History of Khmer Boxing

Khmer Boxing (Pradal Serey) 

Khmer boxing is a kind of well-known sports in Cambodia, has existed thousands of years in the ancient time. Now the sport is known as Pradal Serey(ប្រដាល់សេរី) or Kun Khmer (គុនខ្មែរ). Pradal, in Khmer language, means boxing or fighting, and Serey means free. Therefore, Pradal Serey or Kun Khmer can be translated as English “free boxing or free fighting”. This boxing, the boxer strives to knock his opponent down by utilizing his own techniques or get won a match by knockout (KO) or scores.

 Pradal Sery is called by Khmer, although; this kind of boxing has been found in other countries in Southeast Asia such as in Thailand is called “Muay Thai” , in Lao is known as “Muay Lao”, “Lethwei” in Mayanma and “Tomoi” in Malaysia.

Pradal Serey is famous around the world for its techniques to make an opponent weaker or less determined. There are four sorts of strikes in Khmer Boxing such as fist, kicks (kick by utilizing shin and feet), elbows and knee strikes. The fighters can use their hands, legs, elbows, and knee to hit an opponent freely. Cambodian fighters tend to use more elbows and knees than other fighters in region. However, Pradal Serey, all fighters can fight freely, it has its own rules and term of condition.

Rules and match setup 

A match is comprised of five rounds, three minutes per round and organized in a 6.1 meter square boxing arena. There is two minute break in each round. At the head of each match the fighters practice praying rituals, called Kun Kru which is accompanied by traditional Khmer music with the musical instruments such as Skor Yaul ( a type of Khmer drum), the Sralai (a flute-like musical instruments) and a string Chhing. In the ancient time, boxers utilized thread to spin their hands, but now they wear leather gloves and shorts.

Rules:

1. A boxer is not permitted to strike his opponent while he is on the ground

2. A boxer is not allowed to bite or hit by head

3. A boxer is not allowed to hit his opponent on the nape or back of head.

4. The referee stops the fighter when an opponent cannot continue to fight.

5. A boxer could not hold on the rope

6. Hits to the genitals are prohibited