Lethwei

Origin and rules

Lethwei has been practised in Myanmar for more than a thousand years, with origins in the Pyu city-states. The traditional rules of nine limbs, including the head, set it apart from other Southeast Asian striking sports.

How it plays

Fighters wear only gauze-wrapped fists and trade punches, kicks, knees, elbows, and headbutts in a ring or sand pit. Traditional bouts are decided only by knockout, with a draw the default. Modern WLF rules introduced rounds, scoring, and stoppage decisions.

Competition

The World Lethwei Championship is the leading professional promotion, with the Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Championship running domestic events. Burmese fighters dominate, with strong challengers from Japan, the United States, and Australia. Lethwei is not on the Olympic programme.