“Kun Bokator: The Martial Art Making Waves at SEA Games 2023 and Beyond”

CNN Indonesia

Monday, 08 May 2023 16:39 WIB

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —

Indonesian athletes from the Kun Bokator sport have donated two gold medals in SEA Games 2023. What’s that Kun Bokator?

From a number of Cambodian media articles, such as the Phnom Penh Post and Khmer Times, it is stated that Kun Bokator existed more than 1,000 years ago. This martial art has existed since the Khmer empire.

It is said that the Bokator was developed as a fighting system for the Khmer army. This martial art focuses on the power of fist attacks, elbows, knee kicks, slams, and locks.

Unesco calls Kun Bokator a martial art that aims to develop the mental and physical strength and discipline of its practitioners through self-defense techniques with a philosophy of non-violence.

In 2022 Unesco officially included Kun Bokator as Cambodia’s intangible cultural heritage. This was done by UNESCO because Kun Bokator had a big influence on Cambodian history.

However, the Bokator was declared almost extinct. This is because many of Kun Bokator’s teachers and students died during the genocide of the Khmer Rouge regime led by Pol Pot.

Linguistically in Khmer, Kun Bokator means ‘beat the lion’. This martial art is almost similar to Muay Thai from Thailand and Pencak Silat which developed in Indonesia.

One of the figures who raised the name of Kun Bokator to the world stage was Tharoth Sam. Now, Kun Bokator is often studied by young Cambodians who want to enter the world of mix martial arts (MMA).

Along with Kun Bokator competing at the 2023 SEA Games, after the martial arts Vovinam from Vietnam entered the 2021 SEA Games, Indonesia has started selecting athletes since 2022.

The majority of athletes selected are martial arts practitioners from various branches. The coach in charge of carrying out the selection was Agus Nanang Sunarya accompanied by coaches from Cambodia, Someeng and Eung.

In Agus’ view, reported by Antara, Indonesian athletes had no difficulty adapting to Kun Bokator. That’s why Indonesian athletes can donate medals from this branch.

(abs/ptr)