How Kun Khmer Helped Sok Thy Overcome His Bullies

For the first time ever, the Cambodian martial art of Kun Khmer will be represented in ONE Super Series.

At ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER, one of the sport’s best practitioners is ready to showcase Cambodia’s national striking art to the world, and against a celebrated Muay Thai World Champion to boot.

Sok Thy (221-36-12 Kun Khmer) is bringing youth and huge talent to the ring against Lerdsila Phuket Top Team at the Studio City Event Center on Saturday, 23 June, in Macau.

As the 20-year-old prepares for his big moment on the global stage for martial arts, we take this opportunity to learn a little bit more about the 2018 Cambodian National Kun Khmer Champion.

A Hunger For More

Thy was raised in a small village in Banteay Meanchey, a northwestern Cambodian province that borders Thailand. The province is known for its rice farms, which is a huge part of the local economy and Cambodian society.

Although Thy’s parents initially worked in the rice fields for a low wage, they switched jobs in an effort to bring in more money to support their two sons. 

“My family were normal farmers at first, but then they turned to hard manual labor at construction sites around Cambodia and Thailand. I helped my parents when they needed,” he says.

Thy always wanted to do something more to help his parents and improve their financial situation. That became his life’s goal.

“My motivation was, and still is, to give my family a better life,” he explains. “It is my duty as a son.”

Finding Confidence In Kun Khmer

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Thy was also concerned with making a better life for himself – on a social level as well as an economic one.

The Cambodian was frequently picked on by the other children in his community. He experienced both physical and psychological abuse, and found it difficult to cope.

“I was always smaller than the other kids,” he explains. “They made fun of my head being bigger than my body. I would cry all the time, and go and hide in the farmland.”

Fortunately, he could lean on his family, and when his father introduced him and his older brother to Kun Khmer, Thy found an outlet in which he could develop the physical and mental strength to deal with the bullies who tormented him.

Thy’s dad was a fan of the sport, and his province produced some of the country’s best practitioners. Because of that, the diminutive athlete felt destined for success when he began training at the age of 6.

“Coming from Banteay Meanchey, which is known for some of the best Khmer fighters from past to present, it was already in my blood,” he adds.

“My best memory was spending time training with my father and my brother.

“I had to overcome bigger and stronger kids picking on me because I was always scared, but martial arts helped me build confidence.”

Stepping Onto The Global Stage

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Not only did martial arts build Thy’s confidence, it also provided him with a career.

The 20-year-old now trains at Cambodian Top Team in Phnom Penh, and he has captured multiple titles, setting benchmarks for Cambodians competing on the international stage.

Thy is a Bayon and PNN Stadium Flyweight Champion, and the 2018 National Kun Khmer Champion. He also became the first Cambodian to compete for Muay Thai World Titles at the famed Lumpinee Stadium and Channel 7 Boxing Stadium in Thailand.

His experience in Thailand should serve him well, as he will meet multi-time Muay Thai World Champion Lerdsila Phuket Top Team (186-31-5 Muay Thai) in a ONE Super Series Muay Thai flyweight bout at ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER in Macau. 

“He is a legend, and I am honored to share the ring with him,” Thy says. “I think it will be a great fight, and the fans will see the purest form of striking arts.”

Despite the enormous challenge in front of him, Thy and his team could not be happier to bring his incredible 221-36-12 Kun Khmer record to ONE Super Series.

The Cambodian is looking to succeed on the global stage and position himself for a World Title shot. If that were to happen, he would undoubtedly be able to achieve his goal and provide his family with an even better life.

“We are so happy that ONE is having striking-only bouts,” he adds. “We said this is our time to show what we [Cambodians] can really do now.”