Khmer traditional wrestling (Bok Cham Bad) is a folk wrestling style from Cambodia. It has been practiced as far back as the Angkor
period and is depicted on the bas-reliefs of certain temples. Although predominantly a male sport today, Khmer wrestling was once practiced by
both sexes as female wrestlers are also displayed on the Banteay Srei temple. Matches consists of three rounds. Victory is obtained by forcing the
opponent on their back. The person who is able to win two of the three rounds is the winner of the match. After each round the loser is asked if he
wishes to continue with the match. Wrestlers participate in pre-match ritual dancing before the match. The match is accompanied by the music of
two drums (called skor ngey and chhmol which means female drum and male drum). Traditional matches are held during the Khmer New Year
and other Cambodian holdiays.
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