Gold-krama-wearing Bokator grandmaster San Kim Sean (front) leads a blessing ceremony yesterday morning at the Booyoung Khmer Taekwondo Hall in the National Sport Complex, before the start of the 2014 National Bokator Championship.

The annual tournament will this year see 124 male and female participants from 29 clubs and associations vie for combat event titles in under-60kg and under-66kg weight categories, as well as titles in individual and team performances of self defence.

‘I want the younger generation to understand the event and become aware of the special characteristics of Bokator,’ San Kim Sean, who is the founder of the Cambodian Bokator Federation, told the Post.

‘There is no blessing ceremony stated in the tournament’s agenda, but elders like myself have to organise it to follow past traditions.’