Lethwei
လက်ဝှေ့
Lethwei (လက်ဝှေ့), also known as Burmese bare-knuckle boxing, is one of the most aggressive striking arts in the world. It permits headbutts in addition to punches, kicks, elbows, and knees — all without gloves.
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Lethwei builds extreme toughness and complete striking ability. Known as the "Art of Nine Limbs" — latt di (လက်တီ) — it is the ultimate test of stand-up fighting skill and mental fortitude.
At a Glance
Who It's For
What You'll Learn
Bare-knuckle striking with all nine limbs — latt di (လက်တီ)
Headbutt techniques — gaung dine (ခေါင်းတိုက်) — from clinch and range
Clinch fighting and throws
Extreme body conditioning — let khit (လက်ခတ်) — and toughness training
Your First Class
Wear athletic shorts and a t-shirt. Expect heavy conditioning, clinch work, and pad drills. Beginners typically train with hand wraps only. Classes run 60-90 minutes.
Watch & Learn
Legends of Lethwei
Dave Leduc
Too Too
Tun Tun Min
Lethwei Ye Yint Aung
Related Styles
Muay Thai
Muay Thai (มวยไทย), the "Art of Eight Limbs," is Thailand's national combat sport. It uses punches, kicks, elbows, and knees along with a powerful clinch — plam (ปล้ำ) — making it one of the most complete striking arts.
Muay Boran
Muay Boran (มวยโบราณ, "Ancient Boxing") is the traditional battlefield ancestor of Muay Thai. It includes a broader range of techniques including throws, joint locks, and attacks to vulnerable points — chud muay (จุดมวย) — that were removed when Muay Thai became a sport.
Boxing
Western boxing — historically known as pugilism, and often called the "sweet science" — is a combat sport focused exclusively on punching technique, footwork, and defensive head movement. It is one of the oldest and most widely practiced combat sports in the world.
Dambe
Dambe is a traditional striking martial art from the Hausa people of West Africa. Fighters wrap the lead hand for striking and use kicks and clinch techniques across three rounds.
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