Yangon Aung Din
Translation provided by Phyu Zin Thant
Our blood is good at boxing
Published in Nat Kha Ta Yaung Che (Starlight) Magazine September 1995 - Saw Nway Aung
Everyone has heard about Myanmar’s former boxing champion Yangon Aung Din. He was a challenger to some of the most famous boxers in Myanmar’s history such as Moe Kyoe, Tha Mann Kyar, Thamein Bayan, Thaton Ba Hnit, Win Naing Sein, Dawei Win Naing, Maung Yone and Shwe War Tun. He was very famous due to his strong punches. Almost every boxer who had challenged him ended up getting smashed. Their faces were messed up from Yangon Aung Din’s punches.
Back in those days, the advertisements could only excite the boxing fans if they saw Yangon Aung Din’s name on the list of battles for the day. The battles only got the biggest turnout if Aung Din was there. Here I would like to write about how I met Yangon Aung Din who beat every one of his challengers in the most terrifying way, all the time.
Writer: Please let me know your real name, current age, and your hometown.
Yangon Aung Din: My real name is also Aung Din. When I practiced Myanmar Traditional Boxing I was living in Yangon, so I used the name Yangon Aung Din. My current age is 43 and my birthplace (origin) is Naing Pyaing village, Mudon Township.
Writer: At what age did you start boxing? Do you have boxers in the elder generation?
Yangon Aung Din: In my state, Mon state, whenever there was a donation ceremony, Myanmar traditional ceremony, pagoda festival or monk’s funeral they would host the boxing battles as well. I started taking part in them since the age of 9.
Of course, I have boxers in my family. My grandfather was a famous boxer called Me Lay (မဲလေး) and my father was Bo Kay (ဘိုကေ) who used to be the challenger of Phyu Gyi and Bala Sein.
Writer: Do you also have siblings who are boxers?
Yangon Aung Din: I have 6 siblings and I am the fourth one. My elder brother Maung Tin and my younger brother Kyaw Sway are also boxers. But now we all are retired from the world of boxing and we train our sons for it.
Writer: Please tell me what your boxing- and flag winning battles looked like.
Yangon Aung Din: I won the first-class boxing flag at the age of 33 and I retired at the age of 40. It's because I broke my hand in my last battle which was with Thaton Ba Hnit. I won over 30 flags in my entire journey from 5th to 1st class.
Writer: Please also let me know your weight, your height and your famous challengers while you were in 1st class.
Yangon Aung Din: At that time, I was 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 160 pounds. Most of the time my 1st class challengers are Moe Kyoe, Tha Mann Kyar, Thamein Bayan, Dawei Win Naing, Thaton Ba Hnit, Maung Yone, Shwe War Htun and Saw Ruby. I had victories over them but there were also some battles that I lost.
Writer: May I know your teachers and coaches?
Yangon Aung Din: My father U Bo Kay (83) is my first ever teacher. And then for about 5 years I was taught Myanmar’s Martial Arts (Thaing) from Sayagyi U Aung Thein. I was chosen for the national selection in Bando. In Myanmar’s boxing, some of the techniques come from Bando techniques so to have an advantage over the other challengers, I had to learn about Bando. That is probably my secret of winning most of the time.
Writer: To be able to beat your opponents convincingly, how much have you trained yourself for those strong punches?
Yangon Aung Din: I had to do training by hanging the weights at the back, holding the rough strings on each of my hands and practicing the punches in the air with those weights many times a day. Since I have the weights hanging in the back while training, it makes me feel lighter to move during the actual battle. The lighter I feel, the stronger I can punch. One more way is to sway the hands with the heavy weight in it. But not like the normal western technique. This training also helped me develop my strong punches. I also practiced rock climbing with a rope up until about 20 feet. It is actually to strengthen my arms and fingers so that I can grab and punch better.
Writer: How do you train your stamina in order to survive till the end, during all those long battles?
Yangon Aung Din: I ran 10 miles per day. I also did 50 meter sprints on the shore many times a day. On the sandy shore and in muddy ponds, I practiced Wrestling with my practice partner and I also swam. Kicks, push-ups and all the other forms of exercise are always in my list of training methods.
Writer: May I also ask about the conditions of your sons.
Yangon Aung Din: My elder son's name is Thura Aung Din. He is now a 3rd class boxer. He is 20 years old and won 9 battles and lost only 1 in 10 of those battles. My younger son is Thar Bo Aung Din, and he is 16. In 7 of his battles, he won 6 of them and tied in only 1. He is a heavy weight boy, so he has to verse all the other big challengers, and it is harder and more challenging for him. He is in the 4th class.
Writer: May I know your reason of teaching them both Myanmar traditional boxing and Bando.
Yangon Aung Din: Every Burmese should know the techniques of Myanmar martial arts. It is more like keeping the traditional treasure. I believe that we can beat anyone in the world with these techniques. It is not only to protect ourselves it is also to protect our tradition and culture. That is the reason.
Writer: What are the characteristics and differences between Myanmar traditional boxing and other types of martial arts?
Yangon Aung Din: For Thaing, Karate, Judo, Taekwondo and Boxing, the local champions’ level is equal to Myanmar traditional boxing's 3rd class boxers. We did the experiment on it back in those days with Kyar Ba Nyein.
We also did a lot of fights with them around Myanmar especially in most of the pagoda festivals. Only foreigners who are world champions have the same level as our first-class boxers.
On May 21st in Germany, some of the world champion boxers battled with 3 Myanmar traditional boxers. 3rd class boxer Saw Thae Aung (Twantay) won in the 2nd round. Also in that event 1st class boxer Thar Si Maung Maung Gyi won on points and Shwe Du Won lost a very close decision.
If the boxers fight without boxing gloves and protective head gear and only use the head, elbows, knees, punches and kicks until the desired result comes without effort, it is obvious that Myanmar traditional boxers can beat the others easily.
Writer: Please share some of the experiences of your local battles.
Yangon Aung Din: I won the gold medal in the preliminary match of the Southeast Asian Games managed by Kyar Ba Nyein. (Harya Zanee) and Yoe Yoe Lay also fought there using powerful punches. Yoe Yoe Lay didn’t use counter punches but instead he played mind games and showed his fake entry moves which confused the opponent thinking that he would kick one way but in reality he kicked from the other side, and due to the strong kicks the opponent passed out at least 4 times in 2 rounds and finally that champion had to give up. In Pyapon town (Ayeyarwaddy), Myanmar traditional boxer Thamein Bayan fought with Chinese Thaing champion Wy Fang. That Chinese champion was so strong he could punch and make a sand bag burst, so he announced beforehand that he would take out the intestines of the Myanmar traditional boxer.
But during the actual fight, that Chinese Thaing champion did not actually get the time for it. When he tried to grab the kick of Thamein Bayan, he was countered unexpectedly with strong punches and elbows at the same time. Even when he blocked the punches, he could not avoid a kick to the forehead and his face was cut up.
The systematic tricks and techniques of Myanmar traditional boxing, with lots of head-kicks, punches and elbows, that Thaing champion was showered in blood and finally had to give up. That was the most epic battle in history.
Writer: I would also like to know your experience with the Thai pashu boxers.
Yangon Aung Din: In 1982, during the Mon state traditional festival, 10 pashu boxers from Mawlamyaing and 10 Myanmar traditional boxers had to battle. Involved were me, Tha Mann Kyar, Thamein Bayan, Dawei Win Naing, Win Naing Sein, (Hpa-an) Kyar Gyi, Kyar Thit Ye Aung, Shwe War Tun, Kyaw Sint and one other. Only Kyar Gyi ended up with a tie, all the rest of us lost. I lost in round 11. The pashu who battled with me could not open his eyes by the eighth round. After the fight, his trainer came up to me to check my hands because his guy got cuts and bruises all over his face whenever I punched him.
Writer: You were able to bruise him with your punches like that, but why did you lose?
Yangon Aung Din: They were sprayed with some type of anesthesia so even if they were bleeding, they did not feel it immediately and didn't suffer a lot. But us, we felt it at once after each and every blow whenever there were wounds or injuries. They were trained for battle the entire year but we were trained just a few days in advance. They have better stamina. They have support from people who provide them with lots of nutrients and support their living, even though we are better in techniques and mindset.
The things we learnt from that battle is that pashus are very fast and very strong when it comes to their footwork and kicks. In their training they kick the metal container full of water until it breaks into pieces. Whenever we encounter opponents like them, we will have to avoid their kicks as much as possible and stay close to them to make sure they do not have a chance to kick us.
But instead, we did not know any better so we were like “let’s see how much you can kick and how long we can bear it”. That one mistake and our overconfidence in our strength probably lead us to failure. We got kicked at least 3 times in one round, so 33 times in 11 rounds! I couldn't stand anymore at that time. My flesh and bones were so painful like they were on fire. That was why I lost.
Their seconds and trainers are running around the ring and supporting and signaling instructions to them, while our people were sitting away from the ring and waiting for the battle to end. If our people had also stood near us and helped us all the time just the way their people did, we might have had some chances to avoid their attacks or move accordingly which might lead us to win.
The main lesson I got was that you should not kick back in the same way to strong kickers and not punch back the same way to powerful punchers. But nowadays Pashus cannot beat Myanmar traditional boxers anymore.
Writer: Please also let me know your experience from your trip to Japan.
Yangon Aung Din: When I was at the age of 35, I had to go to 10 cities in Japan as a youth worker together with a team of 8 other youths from Myanmar.
At one of the Japanese martial arts clubs which is called (Bokando), they held the introductory battles for Thaing, Karate, Judo and Wrestling. And when they saw that I mentioned my experience in Myanmar Traditional Boxing on my resume, they invited me to join them. I am a Myanmar native who is never willing to give up on other people, so I accepted to take part in it. I won one Karate, one Judo and one Thaing match quite easily.
After the fights, the Japanese coaches were shocked to see that a guy who came to Japan as an observer beat their champions. It was a pleasure to hear their compliments for Myanmar. When members of the audience came to say hello to me, they asked me in which martial art am I proficient. I answered that every Burmese is familiar with our amazing Myanmar traditional boxing.
After that no one dared to battle me in the other cities.
Writer: May I also know more about your wins and losses while you were taking part in 1st class boxing matches.
Yangon Aung Din: I battled with famous boxer Moe Kyoe in 1979 in Thein Phyu Stadium (*Refers to a battleground simply named Thein Phyu). Moe Kyoe was a great and strong champion. I lost that battle after 13 rounds. In 1980, I won the fight with Tha Mann Kyar in Mawlamyaing. Every one of my fights with Tha Mann Kyar was epic. We have fought many times and I think the win / lose ratio is almost the same.
Tha Mann Kyar is so good at his spinning elbow.
With Thamein Bayan I have fought twice. I won one and lost the other. Thamein Bayan is not only a great and powerful puncher, he is also very good at kicking. His moves were always so fast.
I also fought with Shwe War Tun twice, won one and lost one. Shwe War Tun has great reflexes and is good at avoiding attacks and very smart at making his moves. That was the reason he wore the crown for many years in the 1st class.
I think I mostly won over all the other champions. Most of the battles in which I won ended early before round 10 and for the battles that lasted longer than that, they are probably the ones that I lost. They called me “strong-hearted”.
Writer: Please tell me more about your religious life now.
Yangon Aung Din: Every night I pray, meditate and send my good wishes to all of my opponents and friends.
Writer: What do you mainly eat for your strength and stamina and what do you avoid eating?
Yangon Aung Din: I soak the chickpeas at night, and then in the morning after every training I eat them raw just like that. Sometimes I eat sweet potatoes, boiled potatoes, and boiled chickpeas. But I always make sure to drink hot rice water (the water that remains after boiling rice. Instead of throwing it away, some people in Myanmar like to keep it and drink it hot) with every meal. I make sure to avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. I gain my strength and nutrients only from Myanmar traditional food.
Writer: I have learnt that you have opened a training center for Myanmar traditional boxing. Have you found any outstanding students there?
Yangon Aung Din: I founded the Yangon Aung Din traditional boxing training center in 1977. There are about 14 or 15 boxing lovers in my classes at any time.
At this moment they are the training partners of two of my sons. Currently the famous 2nd class traditional boxer (Yangon) Ko Ko Maung, famous boxer Htay Win, Tun Tun and my son Thura Maung Maung are my students. I teach them bando together with traditional boxing and that is why they are winning all the time. But I am not too satisfied with it. I am still trying to provide higher quality standard classes with lots of updated training tools, medicine, and techniques.
Our saying “Myanmar Sport must influence the world” is most applicable in the boxing category.
Writer: I have heard that both you and your sons are well known for very strong kicks. May I know what is the secret behind that?
Yangon Aung Din: To be able to bear the other’s kick, we need to have strong flesh and bones. For that, we need to roll our legs with weight balls and beat them with small weight bags. When we practice kicking the sandbag, we attach small sandbags to our legs as well. So that we will feel lighter when we kick in real battles without those sandbags. When we feel lighter, we can kick more powerful easily. When we are fast and light, it is hard for the opponent to grab us.
Writer: Which suggestions would you want to share with the youth related to Myanmar Traditional Boxing
Yangon Aung Din: It is necessary to train yourself all the time throughout the year, not only after the contractor comes to you for the fight. And Myanmar traditional boxers need a lot of supporters, and helpful organizations. It would be best if the family of the boxers got the support as well for their living. That way they will be able to focus only on boxing. It is so satisfying to see that the director of the Myanmar Traditional Sport Organization, Daw Mi Mi Khin, is trying her best to improve the world of Myanmar Traditional boxing. It is my big pleasure to see that the country’s peace and economy team is also taking part in it. It will be even better if they plan to come out as a specific team for Myanmar Traditional Boxing.
After the writer had watched the way Yangon Aung Din and his son practiced Myanmar traditional boxing, he had a little chat with the father of Yangon Aung Din, the former Myanmar traditional boxer U Bo Kay.
U Bo Kay: I am very attached to Myanmar traditional boxing. I started since I was 7 years old and I retired when I reached the age of 50. But I am still teaching and training my sons and my grandsons. I cannot resist myself whenever I hear the battles. That is man of Myanmar, you can say. Our generation has known us for our 'metal' punches. Everything will break into pieces with our punches. There is literally no one who won't pass out because of our punches. Even though I am 83 years old now, my legs are still not shaky. They are still strong. I still want to enjoy battles. Our generation is good at boxing.
His enthusiasm about boxing is reflecting in each of his words and the way he was expressing them made the writer feel chilly and get goosebumps. It was such an inspirational talk.
