Vovinam
Vovinam is a hybrid martial art originating in Vietnam. It draws from the broader tradition of Vietnamese martial arts and combines elements of both striking and grappling, with training focused on Vietnamese striking techniques, scissor takedowns, and the use of weapons. As a hybrid style, it incorporates standing combat methods alongside throwing and takedown work, as well as structured practice with traditional weapons, giving it a broad technical range within a single system.
Training in a hybrid art of this kind generally involves practitioners developing skills across multiple areas rather than specializing in a single range of combat. Students can expect to work on stand-up striking drills, entries and mechanics for takedowns such as the scissor-style techniques central to this style, and handling of weapons. Conditioning and coordination across these varied elements are typical features of hybrid systems, with classes often moving between different areas of focus depending on the curriculum stage.
Beginners who are curious about Vovinam are encouraged to visit local schools, speak with instructors, and observe a class before committing to training. Watching a session in person offers a realistic sense of the pace, atmosphere, and teaching approach of a particular school. Related styles within the hybrid martial arts category are linked below for further comparison.
Gear to expect. Hybrid training typically calls for gloves and a mouthguard for striking work plus a rashguard for the grappling rounds — your school will tell you exactly what, and when. New students rarely need to buy anything for a trial class.
Find your martial art →Related hybrid styles
Classification and facts from our open-data taxonomy (Wikidata CC0 base + our editorial classification). Where a fact (like origin) isn't recorded, we leave it out rather than guess. Methodology.