Most of Cambodian children and youth does not know Bokator meaning for them. Sometime they confuse Bokator did not belong to Cambodia but belong to other country. In fact, Bokator have been belonging to Cambodia before Angkor period.
Bokator, or more formally, Labokkatao (ល្បុក្កតោ) is a Cambodian martial art that includes close hand-to-hand combat, ground techniques and weapons. Possibly the oldest existing fighting system in Cambodia, oral tradition indicates that bokator or an early form thereof was the close quarter combat system used by the armies of Angkor 1000 years ago. The term bokator translates as "pounding a lion" from the words bok meaning to pound and tor meaning lion. A common misunderstanding is that bokator refers to all Khmer martial arts while in reality it only represents one particular style.
It uses a diverse array of elbow and knee strikes, shin kicks, submissions and ground fighting. Practitioners are trained to strike with knees, hands, elbows, feet, shins, and head. Weapons are also used, primarily the bamboo staff and short sticks.
When fighting, bokator exponents still wear the uniforms of ancient Khmer armies. A krama (scarf) is folded around their waist and blue and red silk cords called sangvar day are tied around the combatants head and biceps. In the past it is said that the cords were enchanted to increase strength, although now they are just ceremonial
If you want to know more, let's the Bokator talkshow including documentary made by Young Reporter of Support Children and Young people.
