Lethwei, or bama lethwei, is a combat sport originating from Myanmar (formerly Burma). Considered very brutal, this discipline has long been practiced in its country of origin but criticized internationally. Find out everything there is to know about this boxing that allows headbutts.
What is lethwei?
Lethwei, or Burmese boxing, is the art of 9 limbs. All parts of the body are used as weapons: fists, legs, elbows, knees and head. Practiced without gloves, boxers use bands to protect their hands and feet. This boxing is dangerous and brutal.
Lethwei, also called bama lethwei, is a martial art which finds its origin on the battlefield At Myanmar (formerly Burma). Indeed, over the centuries, the country has faced numerous internal and border wars. Burmese warriors then developed a method of hand-to-hand combat which allows them to continue fighting even when they find themselves unarmed against the enemy.
The discipline became popular 11th century with the warrior king Anawratha. The fights are supervised by 2 referees and they take place in circles, on clay. Boxers, bare feet and hands, confront each other without rules. Since no blow is prohibited, the fights are then extremely violent and long. To be declared the winner, a fighter must put his opponent KO Or unable to fight.
The way of confronting each other is also particular. Unlike more eastern boxes, the fighters here are inspired by animal behavior.
Over time, Burmese boxing became very popular within the country. The different princes of the Burmese empires and the people like to practice it or watch the fights.
In 1952, the boxer Kyar Ba Nyein, said Tiger, represents Burma at the Olympic Games. Unfortunately, he lost in the first round against a Polish boxer.
Two years later, however, he joined the Myanmar government sports council. He then aims to revive the practice of lethwei. The discipline has indeed lost its luster and its reputation has been tarnished among the Burmese world and internationally.
For modernize sport, it then introduces rules which are closer to the systems already in place for the other boxes in the world. These new rules form the basis of today's lethwei.
From now on, the fights take place in 5 rounds in Burmese boxing 3 minutes. Between rounds, boxers have a 2-minute break.
According to traditional rules, there is no rating system. A boxer must knock out his opponent to win. And again, that's not exactly true!
When a fighter is knocked out, he actually has 2 minutes to recover strength in his corner of the ring. Then, the fight resumes to complete the 5 rounds.
If at the end of these 5 rounds, both boxers are still standing, the match is simply declared. null.
In 1996, the 2 minutes of time-out used in the event of an injury were deleted. Of the judges are also added to the ringside. This new regulation makes it possible to avoid having draws. A winner is thus constantly chosen at the end of a fight.
Although it is extremely violent as a discipline, lethwei is taught to Burmese children from the age of 6-7. Seen from abroad, the culture of this sport can therefore scandalize more than one person.
However, Burmese boxing serves a important family base. It's a tradition which is transmitted between a father and his son. It allows young people to show both their strength and their courage. It's a ritual by which they show that they become men.
The lethwei also participates in the creation of a valuable social base in a country where people often live in the poverty. The instructors will take on the role of educator, supervisor and trainer for the combatants. From a very young age, boxers learn themutual aid, THE respect and thehumility.
The training camps then become a second family for all these fighters.
On a national scale, lethwei takes on an even greater dimension symbolic. She is considered a true national identity which has persisted despite the numerous conflicts that Myanmar has suffered over time.
Burmese boxing consists of a set of traditional techniques Burmese warriors.
Three main elements must be taken into account:
As a rule, fighters follow the traditional rules during matches. However, in France, the federation has regulated the discipline more harshly in order to better supervise it. Headbutts are for example prohibited in French regulations.
Combat techniques can be used to attack:
In competitions on French territory, boxers cannot:
The meetings always take place on rings regulated.
The competitions are divided into 2 categories: assaults and the fights.
In the assaults, out of combat is prohibited and keys are controlled.
Conversely, in the fights, practitioners can go out of combat and their touches are no longer retained. They are from full contact.
Depending on the categories and types of competition, the fights last between 2 to 3 rounds with 2 to 3 minutes rest between.
If the two opponents can still fight at the end of the 5 rounds of the fight, it is the system of judges' scoring which will help determine the winner. At the end of each round, they awarded points to each fighter. The referee just has to collect them to give the final decision of the match.
Before the meetings, Burmese traditions must be respected by combatants.
The arrival of the boxers takes place on a traditional music Burmese.
Each in turn, they then carry out the Lethwei Yé, a traditional warrior dance. With this parade, the fighters demonstrate their skill and their courage.
The Lethwei Yé ends with a traditional gesture, the lekkha moun. On one leg and arms crossed, this position is inspired by the wing movement of birds of prey, like the eagle, when they fly And hunt.
It allows the fighter who performs it to challenge your opponent with courage And respect. It is also a way for the boxer to announce to his opponent that he is ready to fight.
On French territory, fighters must be at least 18 years old to participate in competitions.
The lethwei is divided into 5 divisions:
Practitioners cannot change their practice level during the season. If all the prerequisites are met, they must wait for the next season to compete in the higher class.
At the men, the categories "junior" And "senior” are divided as follows:
For categories female “junior" And "senior”, the divisions are:
For both men and women, 3 age categories are used:
Age upgrades are prohibited.
As with all combat sports, having good equipment is essential to practice and fight safely. We have listed all the elements required for lethwei.
During official meetings, boxers (Lethwei doo or Thu) must wear very basic clothing:
To protect yourself, the list of equipment to wear is however more complete:
Lethwei, or Burmese boxing, is a discipline very dangerous. Many consider that the muay thai or thai boxing is the deadliest martial art, but in reality, Burmese boxing is even more brutal.
Here are the most important points to remember about lethwei:
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Our studios
Le Cercle Boxing – Boxing club in Paris
6 rue de Clignancourt, 75018 Paris
Le Cercle Boxing – Studio Beaubourg – Boxing club in Paris
60 rue Quincampoix, 75004 Paris
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28 rue Popincourt, 75011 Paris
