Leth Wei
Leth Wei is also known as Burmese Boxing, and Burmese Kickboxing. Leth Wei is a Burmese Martial Art that is based on a combination of Fighting Arts from India and China. Musti-Yuddha, a Striking style of Martial Art from Northern India, most heavily influenced Leth Wei.
Leth Wei is similar to other styles of Indochinese Kickboxing such as Muay Thai from Thailand and Pradel Serey from Cambodia.The biggest difference between Leth Wei and its more famous relative Muay Thai is that in Leth Wei matches, headbutts and takedowns are legal.
In the past Leth Wei bouts were held in sandpits instead of rings, and Fighters fought without any protective gear, only wrapping their hands in hemp or gauze.
And the fighters didn't have to worry about losing a decision, because there were no decisions; the fight went on until one fighter was K.Oed or couldn't continue.
The first Leth Wei Championship Tournament was held in 2000, and at that tournament a point system was used to score the fights.
In 2001 the first international Leth Wei event was held, and three Kickboxers from the U.S fought against three Leth Wei practioners. The American's didn't fare too well as all three were Knocked Out in the first round.
The second of these international Leth Wei bouts took place in 2004, when four Japanese fighters faced off against four Leth Wei Boxers. One of the Japanese Fighters, a Mixed Martial Artist named Akitoshi Tamura, K.Oed his opponent Aya Bo Sein in the second round to become the first foreigner to beat a Leth Wei Fighter in an official bout.
Today Leth Wei bouts are held in both the traditional manner and what is called "Myanmar Traditional Boxing"; these rules are much like Muay Thai rules, and use a point system to score the bout.