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31 Years of Preparing the Youth for the Future

A Reflection by Grandmaster Khue Huy Pham, Ph. D, L.Ac.

     This year, 2006, Hung Vuong Institute, Inc. is turning thirty one years old.  It seems like only yesterday when I started Hung Vuong in 1975.  Even then, I had two main purposes for the school:

  • To share and foster my native heritage and culture of Vietnam in the United States.
  • To use martial arts as a vehicle to develop healthy, disciplined, moral, and compassionate individuals excelling in academic and  martial arts.

     These two main purposes serve as the foundation of everything Hung Vuong Institute, Inc. has done, stands for, and will continue to accomplish.

     Since we are celebrating Hung Vuong's 31st Anniversary, I would like to share with you some highligts of the past 3 decades.  Many do not know, by looking at what we have today, the humble beginning of Hung Vuong Institute, Inc..

The First Decade (1975 - 1984): Building the Foundation

     Like many start-ups in Silicon Valley, I started Hung Vuong Institute, Inc. in the garage of a house in South San Jose.  In 1979, Hung Vuong Institute opened its first official martial arts studio on Via Del Oro in South San Jose with only 60 students.  The Via Del Oro site proved a little far for many families, so in 1982, Hung Vuong established itself in the shopping center on the corner of Monterey Road and Senter Road in South San Jose.  This location flourished and was the base for Hung Vuong's First Black Belts and even the foundation of the Ra Khoi Boy Scout Troop, which I co-founded with Scoutmaster Than Tran.  In addition to these sites, I also taught Taekwondo and Tai Chi at the Amdahl Fitness Center before work and during lunch from 1980 to 1993.  Master Edward Schanz was one of my first students in the Amdahl class.

     The foundation of martial arts competition was also built.  In the early 1980s, I started taking Hung Vuong students to local, state, national, and international martial arts competitions.  Hung Vuong students always did well, winning numerous gold medals and championship trophies.  Two notable competitions were:

  • The 1982 World Taekwondo Championships in Quebec, Canada where four Hung Vuong students were a part of the National Team.
  • The 1983 West Coast National Championship in San Jose, California where Danh Le achieved the Grand Champion in forms and sparring.

     Hung Vuong Institute, Inc. also organized and hosted the 1st Tet Open Taekwondo Championships at San Jose High School in 1983.

     As the first decade came to a close, so did the Monterey Road location of Hung Vuong Institute.  In keeping with the academic excellence part of Hung Vuong's philosophy, I knew I needed to pursue my educational endeavors in Eastern medicine and Western nutrition to enhance Hung Vuong's curriculum.

The Second Decade (1985 - 1994): Learning and Growing

     Learning Eastern Medicine and Western Nutrition

     From 1984 to 1988, I attended the San Francisco College of Acupuncture and became a California Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.).  In 1993, I attained my Doctor of Philosophy in Nutrition.  This enabled me to understand the best of both the East and the West and to incorporate it into Hung Vuong's programs.

     Growing in Wushu-Kung Fu

     Although my primary martial arts experience was in Taekwondo, I have learned and practiced various of martial art styles including traditional Kung Fu and weapons.  I furthered my knowledge and experience of Kung Fu in the early 1990s by becoming involved in the Kung Fu-Wushu local, national, and international competition circuit.  Two Hung Vuong students championed this circuit with multiple Gold Medals and Champion Titles in 1994, 1995, and 1996: Maryhien Pham in Weapons and Cung Le in Sanshou (Full-Contact Sparring).

     Learning for Others and Growing in Size

     In contributing to a better society, I piloted an afterschool martial arts program at Independence High School in San Jose for underprivileged teenagers in 1988.  I was glad I had an opportunity to be a positive influence in their difficult lives.  As for growing in size, Hung Vuong Institutes, Inc. went from 1000 square feet in 1985, at my home on Quito Road in Saratoga, to 7000 square feet in 1993, at our current location here on Ringwood Avenue.  With my educational and martial arts experiences, I established a more comprehensive curriculum for Hung Vuong consisting of:

  • Martial Arts - International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) style and World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) style Taekwondo, Traditional Kung Fu, Wushu, and weapons.
  • Academic Emphasis - 3.8 Grade Point Average (GPA) requirement for Black Belt Candidates.
  • Community Service - Cultural Festivals and Events like the Tet Festival and Hung Vuong Memorial at the Vietnamese Cultural Heritage Garden.
  • Leadership - Developing qualities of good leaders in students: honest, fair, charitable, respectful, and compassionate.
  • Nutrition - Understanding how to stay happy and healthy through food, mentality, and reflection.

    

    The Third Decade (1995 - 2006): Fulfilling Hopes and Dreams

    The Third Decade started out strong with Maryhien Pham and Cung Le winning National and International Championships in the Wushu-Kung Fu competition circuit.  However, for the benefits of our young students, Hung Vuong chose to focus more on Taekwondo, now an official Olympic sport.  From 1998 to 2006, Hung Vuong students obtained over 200 Gold Medals, 120 Silver Medals, and 90 Bronze Medals at local tournaments, like the Silicon Valley Open, state tournaments, like the California State Taekwondo Junior Olympics, and international championships, such as the 1st International Women Taekwondo Championships.  Key Hung Vuong competitors through this period include: Julie Huong Pham, Trac Nguyen, Brandon Thai Bui, David Luu, Tri Pham, Michael My Pham, and Julie Hanh Pham.

     Academic Programs

     Starting in 1996, Hung Vuong Institute, Inc. launched its Academic Afterschool Tutoring Program, where students had an opportunity to gain support in order to do well in academics as well as in martial arts.  To further martial arts and academic excellence, Hung Vuong started its Summer Accelerated Academic and Martial Arts Training (AAMAT) in 2000.

     Contributing to a Better Society

     In 2001, Hung Vuong Institute, Inc. started collaborating with VN Help, a non-profit organization focused on developing literacy and health for the youth of Vietnam.  With my personal efforts and those of Hung Vuong students, we have helped build two schools, one hospital, one community, and provided wheelchairs for those less fortunate in my native country of Vietnam.  At Hung Vuong, the Black Belts have organized and developed projects and activities with the motto: "For Students, By Students."  This way the students are actively contributing to a better society.

     Maryhien and Julie Huong Pham

     My daughters have given me th ebest gift in fulfilling my mission of academic and martial arts excellence.  Maryhien completed her Masters in Education from the University of San Francisco in 2002 and just achieved her 5th Dan Black Belt.  She won numerous Gold Medals at National and International Wushu-Kung Fu Championships.  Maryhien is also a National Certified Referee and has directed over ten tournaments.  Julie Huong has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her high school career and is currently attending Santa Clara University.  She has just attained her 4th Dan Black Belt.  Julie Huong has won countless gold medals in Taekwondo: the most notable were at the 1st International Women Taekwondo Championships and the National Junior Olympics.

     Through my 31 years as the Master of Hung Vuong Institute, Inc., I have developed over 400 Black Belts and many National and International Champions.  Growing up I never thought this would be my destiny; however, I have tried the best to accomplish my purpose for establishing Hung Vuong Institute, Inc.  The past 31 years have proved my commitment to preparing the youth for the future.  My hope is that Hung Vuong's philosophy goes beyond the studio walls.  I envision the students that have been at Hung Vuong, for a small portion of their lives, take what they have learned here and share it with those they love.  It is in this way that Hung Vuong Institute, Inc. truly contributes to a better society for the youth of the future.