PHNOM PENH: November 29, 2023 marks the one-year anniversary of the inclusion of Cambodia's Bokator martial arts style being inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List for embodying the Kingdom’s social, cultural and religious values.

Bokator is a traditional Khmer martial art that has been deeply rooted in Cambodian society for centuries and has survived to this day, despite the odds. While the ancient style is depicted on the walls of Angkor temples, the Khmer Rouge era nearly erased the art’s history. Luckily, a few brave Bokator masters were able to hold onto the style and pass it on to the next generation.

Since being inscribed on the UNESCO list, Bokator has only gained popularity, highlighted by the 2108 documentary Surviving Bokator, which saw its first national theater release this year.

Cambodia has six pieces of intangible heritage on UNESCO’s list, along with three physical sites, including Angkor Wat, Preah Vihear and Sambor Prei Kuk Temples.