Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looked deeply impressed by the Vovinam (Vietnamese traditional martial arts) performances at the banquet held by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on his official visit to Việt Nam from November 8-9.

Trudeau learned about Vovinam history and enjoyed special demonstrations of kung fu. He expressed his love for the martial art’s flexible stances but rather strong motions, especially the move in which a practitioner clamps an opponent’s neck with their legs.

At the ceremony, chairman of the Việt Nam Vovinam Federation Mai Hữu Tín presented Trudeau a martial arts costume which is embroidered with his name.

The Canadian Prime Minister is known to love sports, especially boxing. He once fought Conservative Senator Patrick Brazeau in a charity boxing match in 2012.

Vovinam is practiced with and without weapons. It is based on a balance of hard and soft motions and actions. It includes training of the body as well as the mind. It utilises the force and reaction of the opponent. Vovinam also includes hand motions, elbow use, kicks, escape- and levering techniques.

It was founded by late grandmaster Nguyễn Lộc in 1938 in Hà Nội. It has been popular around the world with more than two millions practitioners in nearly 70 countries and territories.

Vovinam training centres had opened in Canada for years, bringing a new martial arts movement to this country of the maple leaf.

Thousands of followers including Vietnamese students and also students from other parts of the world are trained in Calgary and Montreal.

The Canadian Federation of Vovinam -- Việt Võ Đạo -- was established in February 2001, with three centres: Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto. Montreal joined the Canadian Federation later. The Canadian Federation is a member of the Vovinam-Viet Vo Dao World Federation which is located in Paris, France.

VNS