khmer sources

The Aged Lions Roar

Deafening cheers and Khmer classical music mingle as two men are locked in combat. Blood pours from one man’s nose, covering the other’s chest. This exhilarating and brutal action is from the first Boxkator Championship, held on 26- 30 September, 2006, at Olympic Stadium.

A blue cotton scarf wrapped around his neck, Pen Chhorn, 80, is engrossed in the match. A bell ring concludes the bout and, with a toothless laugh, he turns away.

"I was a great Boxkator fighter and I know the art well," he said. "I am very happy to see Boxkator survive and competitions start again. We had to hide our skills during the Pol Pot regime [1975-1979]."

Chhorn now teaches his skills at Serey Theany Club in Kampot province.

"I hope in the future Boxkator will be known not only in Cambodia, but all around the world," he continued. "The first Boxkator Championship has collected all the oldest teachers from the provinces to show their different styles. “We teach these to the young people,” said Chhom. “If we do not show them before we die, our skills will die with us. I try my best to teach all I can to the young generation to safeguard this art for the future." San Kim Sean, a Boxkator master from Kampot province and Chief of the Boxkator Federation, agreed the main purpose of the competition was to research forgotten styles and persuade people to conserve and respect traditional Khmer Boxkator.

Long ago, during the Angkorean period, Boxkator was practiced by Khmer kings and generals. It was invaluable in winning wars against both the Cham and the Thai empires. Carvings on the walls of Jayarvaraman VII’s temples, such as the Bayon, Preah Lean Chal Damrey and Angkor Wat, show matches just like those of today. In fact, when fighting, Boxkator practitioners still wear the uniforms of ancient Khmer armies. A krama (scarf) is folded around their waist and loins, and blue and red silk cords, sangvar day (‘rope worn crosswise across the shoulders’), are tied around the combatants head and biceps. In the past, the cords were enchanted to increase strength, although now they are just ceremonial. The scarf shows the fighter’s level of expertise. A series of grades, each taking at least five months training, are represented by different colours. The first grade is white, followed by green, blue, red and then brown. After completing their initial training, fighters wear a black scarf for at least another ten years. Only a true master may wear a gold scarf.

"In the past all the people had Boxkator skills and would practice together," said. Chhorn. "In ancient times Boxkator was Cambodia’s deadliest weapon of war, as, at that time, there were no guns, only wooden cudgels, shields and knives. I first learnt about Boxkator in ‘Sangkum Reastr Niyum’ [a 1955 film by retired King Norodom Sihanouk]. I saw that it allowed people of both sexes to protect themselves and our homeland from enemies."

In the past Boxkator took place at village ceremonies, at Khmer New Year, during Pchum Benn, and at full moon. It was always a day for celebration.

Learning the skill however, is a serious business.

"In Boxkator we must spend 2 or 3 years in training before we can fight, and before we allow someone to learn, we check they are healthy," said. Chhorn. "If they are not strong we do not allow them to study. We know who will become a strong fighter just as much from looking into their eyes, as from their muscles."

Chhorn argued against the idea that Boxkator has been degraded as secrets have been lost in transmission from master to pupil.

"Many people think that teachers conceal some of their knowledge from students," he said. "They fear, as skills are passed directly from one teacher to another, teachers hide some styles and they are lost forever. It is true they initially hide some elements, but when they know their student is suitable, they will teach them everything. We fear losing styles most of all. In fact we know nothing is lost because the word Boxkator means 7 elements and 9 directions, and we still have all off these."

‘Boxkator’ actually has two meanings. Originally labok katou, the first element, labok, means ‘to wield a wooden stick’ and the second, katou, ‘lion.’ Thus, boxkator also means ‘wielding a wooden stick to fight lions.’

In Boxkator there are 379 meikoun (master styles) and many other kbach koun (lesser styles). There are 3470 styles in total.

"Boxkator has so many styles nobody can know them all," said Chhorn. "Some common styles are Krapeur Ha (crocodile style), Khlar Krab (tiger style), Sranger Pen (snake style), Haknoukman Samdeng Rith (monkey style) and Chmaar Krab (cat style)."

Unlike most other martial arts, Boxkator allows female participation. The feisty Mao Khan, 80, has been studying the art for many years.

"I started studying Boxkator because our country was at war," she said. "People needed to study together to protect us from enemies. I also did not want my husband to look down on me. If he wanted to fight me, then it would be OK because we always practiced Boxkator together. In fact, he never dared. Once, in Kampot market, eight men accused my son of stealing their money so I fought them. I used my skills well and beat them all, so afterwards many people respected my Boxkator style."

There is a strong sense of pride in Khmer culture at the tournament.

"This championship is to show people that Boxkator is a Khmer martial art," said Hok Cheang Kim, Secretary General of the Boxkator Federation. "It is our chance to tell to the world that many south-east Asian martial arts originated in Cambodia."

Perhaps most importantly, the tournament gives the older generation an opportunity to reminisce.

"Many older men came from the provinces to support the boxers," said Chhorn. "They love to watch the matches as it reminds them of their younger days.".

# posted by FunMan @ 1:55 AM