Editing Lethwei (section)

== History ==
[[File:Physical culture (1908) (14802472843).jpg|thumb|300px|Late 19th century Lethwei match in Myanmar. The fighters on the left bears a [[Htoe Kwin]] tattoos and hitched up [[Longyi#Lethwei|longyi]] (paso hkadaung kyaik).]]
[[File:Bodleian Ms. Burm. a. 5 fol 162.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Watercolour painting from 1897 depicting a 19th century boxing match. All fighters wear [[Longyi#Lethwei|longyi]] and [[Htoe Kwin]] tattoos.]]
The traditional martial arts of Myanmar are regrouped under a term called "[[Mainland Southeast Asia martial arts#Myanmar|thaing]]", which includes [[bando]], [[banshay]], [[naban]], shan gyi and Lethwei. According to researchers, thaing can be traced in its earliest form to the 12th century of the [[Pagan Kingdom]] dynasty.<ref>{{cite news|last=H.|first=Thar|date=12 October 2019|url=https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/playing-for-beauty-and-playing-to-fight-myanmars-martial-arts|title=Playing for beauty and playing to fight': Myanmar's martial arts|publisher=Frontier}}</ref>

In [[Bagan]], it exists some carvings on temples and pagodas in the central Myanmar plains, which appear to show pairs of men locked in combat, suggesting the sport is potentially over a 1,000 years old.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/lethwei-myanmars-brutal-martial-art-attracting-all-comers-while-fighting-for-recognition-1.98823|title=Lethwei, Myanmar’s brutal Martial Art, attracting all-comers while fighting for recognition|date=December 30, 2015|website=[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National News]]}}</ref>

In ancient times, matches were held for entertainment and were popular with every stratum of society. Participation was opened to any male, whether noble or commoner. At that time, matches took place in sand pits instead of rings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bornwarriorsmovie.com/index.php/news/entry/born-warriors-fighting-for-survival|title=Born Warriors: Fighting for Survival|last1=Giordano|first1=Vincent|website=15 July 2015}}</ref> Boxers fought without protective equipment, only wrapping their hands in hemp or gauze. There were no draws; the fight went on until one of the participants was knocked out or could no longer continue. Back then, Burmese boxing champions would enter the ring and call for open challenges.<ref name="Journal">{{cite book |title=Journal of the Royal Society of Arts, Volume 41 |publisher=G. Bell and Sons |date=1893 |page=151 |quote=At a Burmese boxing match, a champion will jump into the ring and dance about, smacking his chest and arms and cracking his fingers, challenging all comers.}}</ref>

Lethwei went through many years of suppression during the British colonial rule of Burma. The sport was revived under General [[Ne Win]]'s nationalistic government.<ref>Burmese Boxing Sees Revival. [[Black Belt (magazine)|Black Belt magazine]]. September 1970.</ref> Unlike Muay Thai, in Lethwei, punches are generally favoured over kicks because of their ability to draw blood more easily.<ref>{{cite web |title=What Happens When Muai Thai Fighters Try Lethwei?|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oZH4_3G42E|website=[[The Joe Rogan Experience]]|date=October 29, 2019}}</ref> Traditional matches include the ''Flagship Tournament'', which are still fought throughout Myanmar, especially during holidays or celebration festivals like [[Thingyan]].<ref name="traditional">{{cite web|last1=Giordano|first1=Vincent|title=Burmese Lethwei: The Tradition of Child Fighters|url=http://www.allaboutmartialarts.com/Burmese-lethwei-the-tradition-of-child-fighters|website=AllAboutMartialArts}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/print/658636/|title=Women join in Myanmar's ferocious kickboxing|date=1 April 2016|website=[[Bangkok Post]]}}</ref> In rural areas, having a skilled child fighter has been a way of escaping poverty.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Violent, Lonely World of Myanmar's Child Boxers|url=https://narratively.com/the-violent-lonely-world-of-myanmars-child-boxers|author=Poppy McPherson|website=Narratively|date=31 July 2017}}</ref>

=== The New Era ===
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.<ref name="Bone crunching">{{cite web |author=Zaw Zaw, A|date=24 December 2015|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/foreigners-drawn-myanmars-bone-crunching-kickboxing-042426376.html|title=Foreigners drawn to Myanmar's bone-crunching kickboxing|publisher=[[Yahoo Sports]]}}</ref>

[[Kyar Ba Nyein]], who participated in [[boxing at the 1952 Summer Olympics]], pioneered modern Lethwei by setting in place modern rules and regulations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/14281120/Kyar-ba-nyein|title=Kyar ba nyein|publisher=Scribd|access-date=2015-03-04}}</ref> He travelled around [[Myanmar]], especially the [[Mon State|Mon]] and [[Karen people|Karen]] states, where Lethwei is more actively practiced. After training with some of the fighters, Kyar Ba Nyein brought some to [[Mandalay]] and [[Yangon]] to compete in matches.<ref name="bornwarriorsmovie1">{{cite web|last1=Giordano|first1=Vincent|title=Born Warriors Redux: A New Era Begins for an Ancient Sport|url=http://www.bornwarriorsmovie.com/index.php/articles/entry/born-warriors-redux-a-new-era-begins-for-an-ancient-sport|date=15 July 2015}}</ref>

In 1996, the [[Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Federation]] (MTLF), a branch of the [[Ministry of Health and Sports (Myanmar)|Myanmar's Ministry of Health and Sports]], added the [[#Tournament rules|modern Lethwei rules]] for the occasion of the ''Golden Belt Championship'' in [[Yangon]].<ref name=MDN>{{cite web |url=https://www.mdn.gov.mm/en/tun-tun-min-wins-myanmar-lethwei-world-championship|title=Tun Tun Min wins Myanmar Lethwei World Championship|date=19 August 2019|publisher=Myanmar Daily News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Goyder|first=James |date=17 December 2014|url=http://fightland.vice.com/blog/the-burmese-kickboxing-style-of-lethwei-expands-into-singapore|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130151514/http://fightland.vice.com/blog/the-burmese-kickboxing-style-of-lethwei-expands-into-singapore|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 January 2015|title=The Burmese Kickboxing Style of Lethwei Expands Into Singapore |publisher=[[Fightland|VICE Fightland]]}}</ref><ref name="Golden belt">{{cite news|author=Kyaw Zin Hlaing|url=https://www.mmtimes.com/sports/6839-two-two-wins-golden-belt-championship.html|title=Two Two wins Golden Belt Championship|date=20 May 2013|website=[[Myanmar Times]]}}</ref> The bouts, along with the undercard fights, were organized by the Ministry of Sport, Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Federation and KSM group. This marked a big addition to the art of Lethwei and potentially would make Burmese boxing more marketable internationally.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.combatsportsasia.com/burmese-lethwei-bare-knuckle-revival|title=Burmese Lethwei: Bare Knuckle Revival|last1=Giordano|first1=Vincent|date=13 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906041409/http://www.combatsportsasia.com/burmese-lethwei-bare-knuckle-revival/|archive-date=September 6, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 18 July 2015, [[ONE Championship]] held the first Lethwei fight in its history inside a cage at the occasion of [[2015 in ONE Championship#ONE Championship: Kingdom of Warriors|ONE Championship: Kingdom of Warriors]] in [[Yangon, Myanmar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.onefc.com/features/6-fascinating-facts-every-martial-arts-fan-needs-to-know-about-myanmar-lethwei|title=6 Fascinating Facts Every Martial Arts Fan Needs To Know About Myanmar Lethwei|website=ONE Championship|date=14 June 2017|quote=''Pictures of Phyan Thway and Soe Htet Oo at Kingdom of Warriors''}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.onefc.com/lifestyle/what-separates-lethwei-from-other-martial-arts|title=What Separates Lethwei From Other Martial Arts|website=ONE Championship|author=Matias Andres|date=14 March 2020}}
* {{cite news |author=Andrew Whitelaw|title="A lethwei style MMA fight" - Aung La N Sang on hybrid rules and touching on his Myanmar roots|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-aung-la-n-sang-keen-for-a-lethwei-style-mma-fight|work=Sportskeeda|date=28 April 2022|quote=''ONE Championship has promoted lethwei fights in the past''}}</ref> The fight showcased [[Myanmar|Burmese]] fighters Phyan Thway and Soe Htet Oo in a [[dark match]] and the result was a draw according to the [[#Traditional rules|traditional Lethwei rules]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/46084-one-championship-light-of-a-nation|title=ONE Championship: Light of a Nation|website=Tapology|access-date=4 September 2022}}</ref>

In 2017, [[ONE Championship]] and [[World Lethwei Championship]] officially entered into a partnership to share athletes to fight in each other's organization.<ref name="Business India">{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/mma-firm-one-championship-and-the-world-lethwei-championship-are-in-talks-to-cross-pollinate-each-others-organizations/articleshow/76197171.cms|title=MMA firm One Championship and the World Lethwei Championship are in talks to cross-pollinate each other's organizations|author=Alan Dawson|website=[[Business Insider India]]|date=4 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="insider">{{cite web|url=https://www.insider.com/one-championship-wlc-talking-about-cross-pollenating-each-others-promotion-2020-6|title=World Lethwei Championship is open to a co-promotion in order to expand|author=Alan Dawson|website=[[Business Insider]]|date=4 June 2020}}
* {{cite web|url=http://sport360.com/article/boxing-mma/one-championship-mma/223041/world-lethwei-championship-to-be-held-in-myanmar-following-success-of-one-championship|title=World Lethwei championship to be held in Myanmar|website=Sport 360|date=16 February 2017}}</ref> On June 30, 2017, ONE Championship held a Lethwei match at [[2017 in ONE Championship#ONE Championship: Light of a Nation|ONE Championship: Light of a Nation]] between [[Thway Thit Win Hlaing]] and Soe Htet Oo. Thway Thit Win Hlaing would end up winning a decision according to [[#Tournament rules|WLC point system]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/46084-one-championship-light-of-a-nation|title=ONE Championship: Light of a Nation|website=Tapology|access-date=4 September 2022}}</ref>

In 2016, Myanmar's first international Lethwei promotion called [[World Lethwei Championship]] (WLC) launched its events using the [[#Tournament rules|tournament Lethwei rules]].<ref name="myanmaritv.com">{{cite web|url=http://myanmaritv.com/news/world-letwhei-championship-biggest-intl-lethwei-competition-myanmar|title=World Lethwei Championship: Biggest Int'l. Lethwei Competition in Myanmar|publisher=Myanmari TV|access-date=25 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://rough.asia/interviews/zay-thiha-bringing-lethwei-to-the-world/|title=Zay Thiha: Bringing Lethwei to the World|work=Rough Magazine|date=11 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814051952if_/http://rough.asia/interviews/zay-thiha-bringing-lethwei-to-the-world/|archive-date=14 August 2017}}</ref>

In 2019, the [[World Lethwei Championship|WLC]] marked history by broadcasting [[2019 in World Lethwei Championship#WLC 7: Mighty Warriors|WLC 7: Mighty Warriors]], the first Lethwei event, internationally live on [[UFC Fight Pass]].<ref name="BJ penn">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thefightnation.com/world-lethwei-championship-lines-up-big-card-for-ufc-fight-pass-debut|title=World Lethwei Championship Lines Up Big Card for UFC Fight Pass Debut|website=The Fight Nation|date=31 January 2019|language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Lethwei fights Ye city Myanmar.png|thumb|A Lethwei match]]

==== Opening to the world ====
From 7 to 12 July 2001, twelve years after [[Burma]] changed its name to [[Names of Myanmar#History|Myanmar]], the first international event took place in Yangon with professional fighters from the [[United States]] facing Burmese fighters under full traditional Lethwei rules. The delegation of three American fighters brought by the [[International Kickboxing Federation|IKF]] were [[Shannon Ritch]], Albert Ramirez and [[Doug Evans (fighter)|Doug Evans]]. Ritch faced Ei Htee Kaw, Ramirez faced Saw Thei Myo, and Evans faced openweight Lethwei champion [[Wan Chai (fighter)|Wan Chai]]. All three Americans lost to the Burmese. A revenge match with American and European fighters was cancelled the last minute by Lethwei promoters and the military in 2002.

From 10 to 11 July 2004, the second event headlining foreigners took place with four Japanese fighters fighting against Burmese fighters. They were [[mixed martial arts]] fighters [[Akitoshi Tamura]], Yoshitaro Niimi, Takeharu Yamamoto and Naruji Wakasugi. Tamura knocked out Aya Bo Sein in the second round and became the first foreigner to beat a Myanmar Lethwei practitioner in an official match. International matches continued with the exciting [[Cyrus Washington]] vs. Tun Tun Min trilogy.

In 2016, after having previously fought to an explosive draw, [[Dave Leduc]] and [[Tun Tun Min]] rematched at the ''Air KBZ Aung Lan Championship'' in Yangon, Myanmar. The rematch was sweetened by an added bonus: ownership of the Lethwei Openweight World Championship Belt.<ref name="Dave Leduc Champion">{{cite web|title=デーブ・レダックチャンピオン Dave Leduc Champion|url=https://miruhon.net/51700|website=The Weekly Fight Japan|date=12 December 2016}}</ref> Leduc became the first non-Burmese fighter to win the Lethwei Golden Belt and become Lethwei world champion after defeating Tun Tun Min in the third round.<ref name="myanmar">{{cite news|author=Kyaw Zin Hlaing|url=http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/sports/24187-myanmar-s-lethwei-goliath-toppled-by-canadian-dave.html|title=Myanmar's lethwei goliath toppled by Canadian 'Dave' |date=13 December 2016|website=[[Myanmar Times]]}}</ref><ref name="Champion du monde">{{cite news|url=http://www.journallarevue.com/sports/2016/12/20/tout-sauf-de-la-chance-pour-dave-leduc.html|title=Tout sauf de la chance pour Dave Leduc|author=Anthony Da Silva-Casimiro|date=20 December 2016|work=La Revue|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162416/https://www.journallarevue.com/sports/2016/12/20/tout-sauf-de-la-chance-pour-dave-leduc.html|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

Following his title defence, Leduc said in an interview, "I have so much vision for this sport. I see Lethwei doing the same for Myanmar as what Muay Thai has done for Thailand."<ref name="the fight nation">{{cite web|last1=Eaton|first1=Matt|title=Embracing tradition: The rise of LethweiI|url=http://www.thefightnation.com/embracing-tradition-the-rise-of-lethwei/|website=The Fight Nation|date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

On 18 April 2017, for his second title defense under traditional rules,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://miruhon.net/64893|title=Weigh ins for Lethwei in Japan 3 GRIT - 明日開催！第3回日本ラウェイ大会『ラウェイinジャパン 3 ～GRIT～』後楽園ホール大会！計量と公開記者会見終了|website=The Weekly Fight|date=17 April 2017}}</ref> [[Dave Leduc]] faced [[Turkish Australians|Turkish Australian]] challenger Adem Yilmaz at [[2017 in ILFJ#Lethwei in Japan 3: Grit|Lethwei in Japan 3: Grit]] in [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://miruhon.net/64893|title=4・18『Lethwei in Japan 3 ～GRIT～』全対戦7カード発表！ミャンマーvs.日本（4対4）vs.USA（2対2）にカナダの現ラウェイ王者が再参戦！相手は第1回大会参戦のオーストラリア選手！ – 週刊ファイト|website=The Weekly Fight|date=3 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="the fight nation"/> This marked the first Lethwei World title fight headlining two non-Burmese in the sport's history and for the occasion, the Ambassador of [[Myanmar]] to Japan was present at the event held in the [[Korakuen Hall]].<ref name="Myanma Allin Daily">{{cite journal|date=21 April 2017|title=Lethwei in Japan 3 GRIT|trans-title=Lethwei in Japan 3 GRIT is the third tournament is Japan|url=http://www.free4reader.com/issue_detail.php?id=10002|language=my|journal=Myanma Allin Daily}}</ref>

==== Sanctioning worldwide ====
Due to the violent ruleset, Lethwei is difficult to sanction and is illegal in most countries outside of Myanmar.<ref name="illegal">{{cite web |url=https://mmachannel.com/what-is-lethwei-burmese-bare-knuckle-boxing-explained|title=What Is Lethwei? Burmese Bare Knuckle Boxing Explained|access-date=21 July 2022|website=MMA Channel}}</ref> Even though headbutts are allowed in Lethwei, they are banned from most other combat sports including mixed martial arts, kickboxing, and Muay Thai.<ref name="ONE FC">{{cite news|url=https://www.onefc.com/lifestyle/what-separates-lethwei-from-other-martial-arts|title=What Separates Lethwei From Other Martial Arts?|author=Matias Andres|date=14 March 2020|website=[[ONE Championship]]|archive-date=June 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240620082956/https://www.onefc.com/lifestyle/what-separates-lethwei-from-other-martial-arts/}}</ref> As of 2022, Myanmar Lethwei is only legal in the following countries: [[Myanmar]], [[Japan]], [[Singapore]], [[Slovakia]], [[Austria]], [[Thailand]], [[Taiwan]], [[England]], [[United States]] (only the state of [[Wyoming]]), [[New Zealand]] and [[Poland]].<ref name="countries">{{cite web |url=http://lethweiworld.com/new-zealand-to-become-the-9th-country-to-host-lethwei-fights|title=New Zealand To Become The 10th Country To Host Pro Lethwei Fight|author=Aung Mint Sein|date=28 October 2020|publisher=Lethwei World|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404050716/http://lethweiworld.com/new-zealand-to-become-the-9th-country-to-host-lethwei-fights/|archive-date=April 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Kyaw Zin Hlaing|date=30 April 2015|url=https://www.mmtimes.com/sports/14207-slovakia-the-next-stop-for-lethwei-stars.html|title=Slovakia the next stop for Lethwei stars|website=[[Myanmar Times]]|archive-date=July 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720145933/https://www.mmtimes.com/sports/14207-slovakia-the-next-stop-for-lethwei-stars.html}}
* {{cite news|url=http://lethweiworld.com/lethwei-rising-in-popularity-slovakia|title=Lethwei Rising In Popularity In Slovakia|date=27 July 2022|author=Aung Mint Sein|website=Lethwei World|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519002055/https://lethweiworld.com/lethwei-rising-in-popularity-slovakia/|archive-date=May 19, 2023}}</ref> The [[World Lethwei Federation]] has the responsibility to sanction and support the growth of Lethwei worldwide outside of [[Myanmar]].<ref name="WLF">{{Cite web |title=2nd Amateur Lethwei World Championship To Be Held In Poland In 2021|url=https://lethweiworld.com/poland-world-championship|author=Matthew Carter|date=September 18, 2020|website=Lethwei World|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515214325/https://lethweiworld.com/poland-world-championship/|archive-date=May 15, 2023}}</ref>