Martial Arts Celebrates 32nd Anniversary of Victory Day

Phnom Penh, Cambodia (3 January 2011)

Bokator, one of Martial Arts perform to celebrate victory day

Cambodian Martial Arts Games Committee (CMAGC) has launch large performance event on January 2^nd 2011 at National stadium. It is under the support of National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), celebrating victory day, January 7^th.

There are seven kinds of martial arts performances: Boxkator, Kongimodo, Karate-Do, Taekwondo ITF, Aikido and Vovinam. Other sports are aerobics and gymnastics.

Mr. Nim Savath, president of Cambodian Martial Arts Games Committee said that Cambodian Martial Arts Game Committee have formed since 2001 with mixed martial arts games such as Bokator, Karate-Do, Aikido, Taekwondo, WuShu, Kongimodo, Panchak Seila, KuBuDo, Habkido and Vovinam. Among all martial arts, Boxkator is a national Khmer sport that has become increasingly popular on the international stage.

It is also registered as full member of World Martial Arts Union (WoMAU), with 33 members. It is included annual program of World Martial Arts day. Boxkator has been added to UNESCO UNESCO world heritage since 2008.

The Cambodian sport was performed on the world stage, World Martial Arts Festival on October 2010 in South Korea, and Cambodia achieved second place among 33 competing countries. Other martial arts are also on the progress of trying their best to develop the sport as strong as in Cambodia.

Martial Arts in Cambodia have taken off in the last decade. Achievements were possible given the strong nature of the nation’s solidarity, commitment, friendship and cooperation between members, families and athletes of martial arts.

“I very appreciate for the preparation by Cambodian Martial Arts Games Committee in cooperation with National Olympic Committee of Cambodia in preparing this martial arts performance, particularly for the celebration of the 32^nd anniversary of January 7^th, he noted.

Mr. Vath Chamcoeun, Secretary General of Cambodian Martial Arts Game Committee, said that today there are 222 martial arts-specific athletes. Of these athletes, five are from aerobics, 22 from Siem Reap Boxkator, 150 athletes from Kongimodo and Karate-Do, 15 from Taekwondo ITF, five from Aikido, five from Vovinam, five from Gymnastics and 15 athletes from Phnon Penh Boxkator.

By S.L (Vol.5, Issue 2, SEAW)