LeisureCambodia.com
Khmer kick boxing, or ‘Khmer free boxing’ as some people refer to it, has become a popular televised spectator sport recently, and national station TVK is now getting into the act with a Sunday fight round to be beamed around the country live from Parkway in Phnom Penh. "The athletic combat sport calls for agility, flexibility and toughness as fists and feet of two competitors fly in a fight to the bitter end," said Mr Mel Kado, General Secretary of Cambodia Amateur Boxing Association. "Exponents use moves with exotic names like kla-krab (tiger lying down), and krapeu-ha (crocodile opening its mouth) to force their opponents into submission." Increased access to viewing the sport has lead to a revival in the numbers of young men practicing it (in Cambodia, boxing is not a sport for women), with about 40 boxing clubs now operating nationally under 19 municipal and provincial amateur boxing associations. "Boxing is becoming popular again, especially amongst young people in the provinces,"
Mr Nang Ravith, Vice President of the Khmer Amateur Wresting Association and owner of the Baksei Cham-krong Fight Club said. "To promote it, my club is now including it-both modern and traditional styles-among our other styles, like Grecco and Khmer wrestling, Judo, Karate and Kungfu, for instance."
But there is concern among some, such as the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, that Khmers do not realize that this sport originated here and that, although similar to the Thai sport of Muay Thai, it is intrinsically Khmer, down to the carved images of ancient boxers immortalized in bas-relief on the walls of the Angkor temples. Khmer boxers have in the past refused to attend bouts in Thailand called Muay Thai tournaments, suggesting instead it be called Sovanna Phum (Golden Village) Boxing and objecting to what they see as a Thai attempt to appropriate the sport. The Thais in turn have argued that no one has ever heard of Muay Khmer, and have refused to change the name. The decision wrinkles with many in Cambodia and has created minor international incidents between the two at times. "The Angkorian Empire far pre-dated the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1350-1767) and even the Sokothai Kingdom (1200)," Mr Chuch Phoeun, Under Secretary of State for the Ministry of Culture said.
"A senior Thai expert, a friend of mine, recently conceded to me at an ASEAN cultural experts meeting that prior to the Ayutthaya Kingdom, that Siam copied from the Angkorian Empire, and Sokothai was still in the feudal stage." But war, Khmer experts like this say, has meant that the inventors of the sport now lag well behind their neighbors in practice. That, officials say, will change over coming years as the Khmers fight back to regain recognition in the sport. Whatever the world federations decide to call it, there is a passion for kick boxing here that is only now being recognized, partially through television, to rise to levels of popularity seen in the sixties.
Each bout is accompanied by the haunting music of the skor yaul (a type of drum), the sralai (a flute-like instrument) and the stringed chhing and as the boxers come out and bow solemnly in their traditional headgear, the roar of the crowd calls them to battle. Kbach Kun Pradal Khmer the official Khmer name for kickboxing _ thought to have originated as a sort of hand-to-hand combat technique for soldiers during war, and in ancient times there were no weight divisions. Instead the sport was fought on an all-comers basis. The sport has since become more regulated, and is fought in a 6.1 meter square ring in the same style as conventional western boxing bouts, with five 3-minute rounds broken by one minute rests between rounds.
Bouts are decided by the referee or officials, and a knockout is deemed to be when a boxer is knocked down and cannot rise within 10 seconds.
Now local boxers will get the chance to take on their Thai rivals and let their fists and feet do the talking when the Parkway fights get underway in the first week of Januray..
Guest fighters have already been invited to take on local heroes in what the station expects to be a ratings bonanza, given the popularity of the sport and the extra spice of international rivalry.
Full Version: Khmer kick boxing
Thailand invades Khmer Sport of Kick Boxing
Kick boxing was born in the Angkor regime when it was broadly used among the military to protect the country from being invaded by her neighbors. After the war kick boxing be the came one of the hot sport events in Cambodia. Thailand is now trying its best to monopolize kick boxing. The Thais have set up a worldwide boxing committee. in which almost 100 countries participate. This is why kick boxing is commonly known as Thai boxing. At an Asean meeting in 1995,
Thailand asked that kick boxing be called Mau Thai or Thai boxing. Cambodia has asked that the sport be called Sovanna Phum boxing , which refers to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, but Thailand has not agreed. Unfortunately. some Cambodians seem to favor Thailand. The weekly kick-boxing matches organized by local television station Channel 5 help develop the sport in Cambodia. But why do Cambodian boxers on the program wear boxing gloves that have a Thai letter? Did the Cambodian Sport Federation see the Thai letter on the gloves of Cambodian boxers? Maybe they thought it was a small matter. But for other races, this was not as small. Can the sport committee get rid of the Thai letter? Cambodia has its own culture and its own sports. Cambodians should strongly deny any attempt to be a member of the Thai "World Boxing," which could ruin Cambodian culture. The world should know that kick boxing was known as Khmer free boxing since the Angkor regime.
Kick boxing was born in the Angkor regime when it was broadly used among the military to protect the country from being invaded by her neighbors. After the war kick boxing be the came one of the hot sport events in Cambodia. Thailand is now trying its best to monopolize kick boxing. The Thais have set up a worldwide boxing committee. in which almost 100 countries participate. This is why kick boxing is commonly known as Thai boxing. At an Asean meeting in 1995,
Thailand asked that kick boxing be called Mau Thai or Thai boxing. Cambodia has asked that the sport be called Sovanna Phum boxing , which refers to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, but Thailand has not agreed. Unfortunately. some Cambodians seem to favor Thailand. The weekly kick-boxing matches organized by local television station Channel 5 help develop the sport in Cambodia. But why do Cambodian boxers on the program wear boxing gloves that have a Thai letter? Did the Cambodian Sport Federation see the Thai letter on the gloves of Cambodian boxers? Maybe they thought it was a small matter. But for other races, this was not as small. Can the sport committee get rid of the Thai letter? Cambodia has its own culture and its own sports. Cambodians should strongly deny any attempt to be a member of the Thai "World Boxing," which could ruin Cambodian culture. The world should know that kick boxing was known as Khmer free boxing since the Angkor regime.
Team boycotts, Says 'Thai Boxing' is Khmer
Cambodia's national boxing team is boycotting a regional tournament in Bangkok next month, (Tuesday, October 12 1999). protesting Monday that the sport known around the world as Thai kickboxing is, in fact, Cambodia. And the boycott's supporters say their evidence in set in stone specifically, the carvings at the ancient temples of Angkor. Prum Bun Yi, director of the Cambodian Olympic Committee, said the national team will not attend the King's Cup tournament in Bangkok unless organizers take the words "Muay Thai" out of the event's title. Literally "Thai boxing," Muay Thai is the distinct martial art in which feet, fists, elbows any part of the body except the head can be used. It has been part of Thai culture for centuries and exhibitions are a major tourist attraction in Bangkok. But Cambodian athletics organizers grumble that the Thai borrowed the sport from the 9th-15th century Khmer empire. "We that free-style boxing has belonged to the Khmer since ancient times," Prum Bun Yi said. The boycott has the support of the country's boxing schools. "We will continue to oppose the Thais using "Muay Thai" for this regional competition because this is really Khmer traditional boxing," Khat Thin, boxing coach of the Cambodian army told Sethakech Neung Chivit newspaper. "We have evidence," he added. "Our ancestors carved it in stone in the walls of all the temples in Siem Reap."
Cambodia's national boxing team is boycotting a regional tournament in Bangkok next month, (Tuesday, October 12 1999). protesting Monday that the sport known around the world as Thai kickboxing is, in fact, Cambodia. And the boycott's supporters say their evidence in set in stone specifically, the carvings at the ancient temples of Angkor. Prum Bun Yi, director of the Cambodian Olympic Committee, said the national team will not attend the King's Cup tournament in Bangkok unless organizers take the words "Muay Thai" out of the event's title. Literally "Thai boxing," Muay Thai is the distinct martial art in which feet, fists, elbows any part of the body except the head can be used. It has been part of Thai culture for centuries and exhibitions are a major tourist attraction in Bangkok. But Cambodian athletics organizers grumble that the Thai borrowed the sport from the 9th-15th century Khmer empire. "We that free-style boxing has belonged to the Khmer since ancient times," Prum Bun Yi said. The boycott has the support of the country's boxing schools. "We will continue to oppose the Thais using "Muay Thai" for this regional competition because this is really Khmer traditional boxing," Khat Thin, boxing coach of the Cambodian army told Sethakech Neung Chivit newspaper. "We have evidence," he added. "Our ancestors carved it in stone in the walls of all the temples in Siem Reap."
Damn your posts are too frekain long..anwyway
I never seen it..hear about it..neva seen..Thai and Viet need to quit biting
I never seen it..hear about it..neva seen..Thai and Viet need to quit biting
Wow interesting I should do a passage on it for school! Yea I heard this before.
Muay does not have a meaning it Thai but in Khmer it stand for number 1 so when u win u scream number 1! I hope they change the name I am so sick of seeing Thai this and Thai that when they didn't invent it. Just because they are more popular to the West don't mean they don't have to give credits where it due!
Muay does not have a meaning it Thai but in Khmer it stand for number 1 so when u win u scream number 1! I hope they change the name I am so sick of seeing Thai this and Thai that when they didn't invent it. Just because they are more popular to the West don't mean they don't have to give credits where it due!
KHMER KICK BOXING 
QUOTE (Kambolizhuz @ Jan 23 2004, 04:57 PM)
Wow interesting I should do a passage on it for school! Yea I heard this before.
Muay does not have a meaning it Thai but in Khmer it stand for number 1 so when u win u scream number 1! I hope they change the name I am so sick of seeing Thai this and Thai that when they didn't invent it. Just because they are more popular to the West don't mean they don't have to give credits where it due!
Muay does not have a meaning it Thai but in Khmer it stand for number 1 so when u win u scream number 1! I hope they change the name I am so sick of seeing Thai this and Thai that when they didn't invent it. Just because they are more popular to the West don't mean they don't have to give credits where it due!
I think Muay in Thai is supposed to mean a type of fighting. I also hate seeing Thai people taking credit for this, but there's not much we can do about this.
u know wat i dislike aobut some of our own kind. everytime they talk about kick boxing they say it thai kickboxing. oh yea i learn mauy thai. man they always say that they need more education about that. for real these guy giving them credit just cause everybody think it their(thai) sport. wtf
^ I know what you mean, that pisses me off too.
wow, i didn't khow that Muay Thai was actually invented by the Cambodians first.
BTW, are you guys related to the Thai in anyway ?
BTW, are you guys related to the Thai in anyway ?
^ Not much people know that Muay Thai actually belongs to Cambodians.
Cambodians aren't really related to Thais by blood, but have had several links in culture and all.
Cambodians aren't really related to Thais by blood, but have had several links in culture and all.
QUOTE (eklypze @ May 20 2005, 08:02 PM)
^ Not much people know that Muay Thai actually belongs to Cambodians.
Cambodians aren't really related to Thais by blood, but have had several links in culture and all.
Cambodians aren't really related to Thais by blood, but have had several links in culture and all.
but some thai people will denie cultural links to the khmer.
^ hilariously, i might add.
Remember people, they can impersonate but they can not duplicate
Ok, I will call it Muay Khamen in the future 
QUOTE (Kewell7 @ May 22 2005, 08:56 AM)
Ok, I will call it Muay Khamen in the future
We call it bredal serei
btw what does Muay mean?
Cambodia reclaims kickboxing heritage
"After decades of war, kickboxing was forgotten and the athletes were
weak. Now we are trying our best to restore our reputation" - Um
Yurann
In its latest battle with neighbouring Thailand over cultural
heritage, Cambodia is moving to reclaim its stake in a sport that it
says it originated.
Kickboxing, made famous in the region by skilled Thai fighters, is on
the rise in Cambodia after three decades of strife put the pleasures
of sport on the back burner.
Cambodian fighters are now sparring against each other and visitors
from other countries, including Thailand - and they're winning.
Um Yurann, deputy director of the Cambodian Boxing Federation, is at
the forefront of the cultural battle and points to bass reliefs on
the ancient walls of the ninth to 12th century Angkor temples as
proof that Cambodians have been practising the sport for centuries.
"After decades of war, kickboxing was forgotten and the athletes were
weak. Now we are trying our best to restore our reputation," Yurann
said.
"But we are still poor and most of our boxers are in poor living
conditions. They do not have enough energy to practise."
But they do practise, at some 70 boxing clubs around the country and
with determination to become world-class athletes some day.
"We often have foreign kickboxers from Japan, France, Thailand,
Australia, Spain, Sweden, Canada and other countries who come to
compete with our boxers," Um Yurann said.
"Sometimes we lose, sometimes we win. This is normal."
It is clear on any given weekend that Cambodians are embracing the
sport wholeheartedly.
Television stations have begun staging weekly matches that spectators
can watch at the studios in Phnom Penh or live on TV.
Coach Chhith Sarim said it was unfortunate that Cambodia lost its
spot in the world of kickboxing while the country was at war, but
he's determined to win it back.
"Our kickboxers are really good and it is not proper that Thailand
says Cambodia copied its game while we were busy with war," Sarim
said.
Cambodian kickboxers - like other athletes, entertainers and
intellectuals - were targeted by the Pol Pot's murderous Khmer Rouge
soldiers during the group's 1975-79 regime.
An estimated 1.7 million people died from execution, disease,
starvation and overwork during the Khmer Rouge's nearly four-year
rule.
A decade of Vietnamese occupation in the 1980s and continuing war and
poverty in the 1990s prevented enthusiasts from rebuilding the sport
"After decades of war, kickboxing was forgotten and the athletes were
weak. Now we are trying our best to restore our reputation" - Um
Yurann
In its latest battle with neighbouring Thailand over cultural
heritage, Cambodia is moving to reclaim its stake in a sport that it
says it originated.
Kickboxing, made famous in the region by skilled Thai fighters, is on
the rise in Cambodia after three decades of strife put the pleasures
of sport on the back burner.
Cambodian fighters are now sparring against each other and visitors
from other countries, including Thailand - and they're winning.
Um Yurann, deputy director of the Cambodian Boxing Federation, is at
the forefront of the cultural battle and points to bass reliefs on
the ancient walls of the ninth to 12th century Angkor temples as
proof that Cambodians have been practising the sport for centuries.
"After decades of war, kickboxing was forgotten and the athletes were
weak. Now we are trying our best to restore our reputation," Yurann
said.
"But we are still poor and most of our boxers are in poor living
conditions. They do not have enough energy to practise."
But they do practise, at some 70 boxing clubs around the country and
with determination to become world-class athletes some day.
"We often have foreign kickboxers from Japan, France, Thailand,
Australia, Spain, Sweden, Canada and other countries who come to
compete with our boxers," Um Yurann said.
"Sometimes we lose, sometimes we win. This is normal."
It is clear on any given weekend that Cambodians are embracing the
sport wholeheartedly.
Television stations have begun staging weekly matches that spectators
can watch at the studios in Phnom Penh or live on TV.
Coach Chhith Sarim said it was unfortunate that Cambodia lost its
spot in the world of kickboxing while the country was at war, but
he's determined to win it back.
"Our kickboxers are really good and it is not proper that Thailand
says Cambodia copied its game while we were busy with war," Sarim
said.
Cambodian kickboxers - like other athletes, entertainers and
intellectuals - were targeted by the Pol Pot's murderous Khmer Rouge
soldiers during the group's 1975-79 regime.
An estimated 1.7 million people died from execution, disease,
starvation and overwork during the Khmer Rouge's nearly four-year
rule.
A decade of Vietnamese occupation in the 1980s and continuing war and
poverty in the 1990s prevented enthusiasts from rebuilding the sport
^ Khmer's are now trying their best to promote Bradal Serei, the main reason Khmer kickboxers can't is because Muay Thai fighters are very strong, and Khmer boxers have a lack a nutrients and all. It's only a matter of time now.
that's right we do have lack of nutrients in our country.... but give it some time... we will catch up later in the future.... as you know lately khmer production have been making movies about khmer kickboxers.... very interesting.... like buffulo protecting child is one of khmer kickboxing styles.. and some others one that haven't come out yet...
OUR LOST KHMER KICKBOXING 
QUOTE (over @ May 23 2005, 09:19 PM)
OUR LOST KHMER KICKBOXING
Not lost yet.
learn something new today about my Khmer background
we spend too much time trying to claim back kickboxing styles, with that time we could have promoted other khmer martial arts, and there are alot, i dont think kickboxing styles was the best we khmers came up with. and plus "muay thai" isnt even complete, we should try to research the whole system and kick their asses and show them whos boss.
QUOTE (Sopheak @ May 24 2005, 12:36 PM)
we spend too much time trying to claim back kickboxing styles, with that time we could have promoted other khmer martial arts, and there are alot, i dont think kickboxing styles was the best we khmers came up with. and plus "muay thai" isnt even complete, we should try to research the whole system and kick their asses and show them whos boss.
Khmers at the moment are also trying to promote Khmer Kung Fu through movies and occasional tournaments. Also, Pradal Serei (Muay Thai) is our sacred martial arts, we can't just let it go that easily, of course we want to claim it back.
QUOTE (eklypze @ May 24 2005, 04:19 PM)
Khmers at the moment are also trying to promote Khmer Kung Fu through movies and occasional tournaments. Also, Pradal Serei (Muay Thai) is our sacred martial arts, we can't just let it go that easily, of course we want to claim it back.
yeah your right, makes sense
but i havent seen any khmer kung fu on screen yet (except maybe krai thong krepeu charawan, not sure), unless they have it in Kabei leak koun, the forest scene, was that khmer kung fu or was it wushu. cause there is a cambodian wushu team and they preparing for olympics Beijing 2008. but they seem to lack confidence in themselves i noticed after reading and interview
im not saying give up on kickboxing, we should try to learn the whole style and kick ppls asses with it. hahahhah that would be a great story for a movie. hey someone should write screenplay about sumin like that.
pradal serei? isnt that free fighting, sounds more all out pugilism than a martial art. i thought its khmer Muoi is the what muay thai copied, excuse my spellings.
they should really bring back old cambodian martial art novels and plays, most cambodian adults tells me that khmer martial arts in those stories are nothing like khmer martial arts promoted today. But krabei leak goun was great in promoting that. War distroyed everything
i think we'll get there again. if masters will agree to bring them out to the world. We Khmers to have the ability to be up there. right now its the matter of support and time.
you guys should really ask your parents about old cambodian martial arts novels from the 60s and 50s, they fu-ken amazing, stories that could rival Jin Yong's Wuxias.
so epic
none of that tep soda chan, krepeu charawan stuff
like novels created by malapi, hui keung and i dont know the others
man i would love to see those stories on screen. great ways to promote khmer martial arts.
i think very soon, cambodia will start to promote bokor tao. this khmer martial art was just recently rediscovered and there are only two known survivors left who studied this martial art and they're very old too. but hopefully, with the ancient manual that was rediscovered, the khmers can start to practicing it more.
QUOTE
was that khmer kung fu or was it wushu.
That was Khmer Kung Fu, not WuShu. Please also notice that Khmer Kung Fu was developed independantly from Chinese Kung Fu, and has it's name because it is very similar to Chinese Kung Fu.
QUOTE
but they seem to lack confidence in themselves i noticed after reading and interview
I agree, many Khmers do lack confidence in themselves. That is one of the major sources of our errors.
QUOTE
isnt that free fighting, sounds more all out pugilism than a martial art.
I'm sorry, my mistake.
QUOTE
i thought its khmer Muoi is the what muay thai copied, excuse my spellings.
I'm pretty sure it was Pradal Serei that Thais had copied. But of course, I could be mistaken.
QUOTE
they should really bring back old cambodian martial art novels and plays, most cambodian adults tells me that khmer martial arts in those stories are nothing like khmer martial arts promoted today. But krabei leak goun was great in promoting that. War distroyed everything
I have heard that too, there used to be such a variety of Khmer martial arts, it's a shame that so many of them have been lost by war. The worst thing is that there aren't even that many Khmer martial artists trying to bring up our name again. Sure we have some, but not enough.
QUOTE
i think we'll get there again. if masters will agree to bring them out to the world. We Khmers to have the ability to be up there. right now its the matter of support and time.
QUOTE (nombaingsachko @ May 24 2005, 09:39 PM)
i think very soon, cambodia will start to promote bokor tao. this khmer martial art was just recently rediscovered and there are only two known survivors left who studied this martial art and they're very old too. but hopefully, with the ancient manual that was rediscovered, the khmers can start to practicing it more.
lol, that sounds so movie-esque. finding some kapi kbach khun, haha. do you have any more information about this? i'm interested.
QUOTE (shoehorn.o.plenty @ May 24 2005, 11:07 PM)
QUOTE (nombaingsachko @ May 24 2005, 09:39 PM)
i think very soon, cambodia will start to promote bokor tao. this khmer martial art was just recently rediscovered and there are only two known survivors left who studied this martial art and they're very old too. but hopefully, with the ancient manual that was rediscovered, the khmers can start to practicing it more.
lol, that sounds so movie-esque. finding some kapi kbach khun, haha. do you have any more information about this? i'm interested.
i got this post from another forum. if it wasn't for the KR regime, this martial art could've been very popular and probably even turn into an international sport/martial art.
QUOTE
The Director of Khmer Sport Federation in Phnom Penh has just announced that his team has just re-discovered the 11th Century Khmer Manual (Kboun) on close-combat forms and movements once employed by Jayavarman VII troops to beat the Chams and the Siems during the Ankor period.
The researched started in the 1970 by the Khmer-Mon Institute in Phnom Penh, but was interrupted by the war and the murderous KR regime. The manuscript which was scribed on palm leaves (Sastra) was guarded by some khmer Boka Tor Masters, who acquired this ancient art from their predecessors in rural Cambodia. During the Pol Pot regime these masters, managed ho hide the manuscript under a 10-foot pile of cow dung and dirt. Now the survivors among these masters came out with the manuscript, and offer to translate the text and apply the theory to teach and inspire khmer youngs and olds to carry on, and develop this art into a full fledge national and perhaps international sport for the next khmer generation and the world to see and appreciate.
Boka Tor, means "Attack the Lion". It was a military hand-to-hand combat technique used by ancient khmer soldiers to do battle with club, knife, sword, spear, and shield, or worse case scenario barehands, elbows, and feets. I was a city boy not knowing anything about it, but had the chance to witness some khmer farm boys having rounds of matches for bet money and fun, in the ground of the village Wat occasionally when we had New Year or Kathin Festival. The match is performed with a cadence from a drum beat. It has many forms and movements with names such as "Crouching Tiger, Flying Monkey, Hanuman Hugging, etc.. You all remember Hanuman story I posted earlier. There are so many movements to learn as I was told, if you can master all of them, you will be able to put down a lion like a Roman Gladiator.
Guess what! our northern neighbors the Siems, took it, and rendered it to be their own creation so-called "Thai Kick-Boxing". I remeber when I was small and we had relation with Thailand, there were monthly scheduled fighting matches between khmer and thai kick/free boxers, which were performed with an ancient khmer funeral music in the background, and a spanking new coffin by the ringside in the arena near Wat Phnom. Yes, there were fatalities quite frequently, it just happend so often that the thai boxers ended up going home in the new coffin, and I ain't lying. It was so violent that many khmer mothers tell the husbands not to take the kids to the matches. Khmer boys from Siemreap, Battambang, and Kampong Thom were generally our best fighters and champion. The last hero we had was a young fighter name LONG BOVIT, he was my senior classman in our army cadet school, our instructors used to make him do a number of movements before our meals. (Wherever you are Bovit rest in peace my friend, the game is back in town!).
In the old day, I was told by my grandfather who had a few years (he has mean tatoos on both knees, shoulders, and elbows to prove it) of Bokar Tor himself, that the fighters would wrapped their hands in layers of raw cotton tread (tough stuff), with ground/broken up pieces of glass embedded with wood resin on the back of the hands, and sometimes piece of lead in the palms to give it a lethal effect. It was a mean tournament my friends, and it's not for amateurs. I assume this was the way Jayavarman VII chose his army officers, the guys who managed to stay upright after a half a dozen grueling deadly rounds. In rural cambodia, in some villages you can find a genuin farmer with Boka Tor training, sometimes to see the demonstration you can offer the man (guy with mean tatoos) a couple shots of chinese rice wine, he then will be happy to show-off his stuff, and if you can find two of them they would start the match right on the spot, without gloves of course.
The director indicates that Boka Tor training is open to male and female of all ages. As a matter of fact he saids that there are two grandmas (Yay) in their late sixties who already have a headstart on it, hoping to be the first to achieve the top rank of "Golden Kromar" (the khmer scarf will be used as belt, there are 12 levels). I guess the "yays" are fed up of being pushed around by Hun Sen's thugs, and decide to take no more crap (Lookout!!!).
It is rare for us khmer to be fortunate and be able to preserve such treasor, I wonder how many more of these precious artifacts got lost and burried under the cow manure, mud and ponds all around the country. How much of an effort the current ruler put on such noble tasks, or if anybody care!.
Anyway be on the lookout for the development, I can't wait to bring the Bokar Tor out so we can shut the Thai up with their so-called Thai-kick Boxing.
Let's give our compatriots all the support if and when they need us.
The researched started in the 1970 by the Khmer-Mon Institute in Phnom Penh, but was interrupted by the war and the murderous KR regime. The manuscript which was scribed on palm leaves (Sastra) was guarded by some khmer Boka Tor Masters, who acquired this ancient art from their predecessors in rural Cambodia. During the Pol Pot regime these masters, managed ho hide the manuscript under a 10-foot pile of cow dung and dirt. Now the survivors among these masters came out with the manuscript, and offer to translate the text and apply the theory to teach and inspire khmer youngs and olds to carry on, and develop this art into a full fledge national and perhaps international sport for the next khmer generation and the world to see and appreciate.
Boka Tor, means "Attack the Lion". It was a military hand-to-hand combat technique used by ancient khmer soldiers to do battle with club, knife, sword, spear, and shield, or worse case scenario barehands, elbows, and feets. I was a city boy not knowing anything about it, but had the chance to witness some khmer farm boys having rounds of matches for bet money and fun, in the ground of the village Wat occasionally when we had New Year or Kathin Festival. The match is performed with a cadence from a drum beat. It has many forms and movements with names such as "Crouching Tiger, Flying Monkey, Hanuman Hugging, etc.. You all remember Hanuman story I posted earlier. There are so many movements to learn as I was told, if you can master all of them, you will be able to put down a lion like a Roman Gladiator.
Guess what! our northern neighbors the Siems, took it, and rendered it to be their own creation so-called "Thai Kick-Boxing". I remeber when I was small and we had relation with Thailand, there were monthly scheduled fighting matches between khmer and thai kick/free boxers, which were performed with an ancient khmer funeral music in the background, and a spanking new coffin by the ringside in the arena near Wat Phnom. Yes, there were fatalities quite frequently, it just happend so often that the thai boxers ended up going home in the new coffin, and I ain't lying. It was so violent that many khmer mothers tell the husbands not to take the kids to the matches. Khmer boys from Siemreap, Battambang, and Kampong Thom were generally our best fighters and champion. The last hero we had was a young fighter name LONG BOVIT, he was my senior classman in our army cadet school, our instructors used to make him do a number of movements before our meals. (Wherever you are Bovit rest in peace my friend, the game is back in town!).
In the old day, I was told by my grandfather who had a few years (he has mean tatoos on both knees, shoulders, and elbows to prove it) of Bokar Tor himself, that the fighters would wrapped their hands in layers of raw cotton tread (tough stuff), with ground/broken up pieces of glass embedded with wood resin on the back of the hands, and sometimes piece of lead in the palms to give it a lethal effect. It was a mean tournament my friends, and it's not for amateurs. I assume this was the way Jayavarman VII chose his army officers, the guys who managed to stay upright after a half a dozen grueling deadly rounds. In rural cambodia, in some villages you can find a genuin farmer with Boka Tor training, sometimes to see the demonstration you can offer the man (guy with mean tatoos) a couple shots of chinese rice wine, he then will be happy to show-off his stuff, and if you can find two of them they would start the match right on the spot, without gloves of course.
The director indicates that Boka Tor training is open to male and female of all ages. As a matter of fact he saids that there are two grandmas (Yay) in their late sixties who already have a headstart on it, hoping to be the first to achieve the top rank of "Golden Kromar" (the khmer scarf will be used as belt, there are 12 levels). I guess the "yays" are fed up of being pushed around by Hun Sen's thugs, and decide to take no more crap (Lookout!!!).
It is rare for us khmer to be fortunate and be able to preserve such treasor, I wonder how many more of these precious artifacts got lost and burried under the cow manure, mud and ponds all around the country. How much of an effort the current ruler put on such noble tasks, or if anybody care!.
Anyway be on the lookout for the development, I can't wait to bring the Bokar Tor out so we can shut the Thai up with their so-called Thai-kick Boxing.
Let's give our compatriots all the support if and when they need us.
check out this new khmer martial arts movie. i can't wait for its release.
http://www.angkorwat.com/playmovies.php?wv...id=39&wcatid=58
http://www.angkorwat.com/playmovies.php?wv...id=39&wcatid=58
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QUOTE
check out this new khmer martial arts movie. i can't wait for its release.
http://www.angkorwat.com/playmovies.php?wv...id=39&wcatid=58
http://www.angkorwat.com/playmovies.php?wv...id=39&wcatid=58
That movie looks awesome and so does the art they are using.
hello everybody. im new here
i do Badai Serai at Melbourne, Australia. do anybody do it to
i do Badai Serai at Melbourne, Australia. do anybody do it to
I do really want to share my comment about the allegation of native and traditional kickboxing, where it come from and who should it belong to?
I enjoy watching traditional khmer kickboxing which is known as KBECH KUN BORRAN KHMER. It is quite physical, fast and alot alternative styles such as elbows, knees and any part of the body, i believe from what i have seen. this sport, sometimes can be quite dangerous which can cause a severe injury, however i still loves the sport, i guess it is within my blood and i'm sure most khmers would believe that too!
I have been done a few research on internet (from khmer forum) and books (khmer empire and khmer arts). After reading the texts and internet i am more closer to identify who invented the sport.
Base on facts khmer was the oldest people and strongest in south eat asia, thus khmer was very powerful back during 9th and 14th centuries, which the khmer empire dominated and controlled both Thailand and Loa. In addition during those times khmer invented the culture, custome and especially sport. The neighbouring Siam (Thailand) and Loa was influences by the khmer culture, custome, sport and language. In the modern day, the custome, language, culture and sport tell us everything where it come from. The allegation about Muay Thai and talking closely, we khmers know that our ancient khmer invented the sport and it should be well recognised the world, that what it should be in my opinion, However i am shocked that Thailand did not give the credit to khmer and Loa, from what i have read from the history of muay thai '' we invented the sport'' by the Muay Thai federation. In fact they were misleading to statement, it is definitely is incorrect. Further The Muay Thai federation doing quiet an excellent job through marketing and promotion to raise the awareness of the sport to the world. I think it involved alot skills, knowledge and financial resources, in addition the popular of Muay Thai is growing bigger and better, in contrast the world no nothing about our native sport(Kun Borran Khmer) which shocked me the most, plus i am looking for improvement, development and solutions to let the world know where it should belong, nevertheless the biggest problems we are facing are poverty and lack of fanancial resources which is very difficult to cope and achieve to our expectation.
Finally i wish the develoment of this native khmer sport is improvement!
best of luck,
I enjoy watching traditional khmer kickboxing which is known as KBECH KUN BORRAN KHMER. It is quite physical, fast and alot alternative styles such as elbows, knees and any part of the body, i believe from what i have seen. this sport, sometimes can be quite dangerous which can cause a severe injury, however i still loves the sport, i guess it is within my blood and i'm sure most khmers would believe that too!
I have been done a few research on internet (from khmer forum) and books (khmer empire and khmer arts). After reading the texts and internet i am more closer to identify who invented the sport.
Base on facts khmer was the oldest people and strongest in south eat asia, thus khmer was very powerful back during 9th and 14th centuries, which the khmer empire dominated and controlled both Thailand and Loa. In addition during those times khmer invented the culture, custome and especially sport. The neighbouring Siam (Thailand) and Loa was influences by the khmer culture, custome, sport and language. In the modern day, the custome, language, culture and sport tell us everything where it come from. The allegation about Muay Thai and talking closely, we khmers know that our ancient khmer invented the sport and it should be well recognised the world, that what it should be in my opinion, However i am shocked that Thailand did not give the credit to khmer and Loa, from what i have read from the history of muay thai '' we invented the sport'' by the Muay Thai federation. In fact they were misleading to statement, it is definitely is incorrect. Further The Muay Thai federation doing quiet an excellent job through marketing and promotion to raise the awareness of the sport to the world. I think it involved alot skills, knowledge and financial resources, in addition the popular of Muay Thai is growing bigger and better, in contrast the world no nothing about our native sport(Kun Borran Khmer) which shocked me the most, plus i am looking for improvement, development and solutions to let the world know where it should belong, nevertheless the biggest problems we are facing are poverty and lack of fanancial resources which is very difficult to cope and achieve to our expectation.
Finally i wish the develoment of this native khmer sport is improvement!
best of luck,
Muay Thai has developed into its own style. It evoled into a Thai style, but its origin is questionably not Thai.
Bokathor is the most refined fighting art of Cambodia. It is the true art of the nine limbs. Fighting in dense jungles you will need all nine limbs, elbow, knee, head included. To make it short, its like a blend of kickboxing, wu shu, and jujitsu. It uses the 9 limbs, 7 fist(head, hands, feet, knees) and about 25 lock holds. Lots of flying
Bokathor is the most refined fighting art of Cambodia. It is the true art of the nine limbs. Fighting in dense jungles you will need all nine limbs, elbow, knee, head included. To make it short, its like a blend of kickboxing, wu shu, and jujitsu. It uses the 9 limbs, 7 fist(head, hands, feet, knees) and about 25 lock holds. Lots of flying
QUOTE (Point_Dexter @ Jul 14 2005, 01:27 AM)
Muay Thai has developed into its own style. It evoled into a Thai style, but its origin is questionably not Thai.
Bokathor is the most refined fighting art of Cambodia. It is the true art of the nine limbs. Fighting in dense jungles you will need all nine limbs, elbow, knee, head included. To make it short, its like a blend of kickboxing, wu shu, and jujitsu. It uses the 9 limbs, 7 fist(head, hands, feet, knees) and about 25 lock holds. Lots of flying
Bokathor is the most refined fighting art of Cambodia. It is the true art of the nine limbs. Fighting in dense jungles you will need all nine limbs, elbow, knee, head included. To make it short, its like a blend of kickboxing, wu shu, and jujitsu. It uses the 9 limbs, 7 fist(head, hands, feet, knees) and about 25 lock holds. Lots of flying
bro, do you know anymore info on bokor tor? i've heard that it has just been rediscovered recently. some old bokor tor masters are now willing to translate the manuscripts and apply it to teach the younger khmer generation about this lost but deadly art.
omg khmai kickboxing.. musled body omg.. ! i cant compete to that !and my parents arent lettin me to do kickboxing.. cos i will might kill some1 =) JKJK
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