Aung Myint Sein
Translation provided by Phyu Zin Thant
The Iron Fists that destroy everything they touch
Published in Nat Kha Ta Yaung Che (Starlight) Magazine November 1995 - Saw Nway Aung
He is the son of U Kyaw Yin and Daw Htwar Phyu from Kyar Inn Seikgyi Township, Tan Khun Tine village. He is the third among 4 siblings. His ethnicity is Karen and his religion is Buddhist.
His name is Saw Aung Myint Sein. The traditional boxing champion Bala Sein is one of his maternal grandfathers (this likely refers to an uncle). His passion for boxing started in his childhood after watching his grandfather’s battles. At the age of 14 he started to get involved himself. At the time of his novice fights (Kyar pwe), U Aung Mine (Tan Khun Tine chairman) taught him western boxing and the way to become a heavy hitter.
An old man near Tan Khun Tine village taught him wrestling and some specific boxing techniques. That wrestling champion from Hti Po Naing village was the most popular in those days. He could take down his opponents with ease as soon as their feet left the ground just 2 inches.
He is also one of the Myanmar traditional boxing champions. He learnt boxing and wrestling techniques for about 2 years and after learning Myanmar traditional boxing for 2 years in the South East Military department (31st Infantry Regiment), he continued to learn Judo and Karate from coach Tin Chan for about 3 years. In Yangon, he continued to learn boxing techniques from Sayar Kyar Ba Nyein.
After winning the novice battles, he continued to take part in 4th class for 2 years, in 3rd class for 3 years, 2nd class for 1 year and then won flags in 1st class.
Kyal Ni (Phaung Sein), Ba Hnit (Thaton), Ko Gyi (Thaton), Myanmar Swe (Yay Phuu), Moe Kyoe (Thaton), Chit Sayar (Kyet Tu Yway Taung), Tun Tin (Hpa-An), Kyar Gyi (Hpa-An), Yak Kha (Hpa-An), Tin Oo (Paing Kyone), Leik Pyar (Paing Kyone), Daw Na (Hti Lone), Than Swe (Myawaddy), Maung Yone (Pashu) and Ado (Wal Ka Paung) are the opponents of Aung Myint Sein back in those days.
He started winning flags in 1st class from the age of 30 (1978). There are more than 200 flags in total that he won from each class. He often won some medals and real gold as awards. Since there were no more opponents for him in the 1st class he retired from age 32 to 35, three years.
When he turned 36 (1984), he joined the first division alongside Moe Kyoe (Thaton), Kyal Ni (Phaung Sein), Kyar Gyi (Hpa-An) and Ba Hnit (Thaton) and he was able to start battling with them. He retired from boxing at the age of 40 (1988). He rarely lost the battles in 1st class. He either won or tied most of them. He fought with the famous boxing champion Moe Kyoe 3 times and in all those battles there was no winner or loser. All of them were tied.
Personal note:
He has victories over most of the other opponents. It is said that if Aung Myint Sein entered a 1st class match, he would end up winning the flag. Whoever got hit by his punches were cut. Because of his strong punches he is also known as Iron Fist. In the entire country, in every city, whenever he entered a battle, he won it.
His height is 5 feet and 3 inches (161cm), so he is a short boxer who beat the taller ones easily with his hard fists and punches. Below is the interview with Saw Aung Myint Sein for your knowledge.
Writer: Please let me know more about the battles where you lost.
Saw Aung Myint Sein: In one of the Independence Day special boxing events in Yangon Kyaikkasan stadium, I battled with Maung Yone (Pashu) and in the 6th round, my head was struck by his elbow and I lost due to unstable vision after that. I also once lost to Daw Na (Hti Lone) at the age of 16 when we battled in Yangon at one of the Labor Day special boxing events. It was when I was in 4th class. Among all my opponents who I have battled with, Daw Na (Hti Lone) was the most difficult one to handle and also the fastest boxer I have ever encountered.
Writer: Which boxing strategy is your best one?
Saw Aung Myint Sein: The one where I hold the opponent tight and strike with the head and the one where I jump and strike the opponent with a pair of left and right hand punches. Everyone who was struck by my head were cut, even Kyal Ni who was known for his hard head was cut when he clashed with mine. You can touch my head and feel for yourself. At the edges there are some bumps which are like horns.
When the writer touched and felt the head of Saw Aung Myint Sein, he could feel the hard bumps which are about the size of a Betel nut.
Writer: You said you strike the opponent with your head while holding them tight, so how do you train your fingers to be strong and firm to be able to grab the opponent?
Saw Aung Myint Sein: I trained my hands by squeezing Betel nut trees and brick columns. I tie a rope down a stick and hang a brick at the bottom of that rope. I then hold the stick horizontally and roll it up. First only one brick, and then two and then three, I increased the quantity slowly and train myself that way.
Writer: How do you train your fists and punches to be so strong? Also please share some of your experiences with your strong punches.
Saw Aung Myint Sein: I attached a 4×1 wooden board on a column around my height, and on that board I stuck some coconut skins. I punched those coconut skins every day. Even though both my left and right hands are strong, no one could resist my right-hand punches. Whoever got hit by that either fainted or was cut.
When I battled with Hla Lay Sein from Kyondoe at one of the 3rd class flag events, I hit him with my right fist and his head was cracked open and my middle finger broken and curved. Even my palm print is damaged. Look at this side.
Saw Aung Myint Sein showed his right palm after he finished speaking, so the writer had a look at it and saw that the palm print on his palm was a bit messed up because of all those old injuries. His palm print is the same as hard hitting boxer Yangon Aung Din’s.
Writer: How did you train your knees, elbows, and legs?
Saw Aung Myint Sein: I strike the sandbag with my head and practiced my kicks on the sandbag. I repeat that training many times a day. Since I am a short guy I did not train to be able to kick higher, I trained to kick the calf and the chest only. That is why people could not withstand my kicks. Some fainted for almost half a day after I kicked them in their chest.
Writer: How do you train your stamina?
Saw Aung Myint Sein: I run 4 miles up and down every day. I jump one thousand times in the morning and one thousand times in the evening. Whenever I run and jump, I also attached small sandbags to my legs.
Writer: What do you usually eat for your strength?
Saw Aung Myint Sein: I soak the lentil and eat it raw and I drink raw milk eat raw turtle eggs.
Writer: How did you treat yourself whenever you got injuries on your face and your body?
Saw Aung Myint Sein: I ground tamarind leaves, zingiber leaf and turmeric together and put them in a towel, heat it up with hot water vapor and stick it onto the wounds. That is the Kayin traditional way of healing the puffiness. It works really fast.
Writer: How many times have you had encounters with boxer Kyal Ni (Phaung Sein) in battles. Please also let me know the results of those battles.
Saw Aung Myint Sein: I have battled with him 7 times. I won 4, tied 2 and lost 1. Kyal Ni is good at grabbing and striking with his head.
Writer: Was there anyone with a brave and big heart who you've been in battle with?
Saw Aung Myint Sein: Yes, of course. Moe Kyoe (Thaton), Than Shwe (Myawaddy) and one boxer from Yay Chaung Pyar. Oh, they are big-hearted people! They did not give up easily no matter how much I hurt them. Even though they were badly injured and their eyes were swollen shut, they did not give up and they'd never seem like they would give up even though they could collapse at any moment.
Writer: Did you use any spells to win boxing battles?
Saw Aung Myint Sein: Yes, I did. My father cast 37 spells on a handful of peppers. I had to chew 7 seeds from those peppers and rub my face with it every time before I stepped onto the battle ground.
Every time I left my home, I had to worship the front of the house and take a small amount of that ground with me. I tied my mother’s longyi cloth on my right hand and my father’s longyi cloth on my left hand. I also had to put some of the ground in the cloth. Whenever I came back after my battles, I had to put back the ground to its original place. That is the spell dictated by an old monk. I have heard that spells concerning oil and other stuffs do not really work.
Writer: How old were you when you got married? How many children do you have? Did they also learn boxing?
Saw Aung Myint Sein: I got married at the age of 39. I have 4 children and only one of them is a son. I tried to teach them boxing but since they are still young, they are not interested in it yet.
Writer: Were there any special or strange opponents for you?
Saw Aung Myint Sein: Yes, there was a strange one. I have battled with Myawaddy Than Shwe 5 times in 2nd class. He applies oil on his whole body before the battle starts. Then he bites his left and right arms and screams very loudly every time. When his opponents heard his screaming, they all got scared. His flesh was really tough and cannot be cut or torn up easily. He doesn't give up easily, even when his face is full of cuts and injuries and his eyes were shut.
When Sayar Kyar Ba Nyein forcefully stopped us, he cried. He questioned him for stopping the fight even though he did not give up. He is such a strong hearted person. I have battled him and Moe Kyoe the most in 2nd class. Out of 5 battles with him (Than Shwe), I won 2, tied 2 and I intentionally let him win for the remaining 1. I could not continue to hurt that strong hearted man.
Even though Saw Aung Myint Sein is the famous, unbeatable Myanmar traditional boxing champion he is a very kind and generous man. He usually gave his winning money to his opponent. Not only that, usually he also pays for the cost of transportation and food for the ones who accompany him to his battles. He supports the people around him as much as he can and that is why he does not have any savings for himself most of the time.
Now he is at the age of 47 and he is taking over the farming business of his family. The techniques of wrestling and traditional boxing which he learnt from a lot of former boxing champions will remain with him as his village does not have boxing classes or training centers. It will be a great benefit for the country if we can use him as a coach for future Myanmar traditional boxing champions and I believe that we can beat the whole world with his techniques and strategies. With the hope of sending the right person to the right place, hereby I describe the life experiences of the owner of the iron punches, Saw Aung Myint Sein.
