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Pradal Serey (Khmer: ប្រដាល់សេរី; English: Khmer Boxing) is the Khmer name for a system of Indochinese martial arts practiced in several Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand (where it is called Muay Thai), Malaysia (where it is called Tomoi), Laos (where it is called Muay Lao) and as a similar style in Myanmar (called Lethwei). Pradal means fight and serey means free. Translated literally, it means "Free Fighting". Pradal Serey is founded on four techniques which consists of: blows of the fist, kicks (comprising kicks from the shin and feet), blows of the elbow, and blows of the knee. The clinch is also used to wear down the opponent.

Compared to their Thai counterparts, the Cambodians tend to be more elusive and shifty in their fighting stances. The Khmer style also tends to use more elbow techniques than the other regions.

The modern Pradal Serey differs from the original art. The technique and moves of the art have changed to support the sport version seen today. It is considered one of the national sports of Cambodia. It is also known as Kbach Kun Khmer, Sovanna Phum, Traditional Khmer Boxing or Brodal Serei depending on the translation.

Contents 1 History 1.1 The Near Extinction of Pradal Serey 1.2 Pradal Serey Today 2 Rules and Match Set Up 3 Notable Khmer Boxers 4 Pradal Serey promoters 5 See also 6 References 6.1 Notes 7 External links

Styles of boxing have been practiced in Southeast Asia since ancient times and were developed through the influence of martial arts from India and China. In the Angkor era, both armed and unarmed martial arts were practiced by the Khmers. Evidence shows that a style resembling Pradal Serey existed around the 9th century. The art is believed to be the fighting system of the Angkor army and one of the reasons why the Khmer empire was such a dominant force in South East Asia.

At this time, the kingdom of Angkor dominated and controlled most of what is now Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.^[1]This leads the Khmer to believe that Pradal Serey predates other Southeast Asian forms of kickboxing. The basis of this argument is the bas-relief left behind by early Khmers in the ancient temples of the Bayon and other Angkor temples. Much of the writing on ancient Khmer art has either been destroyed or adopted by the invading Thai armies when the Siamese sacked and looted Angkor and took Khmer captives including members of the Khmer royal court back to Ayutthaya. ^[2] There have been heated debates between nations about the true origins of South East Asian kickboxing.

On April 17, 1975, during the chaos of the Vietnam War, a group called "The Khmer Rouge" overthrew the Cambodian government and rose to power after Lon Nol's U.S. puppet military dictatorship government was crumbling after America left the Vietnam War . The Khmer Rogue's plan was to eliminate modern society and create an agriculture utopia.^[3]. 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 threw 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.

Pradal Serey had been banned during the Khmer Rouge era and many boxers were executed which caused the art of Khmer Kickboxing to be almost wiped out from Khmer history. Today Pradal Serey is being revived in Cambodia after peace has finally been established.

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

During the Cambodian Civil War, the Cambodian economony was greatly derailed. At the same time, Thailand's kick boxing sport, Muay Thai, started to capture the world's attention and became increasingly popular. The Thai have set up an international boxing committee in which almost 100 countries participate which lead to why Southeast Asian kickboxing is widely known as Thai boxing. Cambodians have argued there was no such thing as Muay Siam that existed before the name change of Siam to Thailand. At an ASEAN meeting in 1995, Thailand wanted to rename Southeast Asian kickboxing as Muay Thai or Thai Boxing. The Cambodians proposed to rename the sport as "Sovanna Phum" boxing or "SEA Boxing", which represented Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. Sovanna Phum means "golden land" in both the Khmer and Thai which came from the language of Pali and refers to mainland Southeast Asia. "SEA" is a popular acronym referring to Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, Thailand would not compromise. In a battle for culture heritage, both countries are not giving up. At the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, Cambodia did not enter the Muay Thai event.

Recent exposure of Khmer Kickboxing to the western world have come from traveling journalists and tourists.

A match consists of 5 sets of 3 minute rounds and takes place in a 6.1 meter square boxing ring. A one 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 is played during the match. The music is played used the instruments of the skor yaul (a type of drum), the sraliai (a flute like instrument) and the stringed chhing. Boxers wear leather gloves and shorts.

Rules:

• 1. A boxer is not allowed to strike his opponent while he is on the ground.
• 2. A boxer is not allowed to bite.
• 3. When an opponent can not fight anymore, the referee stops the fight.
• 4. Blows to the back of the opponent are not allowed.
• 5. A boxer may not hold on to the ropes.
• 6. Blows to the genitals are prohibted.

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. 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.

• Eh Phoutong- Khmer Kickboxing Champion
• Oth Phouthoung-TV5 kickboxing champion
• Meas Chanta - International Khmer Kickboxer
• 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

• Ma Serey
• Cambodian Television Network
• TV5^[4]
• M-150
• Red Bull

• Khmer traditional wrestling

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Striking	Bājíquán • Boxing • Bokator • Capoeira • Karate • Kenpō • Kickboxing • Lethwei • Muay Thai • Pradal Serey • Savate • Sikaran • Subak • Shaolin kung fu • Taekkyeon • Taekwondo • Taido • Wing Chun • Wing Tsun • Zui Quan
Grappling	Aikido • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu • Catch wrestling • Glima • Judo • Jujutsu • Kinomichi • Kurash • Malla-yuddha • Mongolian wrestling • Varzesh-e Pahlavani • Pehlwani • Sambo • Shuai Jiao • Ssireum • Sumo • Wrestling • Yağlı Güreş
Weaponry	Battōjutsu • Eskrima • Egyptian stick fencing • Fencing • Gatka • Haidong Gumdo • Hojōjutsu • Iaidō • Iaijutsu • Jōdō • Jogo do Pau • Jūkendō • Juttejutsu • Kendo • Kenjutsu • Kyūdō • Kyūjutsu • Modern Arnis • Naginatajutsu • Okinawan kobudō • Shurikenjutsu • Silambam
Mixed, hybrid, and multi-discipline	Baguazhang • Bando • Bartitsu • Bujinkan • Hapkido • Hwa Rang Do • Jeet Kune Do • Kajukenbo • Kalarippayattu • Krav Maga • Kuk Sool Won • MCMAP • Northern Praying Mantis • Ninjutsu • Pankration • Pencak Silat • Sanshou • Shoot boxing • Shootfighting • Silat • Systema • Tai chi chuan • Vajra Mushti • Vovinam • Xingyiquan
Martial Arts Portal

• Vongs, Moul. "Khmer Boxing", Leisure Cambodia, December 2001, retrieved November 4, 2006.
• The Associated Press. "Cambodia to boycott Thai boxing even 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.

1. ^ Michael Freeman, Claude Jacques: Ancient Angkor, Asia Books, ISBN 974-8225-27-5.
2. ^ The Ayutthayan period, britannica.com (retrieved November 5, 2006).
3. ^ Sites, Kevin. July 18, 2006. Year Zero, Yahoo.com (retrieved November 5, 2006)
4. ^ [1], ch5cambodia.com (retrieved November 5, 2006).

• European Khmer Boxing Federation
• Fight Club Cambodia
• Current Situation of Cambodia's Ancient Fighting Arts
• Cambodian Director Preserving Khmer Culture Through Martial Arts Movies
• Interview With Eh Phu Tong
• Khmer Kickboxing Art Felled by Khmer Rouge Makes Comeback
• Vietnam Net The most fervent advocate of Khmer martial arts
• Max Fighting
• Khmer.org
• A night at the kickboxing: Going for the Goolies in Phnom Penh
• Cambodia Daily-Top Kickboxers Battle It Out For Spot on National Team
• Times Online(under Angkor facts section)
• Iron Life-Traditional Khmer Boxing-The Comeback
• Cambodian Online-Women on top in boxing revival
• Antonio Graceffo recalls his experience of training with the Khmers
• Antonio Graceffo writes about training in Modern Khmer Kick Boxing