Kbach Kun Khmer Boran (Martial Art) has been dated thousands of years, shown as evidence by carving and bar relief on the wall of Angkor temple. There are many branches of the Kbach Kun Khmer Boran which includes Bokator, Pradal Serey, Baok Chambab, Kbach Kun Dombong Veng and others.
What is Bokator?
Bokator is a part of Khmer martial art and it is originally known as Labokatoa which involves close hand-to-hand fighting, ground techniques and weapon. It comprises of many forms and styles which imitate animals such as Duck, Monkey, Horse, Dragon, Eagle, Crane…etc. According to Wikipedia it has 341sets, which each consists of several techniques, depending on the study of life in nature.
Bokator has been evolved over two thousand years ago by Khmer people who used to protect their territory from invading countries which were enemies. According to Wikipedia, Bokator was developed before Angkor period used by armies. Bok means hit very hard, Tor means a lion, so Bokator can be translated as “hit very hard like a lion”.
Bokator proponents still use the uniform of the bygone Khmer armies during fighting; they also hold Kroma (scarf) which is made of silk, around their waist. Bokator fighters also tied blue and red cords, called Sangva around their head and bicep. Because people in the past believed that cords could increase strength in order to help them defeat their opponents.
The Kroma also reveals Bokator fighter’s skill of expertise. The first level is white followed by green, blue, red, brown, and the last black. In order to attain black Kroma, Bokator fighters at least take ten years of strict train.
Practitioners are taught to knock with feet, knees, shin kicks, elbows, hands, and even the head. Short sticks are usually utilized as weapon.
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