Thailand And Cambodia Spar Over Whether It’s ‘Muay Thai’ Or ‘Kun Khmer’

[webfact]

Muay Thai boxing matches. Photos: Thai Rath

 

by TNR Staff

 

WITH Cambodia having changed the name of kickboxing from Muay Thai to Kun Khmer at the 32nd SEA Games it is hosting in May this year, the Thai SEA Games committee warned that any country sending boxers to participate in Kun Khmer matches could be barred from other big competitions, TV Channel 7 said. 

 

Mr. Chaiyaphak Siriwat, vice president of both SEA Games and Olympic committees, said after a meeting that Cambodia had set up its own federation to call the kickboxing event Kun Khmer and this is not supported by International Muay Thai Federation (IFMA) which is getting ready to punish countries that send boxers to join Kun Khmer matches,

 

The Amateur Muay Thai Sports Association of Thailand has also submitted a letter to the Olympic Committee of Thailand that it will definitely not send Thai boxers to participate in the SEA Games competition and they will now train for Asian Indoor Games and Martial Arts Games at the end of this year.

 

Full story: https://thainewsroom.com/2023/01/24/thailand-and-cambodia-spar-over-whether-its-muay-thai-or-kun-khmer/

 

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[BayArea]

This is an easy argument to settle, pretty much everything Thai culture is borrowed from Khmer culture. But you will never, ever hear a single Thai admit that they took anything worthy from the Khmer whom they look down upon and ridicule frequently in their inner circle.  

The Khmer empire and civilization was established in SE Asia long before the existence of Siam.  

Thai people freely borrowed Khmer royal and religious ceremonies, court customs and etiquette, classical dance, architectural temples and even claimed them as their own!! Sanskrit names for royalty, the alphabet, the Indian epic Ramayana which permeates Thai society (look at Suvarnabhumi airport as an example). The list goes on and on. So why wouldn't take also borrowed their fighting style?

 Kun Khmer is also called Pradal Serey which translates as “free fighting” and while it may share many similarities with Muay Thai, the Cambodians say that Kun Khmer has its own deep and rich history (first known record was carved in Angor Wat in 900 A.D) and claim that Muay Thai techniques originates from Kun Khmer. While Muay Thai dates back to over 400 years, although it’s widely accepted that the sport was officially founded by king Chulalongkorn in 1909 – 1910. You decide..

[Scott Tracy]

Get a <deleted> life you guys.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

the Thai SEA Games committee warned that any country sending boxers to participate in Kun Khmer matches could be barred from other big competitions,

Childish reaction.

[2baht]

Get Prayut and Hun Sen in the ring and sort this out! 3 rounds, winner take all!

[stoner]

3 hours ago, BayArea said:

This is an easy argument to settle, pretty much everything Thai culture is borrowed from Khmer culture. But you will never, ever hear a single Thai admit that they took anything worthy from the Khmer whom they look down upon and ridicule frequently in their inner circle.  

The Khmer empire and civilization was established in SE Asia long before the existence of Siam.  

Thai people freely borrowed Khmer royal and religious ceremonies, court customs and etiquette, classical dance, architectural temples and even claimed them as their own!! Sanskrit names for royalty, the alphabet, the Indian epic Ramayana which permeates Thai society (look at Suvarnabhumi airport as an example). The list goes on and on. So why wouldn't take also borrowed their fighting style?

 Kun Khmer is also called Pradal Serey which translates as “free fighting” and while it may share many similarities with Muay Thai, the Cambodians say that Kun Khmer has its own deep and rich history (first known record was carved in Angor Wat in 900 A.D) and claim that Muay Thai techniques originates from Kun Khmer. While Muay Thai dates back to over 400 years, although it’s widely accepted that the sport was officially founded by king Chulalongkorn in 1909 – 1910. You decide..

thank you for posting this. do you have a source it is quite eye opening for me. 

[BananaStrong]

3 hours ago, BayArea said:

Thai culture is borrowed from Khmer culture.

I was born in Africa 2.5 million years ago.

 

I started it all.  
 

No thanks needed.

[WHansen]

Thailand throwing its toys out of the pram

[klauskunkel]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

the Thai SEA Games committee warned that any country sending boxers to participate in Kun Khmer matches could be barred

Aah, promoting sportsmanship, that's the spirit, well done

[bangon04]

6 hours ago, 2baht said:

Get Prayut and Hun Sen in the ring and sort this out! 3 rounds, winner take all!

Do you think that would also work with Putin and Klitschko??

[bangon04]

4 hours ago, WHansen said:

Thailand throwing its toys out of the pram

Do Khmer boys attack in groups of 6 and kick the **** out of younger passer - by kids ??  Or is that exclusively Thai culture?

[Burma Bill]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

it will definitely not send Thai boxers to participate in the SEA Games competition

Great - gives other countries a chance of winning a medal. None to Thailand 55555!!

[connda]

Put 10 pairs of fighters in an octagon and see who comes out on top. 
Easy.

[zzaa09]

13 hours ago, BayArea said:

This is an easy argument to settle, pretty much everything Thai culture is borrowed from Khmer culture. But you will never, ever hear a single Thai admit that they took anything worthy from the Khmer whom they look down upon and ridicule frequently in their inner circle.  

The Khmer empire and civilization was established in SE Asia long before the existence of Siam.  

Thai people freely borrowed Khmer royal and religious ceremonies, court customs and etiquette, classical dance, architectural temples and even claimed them as their own!! Sanskrit names for royalty, the alphabet, the Indian epic Ramayana which permeates Thai society (look at Suvarnabhumi airport as an example). The list goes on and on. So why wouldn't take also borrowed their fighting style?

 Kun Khmer is also called Pradal Serey which translates as “free fighting” and while it may share many similarities with Muay Thai, the Cambodians say that Kun Khmer has its own deep and rich history (first known record was carved in Angor Wat in 900 A.D) and claim that Muay Thai techniques originates from Kun Khmer. While Muay Thai dates back to over 400 years, although it’s widely accepted that the sport was officially founded by king Chulalongkorn in 1909 – 1910. You decide..

Historically accurate. Goes without saying. 

One could easily mingle Lao influence aside Khmer - regarding most everything. 

 

All of which, might offend particular Thai circles. As they've been indoctrinated to understand that all originates from Tai/Thai. 

[StayinThailand2much]

14 hours ago, webfact said:

The Amateur Muay Thai Sports Association of Thailand has also submitted a letter to the Olympic Committee of Thailand that it will definitely not send Thai boxers to participate in the SEA Games competition (...)

What a shame. All because of nationalistic pride. What is that, the early 20th century?

[StayinThailand2much]

22 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Historically accurate. Goes without saying. 

One could easily mingle Lao influence aside Khmer - regarding most everything. 

 

All of which, might offend particular Thai circles. As they've been indoctrinated to understand that all originates from Tai/Thai. 

Next they will claim that green papaya salad was created by Thai people...

 

 

14 hours ago, webfact said:

The Amateur Muay Thai Sports Association of Thailand has also submitted a letter to the Olympic Committee of Thailand that it will definitely not send Thai boxers to participate in the SEA Games competition (...)

What a shame. All because of nationalistic pride. What is that, the early 20th century?

[fusion58]

14 hours ago, BayArea said:

This is an easy argument to settle, pretty much everything Thai culture is borrowed from Khmer culture. But you will never, ever hear a single Thai admit that they took anything worthy from the Khmer whom they look down upon and ridicule frequently in their inner circle.  

The Khmer empire and civilization was established in SE Asia long before the existence of Siam.  

Thai people freely borrowed Khmer royal and religious ceremonies, court customs and etiquette, classical dance, architectural temples and even claimed them as their own!! Sanskrit names for royalty, the alphabet, the Indian epic Ramayana which permeates Thai society (look at Suvarnabhumi airport as an example).

Not sure which culture Thais hold in greater contempt: the Khmer or the Indian.

 

In any event, no shortage of irony around these parts!

 

Thais: "Thailand is the geographical, cultural and spiritual center of the universe. The Thai way is always the best way."

 

Also Thais: "Please arrive in great numbers, dear foreign nationals, for we cannot survive without your tourism and investment ducats!"

[BangkokReady]

5 hours ago, bangon04 said:

Do Khmer boys attack in groups of 6 and kick the **** out of younger passer - by kids ??  Or is that exclusively Thai culture?

Apparently they do like to get girls drunk and gang-rape them.  Swings and roundabouts, I guess.

[BayArea]

14 hours ago, stoner said:

thank you for posting this. do you have a source it is quite eye opening for me. 

Thai honorifics - Wikipedia

 

Thailand - Mon-Khmer civilizations | Britannica

 

A Tale of Two Kingdoms: Thailand and Cambodia – The Diplomat

this passage from the above link sums it up perfectly:

"Thailand and Cambodia are among the oldest kingdoms in Southeast Asia. The two countries share the same historical roots dating back to the old Khmer civilization, which manifest in their similar languages, cultures, and socio-ethnic features. In fact, the Thai royal language is derived from Khmer words and the two languages still retain the same Pali-Sanskrit roots. The two kingdoms even share the same national mantra of “nation-religion-king.”