Kun Khmer

Kun Khmer
គុនខ្មែរ
Also known asPradal,
Pradal Kun Khmer,
Pradal Serey,
Khmer boxing
Cambodian boxing
FocusStriking, clinching, grappling holds
HardnessFull-contact
Country of origin Cambodia
Famous practitionersKeo Rumchong, Thun Sophea, Chea Sarak, Oumry Ban, Vorn Viva, Meas Chantha, Thoeun Theara
ParenthoodBokator, Khmer traditional wrestling
Olympic sportNo

Kun Khmer (Khmer: គុនខ្មែរ [kun kʰmae] lit.'Khmer Martial Art'), or Pradal Serey (Khmer: ប្រដាល់សេរី [prɑɗal seːrəj] lit.'Free Boxing'), is a combat sport that originated in Cambodia. The sport consists of stand up striking and clinch fighting, where the objective is to knock an opponent out, force a technical knockout, or win a match by points. The sport was codified in Cambodia by the French colonial administration in the early 20th century, and was derived from centuries-old traditions, namely Bokator, the close-quarter combat system used during the Khmer empire. The official Khmer name of the sport is Kbach Kun Pradal Khmer (Khmer: ក្បាច់គុនប្រដាល់ខ្មែរ [kʰɓac kun prɑɗal kʰmae] lit.'Khmer Martial Art of Boxing').