art felled

Pradal Serey

Kun Khmer (also Pradal Serey (Khmer: ប្រដាល់សេរី; English: Free Boxing) (English: Khmer Boxing) is one of the Khmer names for the sport-fighting descendant of the Khmer martial art Bokator. It is similar to sport-fighting arts practiced in several Southeast Asian countries. It is very similar to Muay Thai in Thailand, Tomoi in Malaysia, Muay Lao in Laos, and Lethwei in Myanmar. Pradal and serey are the Khmer words for "fight/boxing" and "free", respectively. Translated literally, the phrase means "free fighting". It's full name romanises as Kbach Kun Boran Khmer Pradal Serey, which translates as "Traditional Khmer Free Boxing". It is popularly known as Pradal Serey, but is now officially known as Kun Khmer.

While most recognizable by its kicking technique, which generates power from hip rotation rather than "snapping" the leg, Pradal Serey/Kun Khmer consists of four types of strikes: punching with the fist, kicking (with either the shin or the foot), elbow strikes, and blows of the knee. The clinch is also used to wear down the opponent. Compared to the Thai counterpart, the Cambodian style tends to emphasize more elusive and shifty fighting stances. The Khmer style also tends to utilize more elbow techniques than that of other regions. More victories come by way of an elbow technique than any other based technique.

Descended from a true martial (i.e. used in warfare) art, the technique and moves of modern Pradal Serey/Kun Khmer have been altered to create the sport version seen today. It is considered the national sport of Cambodia.

History

Styles of boxing have been practiced in Southeast Asia since ancient times and were developed through the influence of martial arts from India. In the Angkor era, both armed and unarmed martial arts were practiced by the Khmers. The martial art Bokator is believed to be the fighting system of the Angkor army and one of the reasons why the Khmer empire used to be a dominant force in Southeast Asia from approximately the 9th century to the 15th century A.D..

Many Cambodians believe that Kun Khmer predates other Southeast Asian forms of kickboxing. This is because ancient kingdom of Angkor dominated most of what is now Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

The basis of the argument that Kun Khmer has existed since 9th century (from the beginning of the Khmer empire) is claimed by many Cambodians to be the bas-relief left behind in the ancient temples of the Bayon and other Angkor temples. The entrance of the Bayon temple has several scenes of Bokator. Among them are two men grappling or wrestling, a man studying a rising cobra and two men fighting using their elbows. Kun Khmer has no "snake technique", but grappling (the clinch) and elbow strikes are integral parts of modern matches.

Much of the writing on ancient Khmer art has either been destroyed or adopted by the invading Siamese armies of the Ayutthaya Kingdom when the they sacked Angkor and took Khmer captives including members of the Khmer royal court back to Ayutthaya Kingdom.

Ultimately Kun Khmer became a sport, during the days of the Colonial Cambodia. When the French came they added western boxing gloves, 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. Some matches had boxers wrap seashells around their knuckles to increase the damage that could be inflicted.

Downfall of Kun Khmer

During the chaos of the Vietnam War, Cambodia was undergoing its own civil war. On April 17, 1975, the communist rebels, the Khmer Rouge, overthrew the government of the Khmer Republic led by Lon Nol after America left the Vietnam War. The Khmer Rouge's plan was to eliminate modern society and create an agriculture utopia.. The Khmer Rouge executed all educated people, others who had ties to the old government or anyone who was believed to be an enemy (doctors, teachers, soldiers, actors, singers, Khmer boxers, etc.) and forced the remaining Khmer population into labor camps, in which many died of starvation and diseases, to be re-educated under the new government. An estimated 1.7 million Cambodians or 20% of the population died during Khmer Rouge Regime. This lasted for four years until 1979 when the Vietnamese along with ex-Khmer Rouge officers overthrew the Khmer Rouge.

Kun Khmer had been banned during the Khmer Rouge era and many boxers were executed or worked to death, which nearly caused the loss of the art of Khmer Boxing. During the relative peace since the departure of the Vietnamese and the re-establishment of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Kun Khmer has been revived in Cambodia.

Kun Khmer Today

Kun Khmer is making a strong comeback since its banishment back in the 70s. Numerous gyms have opened and large masses of students, local and foreign, have come to train in Cambodia. There are weekly matches held, the majority televised live, and many of Cambodia's best have traveled internationally to compete. There are currently approximately 70 boxing clubs nationwide. Cambodia is making an attempt to market their style of boxing to the same caliber of Muay Thai.

Kun Khmer is administered in Cambodia by the Cambodian Amateur Boxing Federation (CABF). Despite its name the CABF covers professional Khmer Boxing. All referees, judges and fighters must be licensed by the CABF. Television stations which hold Khun Khmer tournaments do so under the supervision of the CABF. The individual stations are responsible for organising boxers, trainers, medical staff and musicians. The CABF supplies the match referees, judges and time-keepers.

The current president of the CABF is Okhna Oum Yorann.

Kun Khmer tournaments are screened live on national television. TV5 holds live tournaments on Friday and Sunday, CTN holds live tournaments on Saturday and Sunday . Bayon Television holds live kickboxing tournaments on Saturday and Sunday.

Recent exposure of Khmer Boxing to the western world have come from traveling journalists and tourists. In addition Khmer Boxing was featured on The History Channel's Human Weapon.

Cambodian Television Network (CTN) recently screened a Kun Khmer reality television series called Kun Khmer Champion. Kun Khmer Champion was produced by Ma Serey and co-hosted by Ma Serey and Eh Phoutong. It was won by 19-year old Khlang Mourng Club boxer Cheam Adam from Kampong Cham.

On August 28, 2008, Cambodian Kun Khmer fighters Vorn Viva and Meas Chantha won the ISKA Middleweight and Welterweight world titles in Phnom Penh. It is the first time a Cambodian has held a kickboxing world title.

Attempt of Cambodian to unite Southeast Asian Boxing Style

Over a decade ago Cambodia attempted to unite Southeast Asia's boxing styles. At an ASEAN meeting in 1995 regarding the upcoming King's Cup Muay Thai competition, Cambodia wanted to rename Muay Thai as "Sovanna Phum" boxing or "SEA Boxing", which represented Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. Sovanna Phum means "golden land" in Khmer and in Thai is written as Suwannabhumi, both come from the language of Pali and the name refers to mainland Southeast Asia. "SEA" is a popular acronym referring to Southeast Asia.

Thailand would not compromise, stating that each Southeast Asian country has its own boxing style and that Thailand was responsible for making its kickboxing an international sport. At the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, Cambodia did not enter the Muay Thai event in protest.

Life as a kickboxer

The majority of kickboxers come from rural backgrounds and compete to earn money to feed their families and themselves, as it in the west, boxing is seen as "a way up and out", but of the rice field, rather than the ghetto. Kickboxers range from 14 to 25 years of age, although low earnings or, conversely, great success mean careers may go up to a decade longer. Top kickboxers can have as many as 300 fights in their careers.

Traditionally fighters were paid by the crowd. If the crowd appreciated the boxer's efforts, they would reward him with food, alcohol and cash. This practice still continues today, but, in line with western practice, bouts pay official fees. Until recently the average purse for a fight was US$15.00. Today purses are based on experience. A new boxer will earn US$25.00 per fight. More experienced boxers (with more than a dozen fights) earn up to $75.00. "Brand name" fighters will earn over $100.00 a fight. Special purse fights will pay up to $250.00 with the purse contributed by a corporate sponsor. "International" tournaments, organised by the broadcasters, will pay individual purses of up to $1,000.00, sometimes higher.

The best Khmer Boxing champions are popularly held to come from the Battambang region. Khmer Boxers train in a gym under a Kun Khmer kru. Many kickboxers train 6-8 hours a day and 7 days a week.

The current undisputed Kun Khmer Champion of Cambodia is Eh Phoutong from Koh Kong province. Eh Phoutong has recently semi-retired from fighting at age 35.

Cambodia's top kru include Treung Sossay and Chhit Sarim, both from military-backed clubs, and Sok Vichay, from the Khlang Mourng Boxing Club. Treung Sossay and Chhit Sarim were featured as the trainers in Kun Khmer Champion.

Rules and Match Set Up

A match consists of five three-minute rounds and takes place in a 6.1 meter square boxing ring. A one-and-a-half 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 performed with the instruments skor yaul (a type of drum), the sralai (a flute-like instrument) and the chhing, is played during the match. Modern boxers wear leather gloves and nylon 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, a referee may forgo the count and declare a knockout if it is obvious the boxer will not regain his feet unaided. 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.

Notable Khmer Boxers

Eh Phoutong- Khmer Kickboxing Champion
Ot Phoutong-TV5 kickboxing champion
Vorn Viva - ISKA Middleweight Champion
Meas Chanta - ISKA Welterweight Champion
Pich Arun - International Khmer Kickboxer
Pich Sophun - International Khmer Kickboxer
Chey Kosal - International Khmer Kickboxer
Bun Sothea- Cambodian S1 champion
Try Kuntor- Cambodian Kickboxer
Bing Leung- Cambodian Kickboxer

References

Vongs, Moul. "Khmer Boxing", Leisure Cambodia, December 2001, retrieved November 4, 2006.
The Associated Press. "Cambodia to boycott Thai boxing event over name row", Turkish Daily News, October 23, 1999, retrieved November 4, 2006.
Agencies via Xinhua. "Kick! Kick! Punch!", Shanghai Star, June 7, 2001, retrieved November 4, 2006.
Sieng-You, Thearon. "Boxing Khmère ", Writing of Angkor N°5 via Les Jeunes Khmers, retrieved November 4, 2006.
Mallon, Scott. "Back on their feet" The Irrawaddy, March 2005, retrieved November 4, 2006.
"Cambodian Bloodsport". Human Weapon. Bill Duff, Jason Chambers. History Channel.16 November 2007.