‘Can’t live without fighting’: Myanmar youth find solace in bareknuckle lethwei

In a nation plagued by conflict, a sport defined by brutality has found solace: Myanmar's lethwei martial art. "I can’t live without fighting," declared 19-year-old Su Luck, who enters the ring under the pseudonym "Peace Prize." Lethwei, also known as the "Art of Nine Limbs," is traditional Burmese boxing where head blows are permitted, and fighters compete bareknuckle.

It is a source of pride for many who have been dragged into the five-year-old civil war. Veteran fighter and coach Saw Kyaw Thein Tuu, 73, emphasized its importance as self-defense: "Guns are of no use if they run out of bullets on the battlefield; this art will help them defend and fight enemies anytime." However, others find the ring not a training ground for hostility but a space for self-improvement.

Su Luck, who dreams of becoming a teacher, accepts her defeats as signs of her own weakness and an opportunity to learn more. She is a rising star in the sport, which is dominated by men. In Hpa-an, capital of Kayin state, the heartland of Myanmar's lethwei culture, over 100 teenagers and young adults joined a dawn march to train for the monsoon season.

They practiced sparring sessions under the guidance of coaches from the Kayin State Traditional Lethwei Organisation, leaving them sweating profusely. Many look up to Burmese-American fighter Joshua Van, the reigning champion in the flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, whose title was won without lethwei's signature moves.

Some worry about the brutality of the sport, as coach Saw Kyaw Thein Tuu admitted that he had seen six people killed during 200 matches. Despite its brutality, Su Luck believes lethwei offers a more honorable way to fight. "Compared to fighting outside, it's more honorable to fight in the ring," she said. "On the stage, when two fighters challenge each other and compete, it has more dignity and respect."