Bokator: Ancient Cambodian martial arts resurrected

San Kimsean (middle) and his learners. Photo courtesy: Cambodia Sin Chew Daily

Ancient Khmer boxing in action. Photo courtesy: Cambodia Sin Chew Daily

The learners practising the bokator in the rundown training ground. Photo courtesy: Cambodia Sin Chew Daily

Perrier giving a round-up of the making of his documentary film. Photo courtesy: Cambodia Sin Chew Daily

Through sketches, Perrier highlights the bokator moves' origin from animal fights. Photo courtesy: Cambodia Sin Chew Daily

2010-05-25
MySinchew

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Bokator, an ancient Cambodian martial arts form whose origins date as far back as the 9th century, had almost died out before it was resurrected by the efforts of cultural workers. Thanks to a French instructor , it has even been brought to the silver screen now and is making a strong comeback throughout Cambodia.

According to historical records, bokator can be traced all the way back to the Khmer Empire in the 9th century. The people at the time initially created bokator as a way of fighting against wild beasts and self defence. The style originally emulated a lion's fight, however it gradually changed into a martial arts form and gave rise to many legends. From what we know, ancient Khmer soldiers had to learn bokator, and history books recorded that the Khmer army used bokator to defeat the invading Siamese troops during the 16th century.

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