Martial arts
Our Classes
BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU
MMA
GRAPPLING
KIDS MARTIAL ARTS
KUN KHMER
WARRIOR MOVEMENT
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling-based martial art whose central theme is the skill of controlling a resisting opponent in ways that force him to submit, or worse immobilise or take out an opponent.
Due to the fact that control is generally easier on the ground than in a standing position, much of the technique of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is centered around the skill of taking an opponent down to the ground and controlling them.
To control and overcome greater size, strength, and aggression with lesser size and strength is the keynote of the sport. This is done by utilizing superior leverage, grip, and position upon your opponent. Students of the sport gain a deep understanding of the workings and limits of the human body.
Kun Khmer
Bokator and Kun Khmer are the pride and joy of many of Cambodia's natives. Martial Arts had an important part in ancient Cambodian cultures. The temples in the Angkor complex show many depictions of martial arts that current day practitioners will instantly recognize as Kun Khmer and Bokator. The arts are still very much alive today as Kun Khmer competition is a daily occurrence on local television and the ancient Bokator is still performed with a huge variety of armed and unarmed combat elements. Where Kun Khmer is more an expression in line with current day competitive arts such as kickboxing and Thai boxing.
kick boxing
Kickboxing is a popular sport that mixes elements of karate, boxing, and other forms of martial arts. Unlike Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Kun Khmer, kickboxing does not involve things like elbows and grappling, and primarily emphasises kicking and punching and the competition forms have rules to keep the fight dynamic and engaging. Populair rulesets stem from the K-1 tournaments which was the highest peak of kickboxing, and was held during the 90’s and 00’s in Japan. Nowadays glory continues in the ruleset set out by the K1 organisation.
Much like boxing, competitive fighting isn’t the only pathway that brings value to the practice. It is a fun way of working out and some might find kickboxing more engaging because it combines punches and kicks, which can be incredibly powerful. Because of this, the practice is much more of a whole-body workout, incorporating both cardio and strength training. In particular, kickboxing helps build core strength, back, chest, and endurance.
MMA
MMA is the holy grail of contemporary martial arts. It is not an art in itself, but the practice of all martial arts together, with the least amount of restrictions in terms of what's allowed and what's not allowed in the ring, or cage, as competition is often fought in an enclosed space that allows for more diverse tactics. As the walls become a part of the fighting ground as well. MMA allows for striking, kicking, elbows, knees, trows, submissions, wrestling and grappling. It comes close to real combat and has been a testing ground for the validity and application of martial arts traditions world wide.
Bokator
Bokator is an ancient tradition that somewhat resembles ancient practices such as Kung Fu and Pankration, where the art has a path that focuses on real competition that comes close to current day MMA and a practice of demonstration and choreography where unarmed and armed combat is displayed, quite often with woman practising and performing in the roll of the hero that defeats multiple man in a true showcase of movement, proper posture and impeccable technique. Bokator is considered Unesco Intangible Heritage since 2022 and is part of the IOC, and performed by the olympic events: SouthEast Asia games and the ASIAN games.
BOxing
(also known as "Western boxing") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouth guards, throw punches at each other for a predetermined amount of time in a boxing ring. The practice of boxing teaches us all offensive, defensive and movement skills needed to compete in the ring.
At Ground Zero we have boxing practices in different forms. We use it for our classes: “martial arts for kids” and for our energetic “box & bass” classes, where a live DJ is guiding the practice of boxing drills on the beat of the music.
Warrior Movement
This class is added to the schedule and follows the principles of movement pioneers such as Ido Portal and other Animal Flow practitioners. This is part yoga, part martial arts, part HIIT. A very valuable addition to the more traditional martial arts classes that intends to increase the range of motion of our bodies and makes us more comfortable in making complex movements. When the whole body is in line and in tune with the movement, the application of technique will be much more effective. Our warrior movement classes will greatly increase the speed and dexterity of the moves we make in BJJ, Kun Khmer and MMA
Looking for Kids classes?
Ground Zero: Martial Arts & Yoga Cafe
163 Sombai Road, Siem Reap
+855 (0) 11 557 905