San Kim Sean introduces himself as ‘the old man’ of Bokator. The 71-year-old teacher of the martial art and vice-president of the national federation has been a practitioner for much of the past 60 years, only pausing during the nearly four years of Khmer Rouge rule in the 1970s. The Khmer Rouge’s radical societal shift to communal agrarian living – which included evacuating all the cities and the forced mass migration of millions of people across the country and into the countryside – fractured Cambodian society and led to widespread death.
‘During the Pol Pot regime, I wasn’t allowed to think of Bokator. I was deaf and mute instead. It was the only way to stay alive,’ Sean explains. ‘In 1979 [when neighbouring Vietnam liberated the country], I left the forests of Kampong Thom province and came straight to Phnom Penh and the Olympic Stadium. From then until today, I have been involved in sport,’ he says proudly.
For almost 40 years, Sean has sought to train new generations, and to pass on his knowledge and passion, eventually helping to found the federation in 2004.
‘Bokator is the heritage of my ancestors. It developed from practical skills of farmers and soldiers,’ he said, explaining how this influenced the uniform and equipment modern practitioners use, such as the “Kel” (forearm guards made from bamboo), swords, spears originating from rice-threshing tools, and most importantly, the humble kramar, or traditional Cambodian scarf.
‘The weapons are male, they are violent, but the kramar represents women, with soft but effective movements. The kramar is the most important,’ he says, before demonstrating multiple attacking moves using only a scarf on a nearby hapless student.
Ancient advice
‘In French I could tell you all about the history of our ancestors that is recorded on the walls around Angkor Wat,’ Master Kim says apologetically, to explain the reason for dropping into French throughout the interview when the English words escape him.
Recorded in the carvings of temple walls in the Angkor Wat archaeological park are 1,000 year-old depictions of Bokator. ‘They didn’t write, but instead put their history and advice for future generations on the walls.’
Unlike some other martial arts, Master Kim stresses that the focus of Bokator was less on force, and more on the mind: ‘The most important aspect of Bokator is meditation. This comes in three levels. Primary is for physical health, secondary for mental health, and advances gives energy.’
