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Lethwei is also known as
Burmese Boxing and Myanmar Traditional Boxing, is a form of kickboxing which
originated in Burma (Myanmar). Lethwei is in many ways similar to its
siblings from neighboring Southeast Asian countries such as Tomoi from
Malaysia, Pradal Serey from Cambodia, Lao boxing from Laos and Muay Thai
from Thailand. |
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Lethwei and Muay Thai fought
under the same rules. Fights are traditionally held outdoors in sandpits
instead of rings, but in modern times they are now held in rings. Popular
techniques in Lethwei include leg kicks, knees, elbows, head butts, raking
knuckle strikes, and take downs. In the past, sometimes biting and gouging
were also permitted in the matches.
Matches traditionally and ultimately would go until a fighter could no
longer continue. In earlier times, there were no draws, only a win or loss
by knockout. No point system existed. Extreme bloodshed was very common and
death in the ring was no surprise. Nowadays in the match, 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 government's
organization. The goal seems to be to make it a more marketable sport
similar to Muay Thai. Some Lethwei boxers tried to participate in kickboxing
and Muay Thai matches outside Burma but their extreme style and techniques
were banned in worldwide kickboxing and Muay Thai matches thus making them
unadaptable to professional sport fighting contests, and consequently unable
to win any major titles.
Lethwei is similar in concept, but radically different from Muay Thai due to
the allowance of head-butts. In comparison, Lethwei can be interpreted as
being bolder and more extreme. The techniques are a bit slower and stronger
than in the other Southeast Asian kickboxing forms, possibly because it has
more Indian influence than the other styles. There are records recording
Lethwei style matches dating back to the Pyu empire in Burma.Ancient Burma
armies successfully used Lethwei, Bando and its armed sibling Banshay in
winning many wars against neighboring countries. |
