The Way of the Lion: An Encyclopedia of Khmer Martial Arts and Sports

The Way of the Lion: An Encyclopedia of Khmer Martial Arts and Sports

Chapter 1: The Way of the Warrior: The Role of Martial Arts in Khmer History The story of Cambodian martial arts is the story of the Khmer people. It is a tradition born not for the ring or the arena, but for the harsh realities of the battlefield and the survival of a nation. This ancient lineage of combat arts, a living testament to the power of the Angkorian empire, represents one of our most important and enduring cultural legacies. The movements, techniques, and philosophies practiced today are direct echoes of the skills that enabled the armies of the great god-kings to build a vast empire and defend it for centuries. To understand the way of the Khmer warrior is to understand the unbreakable spirit that has allowed our culture to flourish, to endure, and to be reborn. The Evidence in Stone: A Library of Combat Our most definitive and spectacular record of ancient Khmer martial arts is carved into the very walls of our greatest temples. The vast bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat and, in pa…