The Master :

One day Master Chau Quan Ky was called to tend to a patient in Go Vap, a small hamlet in South VietNam.  A sudden tropical storm took him by surprise and he tried in vain to protect his medicinal plants.  While doing so, he heard a small child's voice.  It was the 10-year-old Pham Xuan Tong – born on July 17th 1947 in Ninh Binh, south of Vietnam, who offered him hospitality and shelter.

Touched by his kindness, Master Chau Quan Ky asked Pham Xuan Tong his birth date, and, after having drawn his sky chart (Chinese horoscope), asked his parents to entrust him, promising to teach him martial arts. Pham Xuan Tong’s success, however, depended on passing all the tests.

This was a very difficult period for young Pham Xuan Tong to live through.  For the first two years, training was focused only on positions and basic technique. By 14 years of age, he trained four hours, twice a day, 1:30 in the morning and 2:30 in the afternoon. He studied simultaneously martial arts, traditional medicine, physiotherapy, acupuncture and massage. At this age he successfully passed the So Cap Belt Test (Black Belt 1st Dang), being the youngest student to pass the test.
During this time, he was initiated in the Vietnamese Martial Arts by his uncle Master Pham Tru and by the Masters Long Ho Hoi and Phan Tranh Su, friends of his uncle.
By 19, Pham Xuan Tong had won several competitions at the national level. Advised by his Master he gave up competing and devoted himself solely to teaching and research.

In 1966 Pham Xuan Tong became a Martial Art Instructor at the Institute of Technology Don Bosco in Go Vap and later on at the Chan Phuoc Liem High School.

Master Long Ho Hoi proposed him to be part of the National Coach Committee.

In 1968 he passed the Trung Cap Belt Test, being the equivalent of 5th Dang.
Shortly thereafter, he informed his Master of his desire to move to Europe to pursue higher learning.
Young Pham Xuan Tong reached France (in 1968) and completed his studies.

Master Pham Xuan Tong's competence, perseverance, and his teaching skills eventually made him one of the greatest Vietnamese martial arts experts in the West.

After his Master passed away, Master Pham Xuan Tong was pointed by testament, to lead his Master’s school. Due to the fact the he was far away from Vietnam and because of his modesty, he asked his Martial Art colleague Master Pham Minh Kinh to fulfil this honour duty on his place.

Master Pham Xuan Tong with his school and Masters Quach Van Ke, Nguyen Tan Dang, Le Dai Hoan and Bao Truyen were registered at the "Tong Hoi Vo Hoc Viet Nam", the Vietnamese Federation of Martial Art.

In 1973, together with the Comity of the Vietnamese Arts Masters, he founded, in Europe, the Viet Vo Dao Martial Art Association. The association included four big Vietnamese schools: Han Bai, Vo Vi Nam, Thanh Long and Quan Ky (Master’s Tong school, him being the only representative of that school).

He was pointed as the International Technical Director for the Master’s Comity. For around eight years he did very well in this function. During this period he received the International Belt Level of 8^th Dang.

In 1981 he decided to resign and to dedicate his life to develop his school, by this fulfilling his Master’s testamentary request. The steady climb in quality, the support of his students and the encouragement of his friends, culminated in 1981 when the method was officially recognized, founding the World Union of Qwan Ki Do. 

Master Pham Xuan Tong is a living legend in the history of Vietnamese Martial Arts. In a specific way, he was able to combine the origin and his cultural heritage. He had the privilege to learn from Master Chau Quan Ky the Chinese styles, and from his uncle Pham Tru, the traditional styles of the Vietnamese Martial Arts. In 1968 he arrived in France to complete his studies in anatomy, physiology, and so on, thus taking contact with European civilization, able to adapt to the mentality here. Thus, by bringing together the three cultures (Chinese, Vietnamese and European) he created a method of international recognition that brings together the experience and the lessons he has accumulated over time, both as a student and as a teacher. This method is called Qwan Ki Do - Quan Khi Dao (Vietnamese name).

Everywhere in the world, Master Pham Xuan Tong’s martial arts demonstrations were received enthusiastically by the audience, making him world famous. But despite the fame acquired, he remained faithful to the ideals of friendship, generosity and modesty and to the Vietnamese culture. This allowed him to be surrounded by people who loved him, supported him and helped him in his work of creation the Qwan Ki Do style and the organization. His Excellency Le Kinh Tai, Ambassador of Vietnam delegated to UNESCO, signed an open letter praised the extraordinary work and achievements of Master Pham Xuan Tong. Western Martial Arts publications along with publications in the field in his native country (Lao Dong, The Thao, Dai Doan Ket, Phu Do, etc.) have recognized the value of Qwan Ki Do method and its merits.
Currently, Master Pham Xuan Tong continues to work for promoting the Vietnamese culture and art and the Qwan Ki Do method. This is done through the World Union of Qwan Ki Do - Quan Khi Dao that is represented in over 20 countries. These include Vietnam, which was included in the great family of Qwan Ki Do by reopening the Master Chau Quan Ky school in this country.