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Lethwei or Lethawae also known as Burmese Boxing and Myanma Traditional Boxing and the Kachin variant Htwi hkyen may well be the most brutal and exciting form of kickboxing the world has ever seen . Lethwei is in many ways similar to it's younger sibling Muay Thai from neighboring Thailand. If Thai Boxing is the science of 8 limbs than Lethwei is the science of 9 limbs due to the allowance of head butts. There are records recording Lethwei style matches dating back to the Pyu empire in Burma.
Participants fight without gloves only wrapping their
hands in hemp or gauze cloth , rules are similar to Muay Thai but
allow and encourage all manner of takedowns along with head butts. Traditionally
held outdoors in sandpits instead of rings but in modern times are now held in
rings . Popular technique in Lethwei include leg kicks, knees, elbows, head
butts., raking knuckle strikes and ballistic takedowns.
Matches traditionally would go until a fighter can no longer continue. If a knockout occurs the boxer is revived and has the option of continuing as a result defense, conditioning and learning to absorb punishment are very important. Burmese boxers spend a great deal of time preparing the body to absorb impact and conditioning their weapons to dish it out. Matches today are carried out in both the traditional manner and a more modern offshoot started in 1996 the Myanma Traditional boxing. The modern style has changed to make the contests more of an organized sport under the governments organization. The goal seems to be to make it a more marketable sport.
Many of the ethnic groups within Burma have their own variant of the indigenous martial arts giving them sometimes distinctly different styles of Lethwei that make for exciting action packed matches.
The Kachin variant of Lethwei is referred to as soft (relaxed) there is very little wasted motion or effort. Lethwei matches usually start in long range with kicks to the legs and raking punches to the face in an effort to draw blood as matches continue the fighters end up in the in the clinch and the primary weapons used are standing grappling with various takedowns and sweeps along with the preferred finishing weapons of head-butts, elbows and knees. The Kachin Practitioner generally prefers to fight from the clinch and tends not to fall after missing with a long distance strike opting to follow low line kicks and raking punches into close range.
If the sport is viewed in the context of preparing one for battle you can see that it not only teaches timing, distance and movement but also the ability to absorb and deliver punishment thereby winning a war of attrition. The goal is not so much the winning and losing but fighting hard and learning lessons.
This is the official
Government approved History of Burmese Boxing Myanma Traditional Boxing as
Practiced in the Government Sactioned Golden Belt Tounements.
Myanmar Traditional Boxing
Myanma Lethwei
Myanma
traditional boxing (Myanma Letwhave) had developed since many years ago. It is
the national art of self-defence which stimulates hereditary courage and the
national spirit. As all the Myanmar nationals can hold, boxing matches in every
region in Myanmar, the traditional boxing becomes the national art of Self-defence.
It is the heritage not only owned by one national but by all the nationals of
Myanmar.
Myanma traditional boxing is the high standard of fighting art without weapons.
The traditional boxing match is man to man fighting. Thus, it is regarded as
mannliness. In an ancient saying, if a man has no tatto marks, he is regarded as
womanish. So also, if a man does not know the traditional boxing, he is regarded
as a sissy. At the time of ancient Myanmar kings, traditonal boxing matches were
held in grand scale. (Pagan, Nagayone Myanma encyclopaedia, No-12, Page from 175
tp 179). The pictures of a man standing on his head, wrestlers and dancers can
be found on the wall of a cave mear Bagan. The picture of the two wrestlers are
vivid. Both are stout and they look real sportsmen. It is assumed that Boxing
might develop in the Bagan era.
During the era of Inwa, the two boxers, Augnsegon Thangarazar and Shangyi fought
in the boxing match. The former killed the latter with his right hand. Long long
ago, the militant soldiers who know the military strategy were trained the art
of boxing, Some historians said that at the time of Thibaw, the last King of
Konebaung dynasty, good boxers are put in the royal list as " Letwhave Taw Thut".
The boxers of prewar period could break bamboo poles with their fists. And they
were able to hit certain mark on the face. They could fight tirelessly from
sunrise to sunset to get high reward to get the champion's flag (Alan Lu Pwe).
After the indenpendence in postwar period, Myanma traditional boxing revived as
the national heritage. The Boxers, mostly farmers, kept the Myanma traditional
boxing alive.
Twenty of Myanmar top boxers were sent to Thailand in 1955 and to China in 1960
to partictpage in the boxing matches hold there. Said U Bo Sein who had been to
China. Boxing matches are being held at the time of the Shwedagon Pagoda
festivals, indenpendence days and Farmers's days. So that Myanmar nationals can
deeply enjoy them.
In the past, the boxing matches were held on the ground of about 24 feet wide.
The groud was covered with sand or husks of paddy. Nowadays, the boxers fight in
the ring which is 20 feet wide. They wear only short pants and the top is tied
by longyiof triangle shape. Their hands are bandaged. There are two references (
Ko Wyne Daing) in the ring and three judges on the bench (Khone Daing). Myanmar
traditional music is being played while they are fighting.
Various spirits are worshipped before the match is started for the successful
ending.
Myanma traditional boxing is an art of fighting and self-defence. When a boxer
fights his opponent he can tactfully use his feet, hands, knees, elbows and
head. (Nine Big Weapons). Therefore, the famous old boxers said that there were
nine entering hits and nine defending. They said that fists were to blow, elbows
to make a side thrust, head to hit, feet, knees and forearms to strike.
Nowadays, three kinds of Myanma traditional boxing matches are generally held
according to the size and types of the festivals. They are--
1. GYAR PWE (Interim boxing match)
2. ALAN LU PWE (Boxing match to get champion's belt)
3. SEIN KHAW PWE (Boxing match of challenge)
Thus, by preserving and practising Myanma traditional boxing, patriotism and
union spirit are strengthened and uplifted. Besides, there are many advantages
to be developed which are good character, health and fitness, selt-confidence,
safety at work, defence of the country and Myanmar young people's love for their
country.
The rules of boxing matches
The rules and regulations of Myanma traditional boxing matches varied
in accord with different regions long ago. But at present the rules and
regulations observed and practised by the boxers are the same through out
Myanmar.
Now, Myanma traditional boxing matches are held as " Gyar Pwe" (interim Boxing
match), "Alan Lu Pwe" (Boxing match to get champios's belt and " Sein Khaw Pwe"
(Boxing match of challenge) according to the size of the festivals. The
competitors must strictly follow the rules and regulations mentioned below:-
1. The competitors must have medical checked up and those medically unfit will
not be admitted.
2. They have to dress neatly and their hair and nails have to be cut.
They have to get on the stage from the prescribed corner in prescribed manner.
3. There must not be any hard things under the banages and in the socks. If
these are found, the boxer will be expelled and action will be taken against
him.
4. Oil must not be used on the Body more than necessary and chilli style
ointment must.jpg)
not be used.
5. At the begining of the match, every competitor has to demonstrate his style
of fighting.
6. He can worship according to his faith but it must not be against the national
culture.
7. Team leaders or trainers and judges must arrange the competitors to be
matched so that they cannot be wounded.
8. The two competitors must not right each other until the ring referees them to
do so.
9. They must stop fighting if the referees shout "halt" or show with hand or
foot.
10. If a boxer falls down while fighting, he must be lying flat on the floor.
11. The boxers must not scrach, bite, pull the hair and kick the balls of each
other.
12. If they are holding each other for a long time, the referees must stop the
match.
13. If one of the two boxers steps back and gives up, the match must be stopped.
14. If one boxer falls and ligs flat on the floor, he must not be attacked. If
he is attacked, the attacker will lose the match.
15. If the two boxers are pretending to fight, the referees must stop the match
and take action against them.
16. If the referees and judges ask one of the boxers to give up the fight, he
must willingly accept it.
17. Boxers must compete according to three conditions that is one will lose
because of fear, (Give up the match, because of injury, because of inability to
fight any more.)
18. Refrees and judges must laid down the number of rounds.
19. Boxers must not sleep, look back and run round in the ring. If the does not
pay
attention to the frequent warnings of the refrees and judges, he will be
declared as a loser.
20. In the interim matches (Gyar Pwe), the boxers must compete three rounds with
three minutes in one round, If there is no winner and loser, the match will end
in a draw. If one boxer falls down, referees will take care of him for two
minutes. After that he becomes the loser.
21. In the matches to get the champion's belt (Alan Lu Pwe), the boxers must
compete on three conditions, Kyauk Shone (lose because of fear), Kwe Shone (Lose
because of injury) and Thet Lone Shone (because of inability to fight any more).
If there is no winner or loser, the match must be continued another thirty
minutes. If one of the boxers has injury cut and bleeds, it must be approved by
the doctor he cannot continue to fight.
22. If one boxer falls down in the Alan Lu Pwe, the referee will take care of
him. But if he falls down and can't to get up after three calls for challenge,
he will be declared.
23. In 5 rounds match Sein Khaw Pwe, the boxers must compete five rounds by
three minutes fight and three minutes rest. They are allowed to extend the rest
time to six minutes only once during first 3 rounds. If one boxer is wounded
during first 3 rounds, he can win the match with the approval of the doctor and
the decision of the referees and the competition jury.
24. In 7 rounds match Sein Khaw Pwe, the boxers must compete seven rounds by
three minutes fight and three minutes rest. They allow to extend the rest for
six minutes once in first 6 rounds. If one boxer is wounded during first 6
rounds, he can win the match with the approval of the doctor and the decision of
the referees and competition jury.
25. In 10 rounds match Sein Khaw Pwe, the boxers must compete ten rounds with
three minutes fight and three minutes rest, They are allowed to entend the rest
time for six minutes twice in first 7 rounds, If one boxer is wounded during
first 7 rounds, he can win the match with the approval of the doctor and
decision of referees and competition jury.
26. In 12 rounds match Sein Khaw Pwe, the boxers with 3 minutes fight and 3
minutes rest must compete twelve rounds. They are allowed to extend the rest
time to six minutes 3 times in first 8 rounds. If one boxer is wounded during
first 8 rounds, he can win the match with the approval of the doctor and the
decision of the referees and the competition jury.
In the traditional Myanmar Boxing, the boxers can use tactfully and skillfully
their feet, hands, knees, elbows and head in fight.
Nevertheless, the boxers must observe the rules and regulation laid down by the
Myanma Traditonal Boxing Federation and boxing matches are being held in accord
with our tradition.
The Lethwei video clips below should give you a good feel for the sport. The clips are from 3 events in different era's and levels of competition . They have been edited as the fights can be very long The video 's are wmv. files so if you are having trouble viewing them just go to media viewer and download the latest viewer. We have over 30 minutes of fight footage up and will eventually add more in the future.
This is a new fight I put up on Jan 5 2004 this is a great fight and also a highlight clip.
I am putting up 2 versions and the fight is about 16 minutes long.
New fight great KO
New Lethwei Matches These are 2 New fights in their entirity
Footage is from Tapes available for sale on the store page
1st Fight
2nd Fight
These are the original fights from my personal collection
These tapes are not available for sale
Lethwei Group 1
These are vintage high-lights of different village matches from the early eighties. Matches like these go on at festivals in Burma frequently. These matches are all from the same night and should give you a good feeling for amateur fights. The clips have been edited to cut down the time of matches while still retaining the flavor. Notice the 2 referees indicative of older matches. Remember there are very few rules all strikes are legal including groin strikes and head butts. The hands are wrapped in hemp with no gloves or padding and all manners of takedown are allowed you are also allowed to strike in continuation to hitting the ground until a ref makes contact with there is no grappling on the ground as they are kickboxing matches a thaing match would be allowed to continue on the ground. Matches are held until 3 knockouts of a fighter or until on concedes there are no points scored or decisions. If you notice in the matches the fighters have a tendency to throw everything behind every technique many times falling on purpose after missing. This is for 2 reasons you HAVE to KO your opponent to win and you do not want to allow him to take advantage of a missed kick with a takedown. Matches like these still fought under the traditional rules still are held within the ethnic states of Burma with great regularity.
1st vid--------highlights from a couple fights 2nd vid------highlights from fight
3rd vid---- highlights from fight 4th vid------highlights from fight
5th vid------highlights from fight Last fight of night 3partt----Part1
Lethwei Group 2
These Matches are more recent and were held outside Rangoon/Yangon in the early 90's. This was a more organized regional mid-level event and is typical of the first stages of government influence on the sport in the early 90's. Notice these matches have one referee but are still under the traditional rules. the big change going on at this point is in the rounds and how a fight is decided. These matches have 4 rounds of 4 min each if the first last round goes past 4 minutes the fight continues and goes into a form of sudden death overtime where the first fighter to bleed significantly from a cut on the face loses. This is a time period when kicks to the groin and striking in continuation to the takedown began to be frowned upon though still legal strikes. It is also when a rift began between those who had been keeping the sport and the old ways alive since the war and the government trying to rebuild the sport after years of suppressing it.
1st Match----- highlights 2nd Match----- highlights 2 parts--Part1 PART 2 ***********
3rd Match----- highlights 4th Match----- highlights 4 parts--Part1 PART 2*********
Lethwei Group 3
These matches were sponsored by the government and held in Thuwana stadium in June of 2000. This is one of the higher level Government sponsored events. Notice once again there is only one referee and the rules have changed significantly groin strikes and striking in continuation to the ground are now illegal in Government sponsored events but the rule isn't really enforced and fighters are not actually penalized for doing it. Now there are 5- 4min. rounds and if a fight goes all 5 rounds the winner is chosen by decision. At this point many of the old style trainers do not allow their fighters to participate in events partial for distaste for the new rules and partially for a heavy distrust of the Government.
1st fight---Part 1***** Part 2 ********
2nd fight--Part 1***** Part 2********
3rd fight--Part 1***** Part 2****** Part 3****
Part 4 ******* Part 5******** Part 6****
Lethwei Knockdowns
This was my first attempt at editing and illustrates the shear excitement of Burmese Boxing gives a good indication of the physical toughness required and is kind of fun to watch. These were made from the village matches above and I am leaving them up because a number of people seemed to really enjoy watching them. They don't really give a feel for the matches themselves but do show the extreme nature of the sport.
Burmese Boxing (Lethwei) video #1 Burmese Boxing (Lethwei) video #2
Burmese Boxing (Lethwei) video #3 Burmese Boxing (Lethwei) video #4
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