Traditionally, Lethwei fighters hiked up and wrapped the Longyi into shorts called Ga Daung Kyaik or Ba Bon Za. Wearing the longyi in this fashion allowed fighters the freedom necessary to compete.

Lethwei boxers also wear a Kha Zi or Kha Bon Za also known as the fighter’s longyi. The Kha Zi or Kha Bon Za is a smaller folded longyi or simply a triangular piece of cloth that is worn around the fighter’s waist. It covers the area of the fighter’s body that is prohibited from being hit (the groin).

The color of the Kha Zi or Kha Bon Za may represent the fighter’s village or tribe, or it may be used to simply distinguish the fighters from each other. As an example, the fighter from red corner would tie a red “kha zi” and the fighter from the blue corner would tie a blue “kha zi” prior to their fight.