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A Family Grows Together on the Judo Mat
🇻🇳 Vietnam /Good News

A Family Grows Together on the Judo Mat

From Tuổi Trẻ · (17m ago) Vietnamese Positive tone

Translated from Vietnamese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A father and his three children in Vietnam took up judo, inspired by a friend and initially to help the daughter gain confidence after being bullied.
  • The father, Ngô Anh Duy, became so engrossed in the sport while watching his children that he decided to join the classes himself.
  • Both father and daughter have since competed, with the father winning a bronze medal at the Ho Chi Minh City Sports Games, showcasing the sport's ability to foster family growth and resilience.

In Vietnam, the story of Ngô Anh Duy and his children finding strength and family bonding through judo is a heartwarming testament to the sport's deeper values. While international coverage might focus on the athletic achievements, here in Vietnam, we see judo as more than just a competition; it's a path to personal growth, resilience, and family unity.

Sometimes sports are not about winning or losing. It's about a family growing together on the same mat.

— Lý Đại NghĩaDirector of the Ho Chi Minh City Sports Training and Competition Center, Vice President of the Vietnam Judo Federation, and a veteran judo coach, commenting on the family's judo journey.

The initial motivation for Duy's eldest daughter to join judo was to overcome bullying, a common concern for parents. This highlights how Vietnamese parents often seek martial arts not just for physical prowess but for character development. The fact that the entire family, including Duy himself, became passionate practitioners underscores the inclusive and community-oriented nature of judo in Vietnam, especially with the involvement of visually impaired athletes.

Duy's own journey from a spectator to a competitor, even at 43, is particularly inspiring. His hard-fought bronze medal at the Ho Chi Minh City Sports Games, overcoming younger opponents and a SEA Games medalist, resonates deeply. It speaks to the Vietnamese spirit of perseverance and the belief that age is no barrier to pursuing one's passions and achieving goals.

Judo is for everyone to get fit, but to practice bowing and supporting people with disabilities... that is truly valuable.

— Lý Đại NghĩaPraising the family's involvement, particularly the daughter's assistance to visually impaired athletes.

This story, as reported by Tuổi Trẻ, emphasizes the local perspective that sports can be a powerful tool for family bonding and personal transformation. It's not just about winning medals, but about the shared journey, the mutual support, and the collective growth experienced on the judo mat. This is a narrative that truly embodies the Vietnamese saying that sometimes, sports are not just about winning or losing, but about a family growing together.

Watching my children train, I also became fascinated and my hands itched to join, so I asked to train along, not missing a single session.

— Ngô Anh DuyDescribing his personal journey into practicing judo alongside his children.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tuổi Trẻ in Vietnamese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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