know about basic self-defences, especially for women.

Sokha said ‘’I hope that in 2029, as Cambodia is hosting for ASIA Youths game, which is bigger than SEAGAME, our Vovinam young generation will win a medal as I believe there will be more people joining Vovinam’’.

Picture Credit from: Sophorn Tharafath and Pov Sokha.