|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By
: Ly Vanna, Picture by : Touch Sinath.
|
 |
|
|
Women have always taken
part in this sport.
|
| |
|
| Traditional
wrestling is a popular activity in most regions
throughout Cambodia. It is seen not only as
a competitive sport, but also as a way to
exercise and a chance to entertain in the
ceremonies of the village. In the past, it
served three important roles in Khmer life:
It prevented fighting; it also involved exercising
- to make our body healthy, and it kept them
able to fight in a battle if needed. Nowadays,
the younger Khmer generations wrestle as a
competitive sport. They also take part for
fun on special occasions, such as Khmer New
Year, Bonn Phchum Ben, Bonn Kathen. On such
occasions, the wrestlers walk from one place
to another to find competitors. It would be
incorrect to assume that this was not an activity
for the fairer sex. Many women take part and
have done so throughout the history of the
sport. Sometimes even beating the most experienced
male fighters. During a special ceremony at
the pagoda, the young wrestler, with a strong
body and a great love for this sport, begins
by choosing his own |
|
|
competitor.
He does this by shouting: "Come and pay for
the food" - what this means is that since we
eat the food in the pagoda therefore we must entertain
on this happy occasion to thank those who offered
the food. After saying this he jumps and runs around
topless through the crowd in the pagoda, showing
off his techniques and his physique. A few minutes
later another person will reply, "Here is the
food payer" and then he does the same as the
first man. They have found a competitor.
The competition attracts many villagers, who either
stand or sit in a circle and cheer for the man they
support. An old man, who is usually an old-hand
wrestler, is an adjudicator for this game. Before
competing they talk about the rules and what kind
of competition it will be - just a friendly spar,
showing their techniques or until death. The latter
is not very common nowadays. During these bouts,
passions run high for competitors and the audience
alike. Sometimes the supporters get carried away
and fight amongst themselves. Wrestling first appeared
when the Khmer territory was being established. |
|
| |
|
 |
|
Detail of carving from
Banteay Srei temple depicting wrestling.
|
| |
|
The
sport provided a means of choosing tribal
and regional leaders to control the newly
acquired land mass. They used their strength
and techniques to throw their competitors
down and thus to be the winner. During that
time it was simply a match of strength and
technique. The only weapons were their individual
arms and legs and skill was crucial for the
outcome. The best wrestlers were the strongest
and most powerful.
Since there was no school for training wrestlers
then, the elders always train the children
in the village. On the full moon night after
harvesting is over, the elders select young
men with the same weight, height and age to
compete among themselves to find the best
students to be trained. The best place for
competing is on a rice paddy, under the moonlight,
near their village. As it is a folk sport,
untrained people can wrestle also if they
wish. Every one knows how to wrestle through
their experiences with the elders in their
village.
This traditional wrestling is still alive
in Kampong Chhnang, Pursat, Kandal, Prey Veng,
Takeo, |
|
|
and Battambang
provinces. They joined together as a group or association
and they trained the young wrestlers to prepare
for competing with those of other groups. "Recently,
there are about 28 wrestlers who are trained regularly
by three wrestling coaches from the Association"
said Mr. Som Vannet, Director of Thmor Keo Khmer
Traditional Wrestling Association, in Pursat province.
"There are many wrestlers in Pursat, especially
in the rural areas, but they are very poor so their
priority is with work and their families instead
of training. For the 28 wrestlers and three wrestling
coaches they get only a little support from traditional
wrestling supporters through the Association"
Mr. Vannet complained. "The Cambodian Amateur
Wrestling Federation has recruited |
|
| |
|
 |
|
Although in more modern
garb, the traditional rules apply.
|
| |
|
traditional
wrestlers from every corner of Cambodia, to
form a Wrestling Association since 2000"
said Mr. Vath Chamroeun, Secretary General
of the Cambodia Amateur Wrestling Federation.
Khmer wrestlers always practice and share
techniques. They test their strength with
people in their village and occasionally too,
with those from the other villages, in order
to prepare for competitions during special
ceremonies in their village.
The Khmer traditional wrestling competition
consists of three rounds and is accompanied
by two drums (called Skor Ngey - Chhmol -
which means female drum and male drum). The
drums draw the wrestlers and the watchers
focus on the competition. The wrestlers always
react to the beats of the drums by dancing.
To become the winner, the wrestler is dependent
on his ability to throw the competitor down
and to make sure the competitor's back lies
against the |
|
|
ground.
After the first round, the spectators will
ask the loser, "Horb" (meaning -
continue) or "Ngorm" (meaning -
stop and accept defeat). Although a wrestler
seldom accepts defeat only after the first
round, it is customary for the question to
be floored.
If a wrestler can force his competitor's back
against the ground at least twice out of three
rounds, he or she is considered to be the
winner.
During the Angkorian period wrestling played
an important role in the selection of warriors
to form the army. It was seen on the bas-reliefs
of some temples. In the Banteay Srei temple,
female wrestlers are also depicted in the
bas-reliefs; this highlights the antiquity
and the unisex nature of the sport.
In June this year, when the Cambodian Amateur
Wrestling Federation held the first official
Khmer traditional wrestling championship,
eight women participated out of the 53 who
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
The drums stir both crowd
and wrestlers, often into a frenzy.
|
| |
|
|
|
| competed.
"The number of wrestlers will increase for
the next annual championship in 2003" Mr. Vath
Chamroeun confirmed. An ancient legacy and one that
is still being handed down through the generations.
Rather than using it to find strong suitable soldiers,
it is now more about bravado and sportsmanship. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Next Article
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Suite
B8, Regency Square, InterContinental Hotel, 294 Mao Tse Toung
Boulevard,
Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia.
Tel: (855) 23 213 133 Fax: (855) 23 213 033
E-mail:
editor@leisurecambodia.com |
|
|
|
Read
Leisure By :
