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In a small Cambodian town on the banks of the Mekong River, law student Oeun Bunthav tenses his slender torso, bracing himself for an elbow to the head from his opponent.
Bunthav is one of 20 young Cambodians practicing Yutkromkhorm, an ancient Khmer martial art, at an open-air club in Krong Areyksat.
The craft was largely forgotten after many masters were killed in an BroadCast Unitedlectual purge under the Khmer Rouge communist rule from 1975 to 1979, but Bunthav and his classmates were determined to learn the art and keep the tradition alive.
For students wearing bandanas and armbands, training involves learning to deliver deadly blows with fists, powerful and precise kicks, and quick elbows and knees.
Classes also include stick, sword and spear fighting.
“I will train as hard as I can to understand this martial art clearly and try to pass it on to the next generation,” Bentaf told AFP.
– Born in War –
Yutkromkhorm means “art of war” in Khmer, and it was born out of the countless wars of the ancient Khmer Empire.
It consists of three parts – Art of War, Magic, and Military Strategy.
“In ancient times, they didn’t have modern weapons like we have now,” said Nak Rinda, a 25-year-old teacher who teaches classes at Krong Areyksat.
“In ancient times, people used martial arts such as fists, elbows, feet, knees, swords, spears and arrows to protect our country from enemy invasions,” he added, explaining that martial arts techniques were improved and perfected by warriors over time.
In the early 21st century, some old Yutkromkhorm masters came out of the shadows and began demonstrating this little-known martial art.
It was introduced into the Cambodian army and some universities but remains unknown to the general public, who are more familiar with Kun Khmer Taekwondo and another ancient martial art, Bokator.
“This ancient Khmer martial art, Yutkromkhorm, has almost disappeared,” Linda said.
“We lost a lot of human resources, especially BroadCast Unitedlectuals who died during the Khmer Rouge regime.
“Yutkromkhorm also suffered huge losses.
“But now our young people are working hard to bring it back and show all our compatriots that we have another ancient martial art, Yutkromkhorm.”
– ‘Deadly Skills’ –
Student Mao Rida, 18, has been training for about two years and hopes to use her skills to protect herself from “bad guys”.
“Because I’m a girl, at first I wanted to get this training for self-protection so that no one could hurt me,” Rida told AFP.
“I know it’s an ancient Khmer martial art, so I want to be trained and become a good practitioner to help preserve this culture,” she said, calling on young people, especially girls, to learn the art.
“Elbow strikes are very brutal … and can injure the head,” she warned.
Inside the club, Bentaff’s opponent rushed forward and, in a swift, synchronized motion, leapt up and delivered a relentless mock blow.
Bunthav, who is in his third year of law, has only been practicing Yutkromkhorm Law for two months, but the training has already helped him reduce stress and become healthier.
“My favourite tricks are the jumps and the elbow strikes,” he told AFP.
“If we get into a fight, this elbow is a deadly technique.”
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