Editing Lethwei (section)

== Rules ==
[[File:Lethwei bloody handwraps.png|thumb|300px|Bloody Lethwei hand wraps]]

'''Permitted techniques'''

* Headbutts
* All punches
* All elbow strikes
* All knee strikes
* All kicks
* Extensive clinching
* Sweeps, throws and takedowns

The use of the feet, hands, knees, elbows and head is permitted.

'''Rounds'''

Each bout can be booked as a 3, 4 or 5 round fight with 3 minutes per round and a 2-minute break in between rounds. Championship bouts are 5 round fights with 3 minutes per round and a 2-minute break between rounds.

'''Fighting attire'''

The Burmese bareknuckle boxing rules prohibits the use of gloves.

* The fighters must only wear tape, gauze and electrical tape on their hands and feet.
* The fighters shall wear only shorts, without a shirt or shoes.
* The fighters must wear a groin protector.
* The fighters must wear a [[Mouthguard|gum shield]].

The fighters are required to apply the wrapping in front of the fight officials, who will endorse the wraps.

'''Referee'''

One referee oversees the fight. The referee has the power to:
* End the fight if he considers one fighter to be significantly outclassed by his opponent.
* Stop the fight and refer to the doctor if a fighter is heavily wounded.
* Warn the fighters. He makes sure the fight proceeds fairly and in compliance with the rules.

=== Traditional rules ===
The traditional rules, also known as ''yoe yar'' rules, which comes from the [[Burmese language|Burmese]] ''Myanma yoe yar Latway'', which means ''Myanmar traditional boxing''.<ref name="Rules">{{cite news |author=Mark Schroeder|date=17 September 2019|url=https://www.thefight-site.com/home/introduction-to-lethwei-1|title=Introduction to Lethwei|publisher=The Fight Site}}</ref> Traditional matches are still fought throughout Myanmar, especially during festivals or celebrations like [[Thingyan]].<ref name="traditional" /> Traditional Lethwei is notorious for not having a scoring system and for its controversial rule of '''knock-out only to win'''.

At the end of the match, in the eventuality that there is no knockout or stoppage, if the two fighters are still standing, even if one fighter dominated the fight, the match is declared a draw. Fighters can win by incapacitating their rivals in a few different ways.

* A knock-out ('''KO''') is when a fighter falls to the ground, leans unconscious or if a fighter is unable to stand up or defend themself for 20 seconds (10 counts with 1 count every 2 seconds).
* When 3 counts are performed in a single round, the fight is terminated and scored as knock-out (count limit) ('''KO''').
* When 4 counts are performed during the entire duration of the fight, the match is terminated and scored as knock-out (count limit) ('''KO''').
* A technical knock-out ('''TKO''') is when a fighter forfeits, has an injury or is in a position that can damage or severely harm them if the fight continues. The ring doctor is consulted and makes the decision.<ref name="martialartsentertainment.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.martialartsentertainment.com/born-warriors-documentarian-vincent-giordano-interview-part-2/|title=Born Warriors: Documentarian Vincent Giordano Interview Part 2|last1=Xegarra|first1=Guillermo|website=Martial Arts Entertainment|date=7 June 2016}}</ref>

'''Promotions that use traditional rules'''
* Most Lethwei promotions in Myanmar
* Annual Myanmar Lethwei World Championship
* Air KBZ Aung Lan Championship
* [[International Lethwei Federation Japan]]
* Challenge fights
* Flagship Tournaments
* Festivals & celebrations

==== Special time-out ====
* If a knockout or injury occurs, the fighter can take a special 2 minute time-out to recover. After the time-out the fighter can choose whether he wishes to continue the bout or not. Each fighter may only do so once during the fight.<ref>{{cite news |last=Looi |first=Florence |date=8 September 2015 |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/09/myanmar-lethwei-fighters-bare-knuckles-150908100052020.html |title=Myanmar's Lethwei fighters bare their knuckles |publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]}}</ref>
* The time-out cannot be used in the fifth round.
* The use of the time-out is considered as 1 count.

==== Golden Belt ====
{{Main|Lethwei Golden Belt}}
The traditional ''Lethwei Golden Belt'' is regarded as the highest and most prestigious award for Lethwei fighters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dave Leduc Vs Samnang to Headline MFC 2|url=https://www.combatsportsuk.co.uk/dave-leduc-vs-samnang-to-headline-mfc-2|date=April 10, 2023|author=James Rees|website=Combat Sports UK|quote=The Openweight Lethwei World Championship is one of the most prestigious titles in combat sports.}}</ref><ref name="openweight">{{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> Not to be confused with the annual ''Golden Belt Championship'', composed mostly of younger rising talent and using the [[#Tournament rules|tournament rules]] point system.<ref name=MDN /><ref name="Golden belt" /> 

There is only one ''Golden Belt'' champion for each weight categories, with the openweight class champion being considered the strongest fighter in Myanmar.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|url=https://www.mmtimes.com/sports/18254-a-tun-tun-minute.html|title=A Tun Tun Minute|last=Hlaing|first=Kyaw Zin|website=[[Myanmar Times]]|date=22 December 2015}}</ref> The openweight Golden Belt champion is the equivalent of being pound-for-pound champion in the world of Lethwei.<ref name="shwe sai">{{cite web|title=SONS OF LETHWEI LEGENDS TO MEET IN THE RING AT WLC: KING OF NINE LIMBS|url=https://apmma.net/sons-of-lethwei-legends-to-meet-in-the-ring-at-wlc-king-of-nine-limbs|date=22 June 2019|publisher=Asia Persuasian MMA}}</ref>

=== Tournament rules ===
In 1996, the [[Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Federation]] created the tournament ruleset for the inaugural Golden Belt Championship tournament.<ref name="Rules" /> The two-minute injury timeout was removed and judges were added ringside to determine a winner in the event there was no knockout. This modified ruleset prevents the outcome of a draw and helped choose a winner to advance in the tournament. Myanmar's first international promotion, the [[World Lethwei Championship]], opted for this ruleset in order to follow international safety regulations and have clear winners.<ref name="Golden belt" />

'''Judging criteria'''

The knockout is still highly desired under this ruleset, but in the event that a bout goes the distance, judges will present a decision. The 3 judges should score the bout based on:

* aggression
* damage
* amount of blood drawn
* number of significant strikes per round

Fighters have a maximum of 3 knockdowns per round and 4 knockdowns in the entire fight before the fight is ruled a knockout.