Concentrating on her own movement and stance, Sophomore Ashley Tran demonstrates a swift attack form once more to her younger students. Finishing off the strike fluidly, Tran steps back to watch her students repeat the same technique together, looking for ways each student can improve.
Each Sunday in Orange County, Tran repeats the same warm up routine at Chùa Việt Nam.
Tran specializes in Vovinam, a Vietnamese martial art style that focuses on aiming for both high and low targets.
Vovinam uses a different belt system than most traditional martial arts styles, such as karate or taekwondo.
Instead of beginning with the usual white belt, Vovinam students start with a blue belt signifying their desire and hope to learn the martial art form.
After earning the three subsequent stripes of the blue belt, students receive their yellow belts and are advanced to instructor level. Red and white belts represent the two highest rankings of Vovinam.
Currently, Tran has a yellow belt and is at instructor level. At the start of each lesson, students warm up with Tran and other yellow belt instructors.
Students then review basic attack forms and stances with the class before splitting into smaller groups with their respective belts.
Tran conducts sparring sessions, finishing with leg techniques followed by cardio and core workouts.
“The fact that I can get a diversity of students is what I really like,” Tran said. “I can get a mature seven year old, or at the other end of the spectrum, a stubborn sixteen year old. It’s diversity of the students, where they come from, and their personalities. That’s what I really like.”
Tran began training in Vovinam at the age of four, after being introduced to the martial arts style by her father.
Tran received her yellow belt three years ago in November 2015, and Tran regards this accomplishment to be her greatest achievement.
“I’ve known Ashley since she was very young and at an early age, you could tell she had a very strong interest in martial arts,” Instructor Mr. Lưu Quang Anh said. “I think it’s been amazing to see her grow up to where she is right now. I’m really happy to see her continue with martial arts until now and teach younger children like I started to do when I was younger.”
For Tran, Vovinam is more than simple weekly practices and gradual advancement of skill levels.
After more than a decade of training, Vovinam has become an essential piece of her life, serving as both a stress reliever and cherished achievement.
“What I like about Vovinam is the fact that not many people know about it or even know I actually do it,” Tran said. “It’s tied to the language I speak and understand and even if it doesn’t have a big history, for me, Vovinam stands out from other more popular martial art styles.”
Tran plans to continue instructing and training throughout her high school career but is still planning how Vovinam will fit in future schedules.
“For certain while, I may stop to focus on school, but I am always willing to come back and help teach,” Tran said.
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