7/25/2023 0 Comments Sports tape elbow![]() In 2019, the WLC marked history by broadcasting WLC 7: Mighty Warriors, the first Lethwei event, internationally live on UFC Fight Pass. In 2016, Myanmar's first international Lethwei promotion called World Lethwei Championship (WLC) launched its events using the tournament Lethwei rules. Thway Thit Win Hlaing would end up winning a decision according to WLC point system. On June 30, 2017, ONE Championship held a Lethwei match at ONE Championship: Light of a Nation between Thway Thit Win Hlaing and Soe Htet Oo. In 2017, ONE Championship and World Lethwei Championship officially entered into a partnership to share athletes to fight in each other's organization. The fight showcased Burmese fighters Phyan Thway and Soe Htet Oo in a dark match and the result was a draw according to the traditional Lethwei rules. ![]() On July 18, 2015, ONE Championship held the first Lethwei fight its history inside a cage at the occasion of ONE Championship: Kingdom of Warriors in Yangon, Myanmar. ![]() ![]() This marked a big addition to the art of Lethwei and potentially would make Burmese boxing more marketable internationally. The bouts, along with the undercard fights, were organized by the Ministry of Sport, Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Federation and KSM group. In 1996, the Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Federation (MTLF), a branch of the Myanmar's Ministry of Health and Sports, added the modern Lethwei rules for the occasion of the Golden Belt Championship in Yangon. After training with some of the fighters, Kyar Ba Nyein brought some to Mandalay and Yangon to compete in matches. He travelled around Myanmar, especially the Mon and Karen states, where Lethwei is more actively practiced. Kyar Ba Nyein, who participated in boxing at the 1952 Summer Olympics, pioneered modern Lethwei by setting in place modern rules and regulations. In modern times, the sport is kept alive in Lower Burma in Mon State and Karen State where matches are held for events such as New Year's celebrations. As of 2017, the minimum monthly wage in Myanmar was around $70 USD and children as young as ten years old could compete in Lethwei and can earn from $30 to $100. In rural areas, having a skilled child fighter has been a way of escaping poverty. The sport was revived under General Ne Win's nationalistic government Compared to Muay Thai, in Lethwei, punches are generally favoured over kicks because of their ability to draw blood easier. Lethwei went through many years of suppression during the British colonial rule of Burma. Traditional matches include the Flagship Tournament, which are still fought throughout Myanmar, especially during holidays or celebration festivals like Thingyan. Back then, Burmese boxing champions would enter the ring and call for open challenges. There were no draws the fight went on until one of the participants was knocked out or could no longer continue. Boxers fought without protective equipment, only wrapping their hands in hemp or gauze. At that time, matches took place in sand pits instead of rings. Participation was opened to any male, whether noble or commoner. In ancient times, matches were held for entertainment and were popular with every strata of society. According to researchers, thaing can be traced in its earliest form to the 12th century of the Pagan Kingdom dynasty. The traditional martial arts of Myanmar are regrouped under a term called " thaing", which includes bando, banshay, naban, shan gyi and Lethwei. Watercolour painting by an unknown Burmese artist depicting a 19th century "LEK-PWE-THAT THEE" boxing match. A vast majority of Lethwei fighters originate from the Karen ethnicity. This, combined with its bareknuckle nature, gave Lethwei a reputation for being one of the bloodiest and most violent martial arts. Disallowed in most combat sports, headbutts are important weapons in a Lethwei fighter's arsenal, giving Lethwei its name of the "Art of nine limbs". Lethwei is considered to be one of the most brutal martial arts in the world, as the sport is practiced bareknuckle with only tape and gauze while fighters are allowed to strike with their fists, elbows, knees, and feet, and the use of headbutts is also permitted. Lethwei ( Burmese: လက်ဝှေ့ IPA: ) or Burmese boxing is a full contact combat sport from Myanmar that uses stand-up striking including headbutts.
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