The long staff(dambong veng) and short staff(s)(dambong clei) are common weapons in Bokator and Cambodian martial arts
Bokator/Lbokator is an ancient Khmer martial art that is based on animal forms. It has ground fighting, close combat techniques and weaponry.
Unlike kickboxing, which is a sport fighting art, boxkator was a soldier's art, designed to be used on the battlefield. It can be considered a complete martial art, using strikes, throws, drags, trapping, locking, and some elements of ground fighting. Every single part of the body can be used as a weapon.
When fighting, bokator practitioners still wear the uniforms of ancient Khmer armies. A kroma (scarf) is folded around their waist and blue and red silk cords called sangvar day, are tied around the combatants head and biceps. In the past, it is said that the cords were enchanted to increase strength, although now they are just ceremonial.
The kroma shows the fighter's level of expertise. A series of grades, each taking at least five months to complete training seven days a week and two hours a day, are represented by different colors.
The first grade is white, followed by green, blue, red, brown, and then black which has 10 degrees.
After completing their initial training, fighters wear a black kroma (scarf) for at least another ten years. To attain the gold kroma, you must be a true master and must have done something great for bokator. And to become a true master, it will definitely take some time as just in the unarmed portion of the art; there are between 8,000 and 10,000 different techniques; only 1,000 of which you have to learn to attain the black kroma.
The art contains 341 different styles, some of which are the duck, crab, horse, bird, dragon, eagle, crane, wind, fire, water, earth (or stone), king monkey, lion, elephant, apsara (traditional Hindu sacred nymph), and crocodile. Ancient Khmer armies. In the past, it is said that the cords were enchanted to increase strength, although now they are just ceremonial.
Because of its visually similar style, bokator (boxkator) is commonly wrongly described as a variant of modern kickboxing. Bokator has many forms based on styles as well as straight practical fighting techniques. While pradal serey is a more simplified freestyle fighting system which uses a few of the basic (white kroma) punching, elbow, kicking, and kneeing techniques.
Cambodia is famous for Pradal Serey or Kun Khmer . Pradal serey, or Traditional Khmer kickboxing, is a popular sport in Cambodia. A match consists of five sets of three-minute rounds and takes place in a 6.1 meter square boxing ring. A one- or two-minute break occurs between each round. At the beginning of each match, boxers practice the praying rituals known as the Kun Kru. Traditional Cambodian music is played during the match. The music is played using the instruments of the skor yaul (a type of drum), the sraliai (a flute like instrument), and the stringed chhing. Boxers wear leather gloves and shorts.
Rules:
A boxer is not allowed to strike his opponent while he is on the ground.
A boxer is not allowed to bite.
When an opponent can not fight anymore, the referee stops the fight.
Blows to the back of the opponent are not allowed.
A boxer may not hold on to the ropes.
Blows to the genitals are prohibited.
Victory can be obtained by knockout. A knockout occurs when a boxer is knocked down to the ground and can not continue fighting after a 10-second count by the referee. Victory is also obtained from the end of the match, when judges decide by a point system which fighter was more effective. If fighters end up with the same score, a draw is called.
History
The combat between Vāli and Sugrīva is depicted on the western gopura of the Banteay Srei (967 A.D.)
The Khmer Empire was founded in 802 A.D. at a time when many modern Southeast Asian countries didn't exist yet. Martial arts were used by the military of the Khmer Empire. Pradal Serey has its root from the hand to hand combat use by the military of the Khmer Empire. An early version of pradal serey was effectively used by the Khmer Empire to dominate the Southeast Asian mainland. Pradal serey became a sport, during the days of the Colonial Cambodia. When the French came, they added western boxing gloves, weight classes, timed rounds, and a boxing ring to civilize the art. Originally matches were fought in dirt pits with limited rules while hands were wrapped in rope.
On April 17, 1975, during the chaos of the Vietnam War, the Khmer Rouge overthrew Lon Nol's pro-Western government, which was crumbling after America left the Vietnam War. The Khmer Rouge's plan was to eliminate modern society and create an agrarian utopia.[1] The Khmer Rouge executed most educated people, people who had ties to the old government, and anyone who was believed to be a threat (doctors, teachers, soldiers, actors, singers, etc.), and restricted the remaining Cambodian population to what were effectively labor camps.
Pradal serey was banned under the Khmer Rouge regime, and many boxers were executed, nearly causing the art to be wiped out. In January 1979, the Vietnamese, along with a token force of Khmers led by ex-Khmer Rouge officers, overthrew the Khmer Rouge. Thereafter pradal serey was gradually revived.
Pradal serey is making a strong comeback since its banishment back in the 1970s. Numerous gyms have opened and large masses of students, local and foreign, have come to train in Cambodia. There are weekly matches held, in which many are televised, and many of Cambodia's best have traveled internationally to compete. There are currently about 70 boxing clubs.
A Khmer traditional wrestling match consists of three rounds. A round may be won by forcing an opponent to his back. A wrestler wins the match by winning two of the three rounds. After each round, the loser is asked if he wishes to continue with the match.
Wrestlers participate in pre-match ritual dancing before the match. The match is accompanied by the music of two drums (called Skor Ngey and Chhmol, "female drum" and "male drum").
Traditional matches are held during the Khmer New Year and other Cambodian holidays.
The Cambodian Basketball League or CBL is the official Basketball League of Cambodia. It was founded in 2013. The top basketball players and teams from Cambodia compete for the CBL title every year at the Beeline Arena.
Ox cart racing
Ox cart racing is a sport in Cambodia that takes place during the Khmer New Year. It is done to preserve Cambodian culture. [3]
Pétanque
Pétanque is one of the more popular sports in Cambodia.[4] It was brought to Cambodia by the French. It is administered by the Cambodian Boules and Pétanque Federation. In 2019, 327 pétanque athletes from 25 provinces competed in the Natiaonal Pétanque Championships.[5]
Sepak takraw is a "kick-volleyball" sport, that is popular in Southeast Asia. It may also be known as si or chinlon in Cambodia. This sport is featured in the Southeast Asian Games.
Skateboarding
Skateboaring is an emerging sport in Cambodia.[6] It started to emerge around 2010. The first skating shop opened in the country was "The Skate Shop". The NGO Skateistan opened in Cambodia in 2011. In 2013, Tony Hawk visited Cambodia to promote skateboarding via Skateistan. In 2019, the Cambodia Skateboard and Roller Sports Federation was formed.
Traditional boat racing
Traditional boat racing is a popular sport in Cambodia. Competition usually take place during the water festival. Boats are usually long and contain large numbers of rowers.
Sports facilities
Beeline Arena owned by Banzai
There is a new indoor stadium in Phnom Penh, the Beeline Arena. Located at Sangkat Chroy Changvar, Khan Russei Keo. The arena was built to international standards. It is the first multi-purpose sports arena in Cambodia with international standard, including: - Multi-sports surface for futsal, basketball, volleyball and more - 2,000 person capacity - VIP lounge and restaurant - Sports, music, cultural and big screen events. Rental available.
The first marina in Cambodia for all boaters, sailing and motor yachts.
Phnom Penh is the capital and most populous city of Cambodia. It has been the national capital since the French protectorate of Cambodia and has grown to become the nation's primate city and its economic, industrial, and cultural centre. Before Phnom Penh became capital city, Oudong was the capital of the country.
Sinn Sisamouth was a Cambodian singer-songwriter active from the 1950s to the 1970s. Widely considered the "King of Khmer Music", Sisamouth, along with Ros Serey Sothea, Pen Ran, Mao Sareth, and other Cambodian artists, was part of a thriving pop music scene in Phnom Penh that blended elements of Khmer traditional music with the sounds of rhythm and blues and rock and roll to develop a Cambodian rock sound. Sisamouth died during the Khmer Rouge regime under circumstances that are unclear.
Kun Khmer or Pradal Serey is a combat sport that originated in Cambodia. The official Khmer name of the sport is Kbach Kun Pradal Khmer. In Khmer, pradal means fighting or boxing and serey means free. Thus, pradal serey may be translated as "free fighting" or "free boxing". The sport consists of stand up striking and clinch fighting where the objective is to knock an opponent out, force a technical knockout, or win a match by points.
Eh Phouthong, also spelled Ei Phouthang and Eh Phuthong is a retired Cambodian professional kickboxer and coach of Khmer and Chinese ancestry. He was also a former reality TV host. Eh Phouthong was known for his powerful right kick which shattered many arms. He is the most famous kickboxer from Cambodia. The AFP described Eh Phouthong as "Cambodia's Muhammad Ali". Eh Phouthong is the trainer of Cambodian champion, Thoeun Theara.
Bokator or Kun L'Bokator is an ancient Cambodian battlefield martial art used by the ancient Khmer military. It is one of the oldest fighting systems existing in the world and is recognised as intangible cultural heritage by the UNESCO.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Cambodia:
Muay Lao is an ancient combat sport from Laos. It incorporates punches, kicks, elbow, and knee strikes. It can be traced back to the 15th century when it was used for military combat during the Lan Xang dynasty. It is similar to Muay Thai from Thailand and Pradal Serey from Cambodia. Muay Lao was an event at the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane.
Thun Sophea is a retired professional kickboxer from Svay Rieng, Cambodia. He is the 2006 Cambodian Television Network Traditional Khmer Kickboxing champion. Thun Sophea trained at the Ministry of Defense Boxing Association under Chhit Sarim, who also trained Cambodian champion Eh Phouthong at the Ministry of Defense Boxing Club. Thun Sophea was once considered Cambodia's best kickboxer. He had defeated every notable Cambodian fighter including Sen Bunthen, Vorn Viva, Meas Chantha, Chey Kosal and Outh Phouthang.
Kbach Kun Boran Khmer is a Khmer term literally meaning "ancient Cambodian martial arts techniques". It consists of 12 core techniques and 8 "door systems" or footwork patterns. Usually, students learn from different masters who specialize in different weapons or areas of expertise. Armed combat or ani-yuth incorporates three main weapons, namely the dav, the dambong veng and the dambong clei. Unarmed fighting or atmani-yuth makes use of Baok Chbab (wrestling) and non-sport version of pradal serey.
The traditional martial arts of the Mainland Southeast Asia are related to one another, and as a group to Indian martial arts. The most salient common feature is Mainland Southeast Asia kickboxing. The region of Mainland Southeast Asia is believed to be the land of Suvarnabhumi that ancient Indians mentioned in Buddhist text and Hindu text. In 790 A.D., a Khmer prince who grew up abroad by the name of Jayavarman II returned to unify the Khmer civilization. In 802 A.D., Jayavarman II established the Khmer Empire, the precursor to modern Cambodia, and declared himself the Chakravatin. Around 850 A.D., Pagan, the ancestor of modern-day Burma, was established by Tibeto-Burman speakers. For 200 years, Pagan remained a small principality until the reign of King Anawrahta. In 1238 A.D., Thailand's first state, Sukhothai, was started when the residents declared independence from the Khmer Empire. In 1353 A.D., Laos's first state, Lan Xang, was started by Fa Ngum with the assistance of the Khmer from Angkor.
San Kim Sean is a Cambodian martial artist. He often referred to as the father of modern Bokator and is largely credited with reviving the art. At age 13, he studied bokator under Master Khim Leak at Wat Mohamandrey. San Kim Sean's bokator master, Khem Leak, came from a martial arts family in Pursat province. Master Khem Leak's father and grandfather were also martial artists. San Kim Sean also studied boxing under Master Chai Chheng in 1959 and 1960. He studied Judo under Kru So Meng Hong. He studied Hapkido under Korean master Chhay Yong Ho.
Cambodian rock of the 1960s and 1970s was a thriving and prolific music scene based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in which musicians created a unique sound by combining traditional Cambodian music forms with rock and pop influences from records imported into the country from Latin America, Europe, and the United States. U.S. armed forces radio that had been broadcast to troops stationed nearby during the Vietnam War was also a primary influence. This music scene was abruptly crushed by the Khmer Rouge communists in 1975, and many of its musicians disappeared or were executed during the ensuing Cambodian genocide. Due to its unique sounds and the tragic fate of many of its performers, the Cambodian rock scene has attracted the interest of music historians and record collectors, and the genre gained new popularity upon the international release of numerous compilation albums starting in the late 1990s.
Keo Rumchong is a Cambodian professional Kun Khmer fighter.
Prum Manh is a Cambodian comedian and ayai singer who survived the Khmer Rouge regime and currently has one of the longest careers as an actor in Cambodia along with Dy Saveth.ភារក្ស
Prom Samnang, is a Cambodian Kun Khmer fighter and is one of the most successful Kun Khmer fighters in Cambodia. In 2023, Samnang won the Thai Fight Kard Chuek championship title in Thailand. At the 2023 SEA Games, Samnang was the flag bearer for Cambodia at the opening ceremony and won the gold medal against Tun Tun Min in the Khun Khmer Men's 81kg division.
Phal Sophorn is a Cambodian professional Kun Khmer fighter originally from the capital city of Phnom Penh. He has extensive experience in both boxing and Kun Khmer kickboxing. His ring nickname is Nak Leng Keng Pi Kheat and Damrey Phluk Pi Kheat, which translate to "the Killer Elbow" and "the Killer Elephant" respectively.
Chhoeung Lvai is a Cambodian martial artist. He competes in low kick kickboxing and Kun Khmer(pradal serey). He is a member of Cambodia's national kickboxing team. He is the winner of the kickboxing gold medal from the 32nd SEA Games. Many fans recognize him as an A-level Khmer boxer. It is difficult for him to find opponents in his weight division with similar ability.
Lorn Panha, is a Cambodian Khmer martial artist that competes in pradal serey and kickboxing. He has garnered recognition both domestically and internationally, and is known to compel his opponents to yield by kicking all the plates.
Pich Sophann is a retired professional Kun Khmer fighter and kickboxer. Now he is a Kun Khmer trainer and a founder of Pich Sophann 8888 Kun Khmer Gym and Kun Khmer Grassroots Super fight and Gym. He has 40 trainees under his supervision included Pich Sambath, a famous champion of Kun Khmer lightweight 60 kg. Sophann was named as < Heavy Fist Punch Fighter > during his year of fight 1999–2009.
Lao Chantrea is a Cambodian martial artist that competes in the Cambodian sport of Kun Khmer(pradal serey). He is considered one of the most skilled boxers in Cambodia and a member of Cambodia's national Kun Khmer team. He has won the national championship and is the reigning gold medalist in Kun Khmer at the Southeast Asian Games in the 75 kg weight division. He is considered a superstar in Cambodia.
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