ABOUT

STORY OF KENYA PRATCH

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Kenya Prach was born in Cambodia. At the age of seven, he started learning a martial art called Kbach-Kun-Boran-Khmer, a type of Cambodian martial art which is essentially a combination of different types of martial arts.

His first martial arts teacher was a Buddhist monk named Lok Kru Thom, who was head of the temple Wat Atwea, aka Angko, in the city of Siem Reap. At age seven, Kenya began training with his uncle, a superior fighter, in the city of Battambank. His uncle believed in teaching only those who practiced martial arts for the betterment of the self and of the world, and that respect and love were the two most important truths.

Kenya entered his first Khmer kickboxing (Bokator) competition at the age of nine. Unfortunately, Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia shortly after he started competing. Khmer Rouge devastated his home country. In order to escape the killing fields, Kenya was forced to end his Bokator training.

After a long and grueling four years, Kenya finally managed to escape to Surin of Thailand, where he began training and participating in both gloved and barehanded competitions. He entered Muay Thai kickboxing competitions in Thailand at the age of fifteen. Kenya demonstrated his skill in local bars, small entertainment sporting events, and holiday celebration events. He entered fights in almost all cities in Northern Thailand, including Chiang Mai, Buriram, Krabi, and Surin, and he eventually became the youngest local Muay Thai champion after an extensive 152 fights. Because he delivered such powerful punches, local people gave him the nickname “The Black Stone Hands.

After coming to the United States, Keny joined the boxing team in Edinburgh, Indiana. He won many trophies and a state gold medal in White River Park State Game in 1983. Kenya tried to enter the Olympic boxing team in 1984; unfortunately, he was disqualified due to the fact that he was not a United States citizen at the time.

During his 20 years of teaching in the United States, Kenya has had over 1,000 students, many of whom have become champions in Muay Thai, boxing, Jujitsu, and Taekwondo. He is currently teaching in San Francisco.

Kenya continues to share his incredible martial arts knowledge with his students as long as they are willing and eager to learn. Kenya carries on in his uncle’s tradition, prescribing to the belief that the most valuable lesson in life is how to respect and love others. Kenya and his students learn this every day.

Kenya has also been heavily involved in non-profit work, raising awareness and fighting crimes against humanity, including violence against women and children, for the betterment of the community. You can read more about his humaniterian efforts here.


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