In a small Cambodian town near the banks of the Mekong River, law student Oung Buntav tenses his slim torso and prepares himself for an elbow to the head.
Bunthab is one of 20 young Cambodians training in the ancient Khmer martial art of Yutkromkhorm at the outdoor club in Khlong Aeksat.
The art was largely forgotten after many masters were killed during the Communist regime's intellectual purges between 1975 and 1979, but Vuntav and his fellow students are determined to learn the art and keep the tradition alive.
For the students, who wear headbands and arm straps, training includes learning knockout punches with their fists, powerful precision kicks and swift elbow and knee strikes.
Stick fighting, sword fighting and spear fighting are also included in the curriculum.
“I will train to the best of my ability so that I can understand this martial art well and preserve it for future generations,” Buntab told AFP.
– Born from war –
Utkromhorm, which means “art of war” in Khmer, was born out of the many wars fought by the ancient Khmer Empire.
It has three components: warfare techniques, magical spells, and military strategy.
“In ancient times, there were no modern weapons like we have today,” said Nak Linda, a 25-year-old master who teaches classes at Klong Alaykusat.
“Ancient peoples used martial arts techniques – punches, elbows, kicks, knees, swords, spears and arrows – to defend their lands against invading enemies,” he added, explaining that the techniques were refined and perfected by warriors over time.
In the early 2000s, some of the old masters of Utkromholm began to emerge from the shadows and demonstrate this little-known martial art.
The art has been introduced into the Cambodian military and some universities but remains little known to the general public, who are more familiar with Kun Khmer kickboxing and another ancient martial art, Bokator.
“This ancient Khmer martial art, Utkromkhorum, has almost disappeared,” Linda said.
“We lost a lot of human resources, especially intellectuals who died under the Khmer Rouge regime.
“Utkromholm has also suffered heavy losses.
“But now our young people are reviving this martial art to show all our compatriots that there is another ancient martial art called Utkromholm.”
– “Deathblow” –
Mao Lida, an 18-year-old student who has been training for about two years, wants to use his skills to protect himself from “bad people”.
“Because I'm a girl, at first I wanted to be trained in self-defence so that no one could harm me,” Lida told AFP.
“I learned that this is an ancient Khmer martial art and I want to train to become a good martial artist so that we can preserve this culture,” she said, urging young people, especially girls, to take up the art.
“Elbow strikes are brutal… they can cause head injuries,” she warned.
At the club, Buntabu's opponent charges forward and leaps into the air in one swift, simultaneous movement, delivering a ruthless mock blow.
Buntab, a third-year law student, has only been working as a lawyer for Utkromholm for two months, but says the training has already reduced his stress levels and improved his health.
“My favourite move is the jumping elbow,” he told AFP.
“If a fight breaks out, this elbow strike can be a lethal move.”
