Lethwei

Let-hwei or Lek Whay ( or , ; , IPA: ), also called Burmese boxing, is a full contact combat sport originating from Myanmar and is considered one of the most brutal martial arts in the world. Lethwei fighters use stand-up striking techniques such as kicks, knees, elbows and punches. The use of headbutts is also permitted. Fighters compete bareknuckle, wrapping their hands with only tape and gauze. Disallowed in most combat sports, headbutts are important weapons in a Lethwei fighter's arsenal, giving Lethwei its name of the "Art of nine limbs". In traditional rules, each corner is allowed one two-minute timeout per fight to revive a KO’d fighter. This, combined with its bareknuckle nature, gave Lethwei a reputation for being one of the bloodiest and most violent martial arts. Although popular throughout Myanmar, Lethwei has been primarily and historically associated with the Karen people of the Kayin State; the vast majority of competitive Lethwei fighters are ethnolinguistically of Karen descent.

== History == thumb|300px|Late 19th century Lethwei match in Myanmar. The fighter on the left bears a Htoe Kwin tattoo and hitched up longyi (paso hkadaung kyaik). 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 "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.