On May 24, 1912, Nguyen Loc was born to Nguyen Dinh Xuyen and Nguyen Thi Hoa as the oldest of the 5 brothers and sisters (Nguyen Thi Thai, Nguyen Dan, Nguyen Ngo, and Nguyen Thi Bich Ha). His father's family had settled in Huu Bang Village, Thach That County, Son Tay Province, North Vietnam, for generations. Later, his family moves to Hanoi. When Nguyen Loc starts going to school, his father askes an old master to teach Nguyen Loc the traditional martial arts and wrestling techniques for health and self-defense reasons.

        Nguyen Loc grows up in the period which Vienam is still under the French colonial rule. At that time, young men either are seduced by the French into the lusty lives or join the revolutionary war against the French. Master Nguyen Loc believes that the only way to free Vietnam from the colonial rule is to train the Vietnamese young men to have a strong, invincible will for liberty and independence. That would must be produced by a strong body and a rational mind. Therefore, he begin his missions to train the Vietnamese youth to have a moral and invincible spirit: "Live, Help others live, and Live for others."

        Carrying on that belief, he diligently practices and researched many Vietnamese traditional martial arts as well as many foreign martial arts. He also examines tirelessly many archives about Philosophy, Literature, History,... even Anatomy and Medicine. In addition, he always attends many tournaments and competitions or discusses martial arts with many famous masters. After his research, he founds a new discipline of martial arts, which he names "VOVINAM", understood as the "MARTIAL ARTS OF VIETNAM."

        In the fall of 1938, he begins to teach Vovinam to several friends. During this time, he continues to research and improves Vovinam's techniques. In 1940, He and his disciples demonstrates publicly for the first time in the Great Theater of Hanoi. The demonstration is very successful and attracted many spectators.

        After the demonstration, he is invited by Doctor Dang Vu Hy, President of the Sport Friendship Association to teach Vovinam. The first Vovinam lessons began in the spring of 1940 in the Hanoi University of Education (E'cole Normal).

        Many Vovinam disciples in the period of 1938-1940 often tell of the tale of the "invincible spirit" of Founder Nguyen Loc. In the first demonstration, there is a high ranking French offical, Colonel Maurice Ducoroy, attending. Because Col. Maurice Ducoroy, who represents the French colonial rule, is sitting in the audience, Founder Nguyen Loc doesn't let his disciples to bow to the audience. Instead he takes his disciples to the backstage to bow to the ancestor's altar. During the demonstration, Dr. Dang Vu Hy invites Founder Nguyen Loc to Durocoy's seat so Ducoroy could award him a medal. Knowing that he could not refuse, Founder Nguyen Loc has to accept. But when he returns to the stage, he calmly puts the medal into his pocket. His conduct has touched the patriotic feelings of the audience, espescially his disciples.

        Since then, Vovinam always leads the demonstrations against the French and its rule, including the demonstration in the University of Hanoi and the Ministry of Agriculture. Consequently, French closes all the Vovinam classes and prohibits Founder from teaching Vovinam. This is a challenging period for Vovinam during its early time. However, Founder still seretly teaches many loyal disciples at home, and continues to lead many public demonstrations.

        Soon later, Vovinam cooperates with many patrioting organization to host many events commemorating King Hung (first King of Vietnam), Two Queens Trung as well as many charitable events... At the same time, many self-defense classes have opened and recruit tens of thousands of disciples. The enthusiasm for Vovinam in the public is indicated by the slogans: "Vietnamese practice Vietnamese martial arts", "Not a Vovinam disciple, not a Vietnamese patriot"...

        At this time, since the independence war is necessary, many Vovinam techniques are very simple but practical. The training focuses on the endurance, speed, and strength. Most of the training sessions last about 3 months. In April 1945, many Vovinam instructors are sent to remote places to promote Vovinam.

        After winning World War II, France returns to Vietnam in 1946 to reclaim its former colony. On December 19, 1946, the war against France breaks out in North Vietnam. Founder Nguyen Loc leads his disciples to join the war. Some disciples become famous and courageous commanders while some have fallen for the freedom of Vietnam. When Viet Minh (the predecessor of the Vietnamese Communist Party) begins to consolidate their power by recruiting non-communist Vietnamese and murdering those who refuse, Founder Nguyen Loc immediately halts all his involvements with Viet Minh and urges his disciples to leave the Viet Minh. Knowing that, Viet Minh orders the capture of Founder Nguyen Loc with the purpose to force Vovinam disciples to join the Viet Minh. Upon the dangerous situation: being wanted by both the Viet Minh and the French, Founder Nguyen Loc tell his disciples to return to their hometowns to wait for an opportunity. He then takes the remaining disciples back to his hometown, Huu Bang village. In his hometown, he helps organize the young men into militias as well as train the new militias in combative techniques. He also assigns instructors to the Military Academy of Tran Quoc Tuan. After his responsibilities are fullfilled, he then continues his journey and train the Militia Officers of villages of Che Luu, Am Thuong, Thanh Huong, Dan Ha, Dan Phu along the way... In March 1948, He comes to The Catholic District of Phat Diem and assigns instructors to train Jesuit Militias under Chief Commander Tran Thien.

        In August 1948, He returns to Hanoi and opens many Vovinam classes for the young men and women. In 1951, He works with many dignitaries to found the Vietnamese Martial Artist Federation which offers many martial art classes for the public in the schoolyard of Hang Than, Hanoi.

        In July 20, 1954, the Geneva Treaty divides Vietnam into two countries: the North Communist and the South Nationalist. This event poses a great challenge to Vovinam in general and the Founder in particular. If Founder decides to stay in the North, Vovinam would be falling into the hand of the Communists. If He decides to head to the South, many disciples would leave their families and hometowns behind, and Vovinam would lose many able disciples who decides to stay. On the other hand, the South is still a unknown land, and the Founder would risk losing everything he builds from 1938 and would start from scratch; and no one really knows what is awaiting.

        Finally, Founder Nguyen Loc decides to migrate to the South and start Vovinam once again under unfavorable conditions. In July 1954, Founder and loyal disciples arrive in Saigon, and open new Vovinam school here. Soon later, Vovinam is invited to train the South Vietnamese police in Saigon and Thu Duc.

        In the middle of 1954, Founder fall sick and has to take a break from teaching. He authorizes the oldest disciple, Master Le Sang to take over the Vovinam classes temporarily. Although Founder is not physically teaching Vovinam, He is still doing researches, and analyzing Vovinam techniques as well as essential archives in order to refine Vovinam. Founder still looks after the disciples who are following his mission.

        Relying on the Founder's teachings upon the Mind-Body Revolution, Master Le Sang systemizes the martial arts' techniques and finalizes the philosophical knowledge, missions, policies... Master Le Sang also gathers many disciples of the early classes to help develop Vovinam. Among the disciples are the two most active, Masters Tran Huy Phong and Nguyen Van Thu.

        In 1958, Master Le Sang is elected to be the General Secretary of the Vietnamese Martial Arts Federation; he holds this position until 1968. During this time, he researches many traditional Vietnamese martial arts to revise Vovinam's techniques and originate the "one develops into three" method.