Master San Kim Sean, a renowned proponent of the Kun Lbokator martial art, passed away this afternoon, June 3, after suffering a heart attack. He was 80 years old.

Vath Chamroeun, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), told The Post that Kim Sean passed away at 1.40pm.

Chamroeun paid testament to Kim Sean’s significant contributions to reviving the ancient Khmer martial art, work which led to its eventual inscription in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2022.

He described his passing as a significant loss of human resources, as he likely had not yet fully passed down his extensive knowledge of Kun Lbokator to the next generation.

“Founder of Kun Lbokator lost to illness. We are greatly saddened because he was a living treasure, thanks to his knowledge and skills. He said he had more skills to share with the younger generation, although he had done so much already,” he said.

“We are thankful to him for his commitment to Kun Lbokator. He did so much for the martial art and for the nation,” he added.

Our Dara, deputy secretary-general of the Cambodian Lbokator Federation and a disciple of Master San Kim Sean, said the master’s death is a profoundly sorrowful moment for those who love Lbokator.

“Today is a deeply sad day for all martial arts students, teachers and enthusiasts of Kun Lbokator. We have lost our revered master. In the past, he always inspired us, his students, to become teachers and leaders in the field of Lbokator. He achieved many accomplishments for us and for the nation,” Dara explained.

At the age of 13, Kim Sean began training in Lbokator under Master Khim Leak at Mahamontrei pagoda, later training in freestyle and international boxing. He also studied judo and Hapkido, at a youth club near Wat Phnom, now the site of the US embassy.

In 1973, he earned a third-degree black belt. After 1975, he was forcibly relocated by the Khmer Rouge to Battambang province, where he endured heavy labour as a blacksmith making knives, axes and ploughs, often working under gruelling conditions and sometimes surviving on leaves and grass for weeks.

In 1980, he fled to a Thai border camp and was later resettled in the US, where he worked as a labourer.

He then opened a Hapkido school to teach Americans and, being listed in the international federation in Korea, was awarded a fourth-degree black belt in 1982. In 1984, he received a fifth-degree black belt and became an assistant Hapkido instructor at a martial arts school in California.

Kim Sean held dual Cambodian and American citizenship, and had the opportunity to live in the US for the rest of his life. However, in 1992, driven by his love for Cambodia’s cultural treasures, he sacrificed his wealth, wife and children to return to the Kingdom and revive Kun Lbokator.

In March this year, the grandmaster’s passion for the artform – and those who practice it – was on display when he attended the National Kun Lbokator Championship, held in Phnom Penh.

“I saw rapid progress in the organisation of the national championship, and the level of competition, both in combat and performance, has improved. Although there are winners and losers, I truly appreciate the determination of all the athletes. We must continue to strive forward to ensure our success globally,” he said.

“We will continue to organise these events… to ensure the success and prosperity of Kun Lbokator in Cambodia. It’s essential for our young generation to preserve this culture for eternity on the sacred land of our Khmer ancestors,” he added.

The torch has now been passed on, but thanks to the efforts of <aster San Kim Sean, the flame of Kun Lbokator continues to burn bright.