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I Am Oum Ry: A Champion Kickboxer's Story of Surviving the Cambodian Genocide and Discovering Peace

Name: I Am Oum Ry: A Champion Kickboxer's Story of Surviving the Cambodian Genocide and Discovering Peace
Price: 18.57 USD
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Rating: 4.8 (11 reviews)

4.8 of 5 Stars: Survival - I Am Oum Ry: A Champion Kickboxer's Story of Surviving the Cambodian Genocide and Discovering Peace

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Book Synopsis: “The story of the legendary martial arts fighter and kickboxer Oum Ry is by turns pulse-pounding, disturbing, and powerful. His is an astonishing life told beautifully by his daughter Zochada Tat and Addi Somekh. The book will grip you from its first pages and not let you go.”—Jeff Chang, author of Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America and Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation

Oum Ry (b.1944) is a former international champion kickboxer who first brought the Cambodian martial art Pradal Serey to the United States. When his family of silver engravers couldn't afford his food or schooling, he lived with monks until seeking out Pradal Serey masters, soon becoming national champion at 23 years old and one of the most famous fighters in the region. For 15 years, he toured Southeast Asia, and without ever suffering a knock-out, won more than 250 fights. After a young man’s dream-life of stardom, parties, and girls, his new wife gave birth to a child in 1975, two months before the Khmer Rouge entered Phnom Penh and threw the country into the chaos of civil war, where starvation, disease, and mass executions were common.

Oum Ry survived the genocide though much of his family perished. He was saved many times from death in Cambodia due to fame, talent, and his resilience, but suffered a life-threatening attack during Southern California’s epic gang violence of the 1990s. Earlier, as a refugee with his young family in Chicago, Oum Ry learned English while working cleaning hotels. But within a few years, he had an investor in Long Beach, California and opened one of the first kickboxing gyms in the United States.

This is Oum Ry's life story, which is propelled by his highly anticipated return to Cambodia in February 2022 to reunite with family and to pass on Pradal Serey traditions to the next generation.

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Experience the gripping and powerful story of Oum Ry, a legendary kickboxer, and martial arts fighter, in the book "I Am Oum Ry: A Champion Kickboxer's Story of Surviving the Cambodian Genocide and Discovering Peace." Uncover his astonishing journey of resilience and triumph, beautifully narrated by his daughter Zochada Tat and Addi Somekh. From the first pages, this pulse-pounding tale will captivate your senses, leaving you unable to put it down.

Join Oum Ry on his rise from humble beginnings as a young boy struggling to afford food and education to becoming the national champion of Pradal Serey, the renowned Cambodian martial art. With more than 250 victories, Oum Ry leaves an indelible mark in Southeast Asia, never once experiencing defeat in the ring. But as life takes an unexpected turn, he finds himself caught in the chaos of civil war during the Khmer Rouge regime, where survival becomes an arduous battle against starvation, disease, and mass executions.

Despite facing immense challenges, Oum Ry's resilience and talent ensure his survival throughout the genocide. His fame and reputation provide him with numerous close calls from death and act as his shield. However, it is in Southern California's harrowing gang violence of the 1990s where he must confront his most life-threatening encounter. Yet, through it all, Oum Ry's determination and unwavering spirit propel him to establish one of the first kickboxing gyms in the United States, transforming his passion into a lifelong legacy.

Don't miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in Oum Ry's extraordinary life journey. Be inspired by his resilience, strength, and unwavering pursuit of peace. Mark your calendars for February 2022 as Oum Ry embarks on his highly anticipated return to Cambodia to reconnect with his family and pass on the timeless traditions of Pradal Serey to the next generation. Order your copy of "I Am Oum Ry" now and witness the incredible story of a true champion.

Order now and embark on Oum Ry's journey of resilience and triumph.

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