Lethwei America . . .
Overview
The Lethwei America Educational Initiative, called Lethwei America, is the Lethwei instructional and training program developed and implemented by the Lethwei Association of America in partnership with Saya Win Zin Oo of the Thut Ti Lethwei Club of Yangon, Myanmar. In developing the Lethwei America program, the Lethwei Association of America and Saya Win Zin Oo not only placed an emphasis on Lethwei skills, tactics, and strategy education, but also on the personal, social, and cultural aspects associated with Lethwei. The Lethwei America program offers Lethwei training for sport, self-defense, and fitness as well as the opportunity to experience and participate in the cultural aspects associated with the practice of Lethwei.
The Lethwei America program includes the four training aspects of Lethwei including sport, self-defense, fitness, and culture. The program emphasizes diversity, inclusion, flexibility, and acceptance of all who want to learn Lethwei. It includes curricular, instructional, and training components that are designed to facilitate and enhance Lethwei learning and teaching. Lethwei America provides a framework for the instruction, promotion, and support of Myanmar (Burmese) Lethwei in America.
In addition to promoting Lethwei in the United States, the Lethwei America program acknowledges and honors all kickboxing and combat sport traditions. It supports the sharing of techniques, tactics, and training methods.
The Lethwei America program provides the knowledge, technical, tactical, strategic, and cultural bases necessary to understanding and practicing Lethwei. It offers three Lethwei instructional program levels including the Lethwei America Student Preparation Program, the Lethwei America Instructor Preparation Program, and the Lethwei America Coach Preparation Program.
The Lethwei America Student Preparation Program is designed to be a ground-up educational platform and offers three levels of student training, Novice Student (Student Grade Level 1), Intermediate Student (Student Grade Level 2), and Senior Student (Student Grade Level 3). The Lethwei America Student Preparation Program follows an acknowledged academic structure. It allows the student to experience Lethwei in a rich, comprehensive, inclusive, and adaptable training environment.
For those Lethwei America students interested in teaching Lethwei, the program offers the Lethwei America Instructor Preparation Program. This program provides interested students with the experiences and training necessary to achieve the Lethwei America Instructor certification. The Lethwei America Instructor program prepares the student to take an inclusive, cooperative, and adaptive approach to the instruction of Lethwei. It provides the instructor training necessary to present Lethwei as a combat sport, fighting art, self-defense, and fitness enhancement.
A student who has completed the Lethwei America Senior Student (Grade Level 3) competencies and has an interest in teaching Lethwei may choose to continue their Lethwei journey and enter the Lethwei America Instructor Preparation Program as an Apprentice Instructor. The Apprentice Instructor would then complete the competencies required to achieve the full instructor grade level under the direction of a recognized Lethwei [Full] Instructor,
Similar to the Lethwei America Instructor program, Lethwei America also offers the Lethwei America Coach Preparation Program. For those Lethwei America [Full] Instructors who are interested, the Lethwei America Coach Preparation Program builds on the Lethwei America Instructor Preparation Program and provides the additional competencies necessary to properly prepare and coach athletes in the various kickboxing competitions found in the U.S.
The Lethwei America program acknowledges and honors the prior learning, teaching, coaching, and competitive experiences that a person may bring to the program. For existing instructors with the appropriate kickboxing, combat sport, or related martial arts teaching and/or coaching experience, the Lethwei America Accelerated Instructor and Accelerated Coach Preparation Programs are available. These accelerated programs can significantly reduce the time required to achieve Lethwei America Instructor and/or Lethwei America Coach grade levels. Individual standing in the accelerated program is determined through an assessment of the individual’s prior kickboxing training, teaching and/or competitive experiences.
All Lethwei America grade levels including Student, Instructor, and Coach require successful completion of specific competencies in the following areas:
Technical/Tactical Skill Development – Understand and implement the technical and tactical skills from the nine limbs of Lethwei (headbutting, bare-fist punching, elbowing, kneeing, and kicking), as well as clinching, trapping, throwing, takedowns, and choking. Understanding of and implement Lethwei-based fighting tactics.
Lethwei Cultural Competence – Demonstrate awareness and practice of the cultural traditions associated with the practice of Lethwei. Demonstrate an awareness of and appreciation for Myanmar culture and cultural traditions that have an inclusive role to Lethwei.
Lethwei Strategy Competence – Demonstrate an understanding of and ability to successfully implement Lethwei fighting strategies.
Attribute Development – Cultivate and maintain age and level appropriate health-related fitness components. Develop and maintain sport-specific attributes important to the practice of Lethwei.
Sport Science and Evidence-Based Competence – Develop an understanding of scientific concepts and principles that provide the basis for technical, tactical, and attribute development involved with Lethwei practice.
Lethwei-based Self Defense Competence – Demonstrate Lethwei-based self-defense skills, tactics, and awareness strategies.
Supplementary Kickboxing Technical/Tactical Skills – Demonstrate supplementary kickboxing skills and tactics used in the variety of kickboxing competitions found in the U.S. including Muay Thai, American Kickboxing, International Kickboxing, and San Da.
