| Description |
Kun Lbokator is an ancient Khmer martial arts dating back to at least the Angkorian period, which aims to inculcate and develop mental and physical strength and discipline in its practitioners, by mastering self-defense techniques, while promoting the philosophy of non-violence. It is characterized and distinguished not only a martial arts form but also embodies a certain cultural aspect. For instance, the rituals and social practices observed in Kun Lbokator require that the practitioner possesses knowledge about nature and the universe.
Practitioners are required to train and master striking and defense techniques relying on their bare arms and legs, and only once a student can demonstrate proficiency is weapons training introduced. Another essential aspect of Kun Lbokator is that it is to be practiced with an ensemble of elements including dance, music, natural medicine, sacred objects and/or amulets, tattoos, and weapons. Masters play a crucial role in the performing aspect of Kun Lbokator because they serve as mediators between the apprentices and the guardian spirits, and thus are responsible for introducing new apprentices to them and the surrounding nature, asking for the apprentices’ protection and safety in training. In return, practitioners are required to show respect to others and take a pledge to become good citizens.
Presently, Kun Lbokator is still actively performed as part of ritual offerings to local protective deities, Neak Ta as well as in other festive events. Kun Lbokator is an intangible tradition widely practiced among Cambodians, regardless of their age, gender and educational backgrounds or statuses.
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| Social and cultural significance |
Kun Lbokator contains elements of customs, knowledge and history inherited and transmitted for generations since the Angkor period. A number of bas-reliefs of temples of the Angkor World Heritage site depicts the performance of the martial arts during festivals or social gatherings. Just like in the past, nowadays, the Kun Lbokator demonstrates significant social and cultural values to Cambodians. It is performed as a part of ritual offerings to the gods and nature at local gatherings and at major festivity events.
Its practices also demonstrate a profound religious aspect of worshipping Spiritual Masters, especially God Vessovon, by the practitioners. New apprentices need to be introduced by his Human Master to the Spiritual Masters by making offerings of traditional tokens (including white cloth, betel nut, cigarettes, and money) to them so as to “officially” recognize and protect new apprentices. Some human masters, with help of the Spiritual Master, are believed to have the power of healing diseases and being able to protect others from dangers.
The training of Kun Lbokator is not only about physical techniques and skills, but also about mental disciplines on how to behave with decorum in society and respect nature. Masters always lecture their apprentices about morals, their roles and responsibility in society so that once they have mastered the necessary skills, they can protect the weak, protect the natural environment and stand up for justice and peace. The training also encourages individuals to develop self-confidence and pride of this centuries-old martial arts.
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| Transmission method |
The masters, who have fully apprehended the history, knowledge, techniques and skills of Kun Lbokator through many years of practice (at least 5 years), transmit their knowledge and skills of Kun Lbokator to new generations through training with encouragement and support from host communities.
Today, a few masters have established Kun Lbokator training schools in their homes where the training spaces were secured. The training time is flexible to the availability of their apprentices who are generally students at local public schools. Male and female practitioners are trained together, usually several times a week.
Tournaments take place at the regional and national level, sometimes with coordination of the Cambodia Kunbokator Federation (CKBF) and with the active participation of masters. The CKBF also supports the organization of performances, trainings and documentation activities to ensure the viability and continuity of the element. In 2020, to ensure a closer collaboration in preservation of this traditional martial arts and to share experience and practices, the masters from different provinces formed an inter-provincial network.
Government institutions, in particular the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS), Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, National Olympic Committee of Cambodia through CKBF, and Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts (MoCFA) are also involved in ensuring the transmission of the element by integrating Kun Lbokator trainings into school curricula, as well as conducting training programs for soldiers and police and raising public awareness.
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| Type of UNESCO List |
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity |
| Incribed year in UNESCO List |
2022 |
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