Martial arts traditions and fighting sports have always been an integral part of life in Myanmar (Burma). Lethwei, the art of bare-knuckle fighting is an age-old tradition that has been quietly maintained in rural villages throughout Myanmar for centuries. In ancient times, Lethwei was used as preparation for war and survival. It also served as a rite of passage for boys transitioning into adulthood. Hidden from the rest of the world for many years, Lethwei like Myanmar itself is experiencing a revival and rediscovery both at home and abroad. Lethwei is considered one of the most aggressive and powerful fighting arts in the world. Lethwei, known as the art of nine limbs, allows the use of fists, feet, elbows knees, and the head. In all other kickboxing styles, head butts are illegal, but Lethwei recognizes the head as essential to a complete and effective offense. Among the Myanmar people, it is a widely accepted belief that Myanmar monks developed Lethwei around the 3rd century for discipline and self-defense. Inscriptions on temple walls in the ancient city of Bagan provide archaeological and historical evidence that establishes Lethwei around 800 A.D... Ancient royal chronicles and other written records show the sport of Lethwei became increasingly popular during the 10th century A.D. when the warrior King, Anawratha, defeated the neighboring territories. During the reigns of the Nyaungyan dynasty (16th century) and King Alaungpaya (18th century), Lethwei spread to Myanmar’s neighboring countries through the conquests of the neighboring kingdoms. From 1044 to 1885, highly skilled boxers were designated “Royal Boxers,” and their names were recorded on the royal treasury roles. Historically, there was no round system, time limits, or weight classes. Kicks, punches, elbows, knees, head butts, holds, and throws were permitted. Lethwei was banned by the British from 1886 until 1948. In spite of this, Lethwei and the other traditional Myanmar fighting arts did not disappear among the Myanmar people. Rather, Lethwei and other Myanmar fighting arts were maintained by concealing them as dances or cultural traditions during festivals, especially in the Shan and Karen States. Lethwei also remained an active sport in the rural villages where it was quietly propagated and kept alive. After World War II Lethwei began to see a steady revitalization. During this period of restoration and up to the present day, Lethwei has been able to maintain its traditions as well as offer adaptations to make it more commercially appealing. From its traditional practice with few rules in the dirt circles of rural villages to the more modern context in major cities with full-size rings, the practice of Lethwei has persevered. The sport got a modern update in the 1950s when boxer Kyar Ba Nyein formalized the rules and brought awareness of the sport to the contemporary stage.

Horseback archery was reborn a long time ago as a culture involving the horse and the human together and has been developed over a long period of time. Through the paintings in the ancient tombs such as Ssangyongchong, the ancient tomb with wall painting in Yaksoo-ri, Gangseo-gu, Pyeongannam-do, it can be found the aspects that our predecessors were hunting deer and tigers on running horsebacks. Also, the chapter of the main record of Baekje in the chronicles of the Three States reads 'good at horseback archery' in indicating the bravery of the king, telling that horseback archery was an important criterion to evaluate feats of arms of individuals. In Goguryeo, hunting competitions were held in every spring and fall and the ones with an excellent skill to shoot arrows on horseback who hunted many animals were advanced to the position of Musa(brave warrior) and in Shilla, government officials participated in a horseback archery competition for the prize from the king. Till now, horseback archery competition has been developed into a modern competition.

Ssireum is a type of wrestling in which two players wearing long fabric belts around their waists and one thigh grip their opponents’ belt and deploy various techniques to send them to the ground. The winner of the final game for adults is awarded an ox, symbolizing agricultural abundance, and the title of ‘Jangsa’. When the games are over, the Jangsa parades around the neighborhood riding the ox in celebration. Ssireum games take place on sand in any available space in a neighborhood, and are open to community members of all ages, from children to seniors. They are played on various occasions, including traditional holidays, market days, and festivals. Different regions have developed variants of ssireum based on their specific backgrounds, but they all share the common social function of ssireum – enhancing community solidarity and collaboration. As an approachable sport involving little risk of injury, ssireum also offers a means of improving mental and physical health. Koreans are broadly exposed to ssireum traditions within their families and local communities: children learn the wrestling skills from family members; local communities hold annual open wrestling tournaments; and instruction on the element is also provided in schools.

The term “SAMBO” is an acronym of ‘SAM-ozashchita Bez Oruzhiya’, meaning ‘self-defense without weapons’. Putin, the president of Russia, was also a SAMBO player. SAMBO has been actualized in 1938 as the former USSR Committee of Sports to serve as a common form of sport wrestling for the fifteen different republics of the former Soviet Union, each of which had one or more of its own distinct styles of folk wrestling, with widely varying rules. It was also taught as a form of hand-to-hand combat by Soviet soldiers for use in unarmed self-defense. In 1984, the International Amateur SAMBO Federation (FIAS) was constituted to govern the sport internationally.