U Than Shwe

Myawaddy U Than Shwe’s personal experience of Myanmar traditional boxing associated with the supernatural (1/2)

Published in Nat Kha Ta Yaung Che (Starlight) Magazine July 1999 - Win Tint Oo

For the past three months the author has been travelling to Myawaddy Township, Kayin State once a month, for departmental duties. Ever since he was in Myawaddy Township, during recess, he spent his free time with his resident friends writing journals, visiting sacred pagodas, praying to Buddha with new friends and exploring the vibrant land.

A senior to the author as well as a fellow writer, Chief Officer U Aung Myint Thein, who also goes by the pen name of University Aung Baho, Aye Phay Thein or Shwe Kan, introduced the author to Myawaddy resident, Professional Boxer U Than Shwe. The author soon became intimate with the renowned professional boxer.

One day, Myawaddy U Than Shwe was explaining Burmese boxing to the author; how it arose from the very start and the development of the sport until present day. Meanwhile Saya’s close disciple, Shwe Du Won (infamous Burmese boxer) and his brother Shwe Htake Tin had arrived and greeted professor U Than Shwe and the author. Then, they both went to the boxing training grounds.

Sayagyi U Than Shwe had been telling the author his life story and his passion towards boxing, how he came into the boxing world with much misery and hardship and later on how he achieved his victories. A friend of the author, writer Aye Phay Thein (Shwe Kan) was also recording the professor's discussions in his journal with much interest.

Being a legitimate supernatural book writer, the author could not pass up the chance and asked Myawaddy U Than Shwe the following questions.

Writer: Sayagyi, in the traditional Burmese boxing world, besides training and boxing techniques, do you believe and accept supernatural rituals such as mantras, incantation, talisman and drugs? If so, how do you perform such rituals, professor?

U Than Shwe: Our so-called traditional boxing skill set has a lot of similarities in its basics with most South East Asian countries; for instance, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia. Obviously, there are also some little differences.

Just like the saying “One school one mantra, one village one piece” (*Piece refers to music ). Furthermore in Myanmar, there is also a link between the native martial arts and the traditional boxing skill set. The Eastern natives believed in mantras and incantation tremendously and also have many powerful mantras. Since you asked, I do have to tell, sir.

Writer: Yes, please do Saya.

U Than Shwe: Ever since I was in my youth, I was enthusiastic and obsessed with Myanmar traditional boxing. I often went to the Myawaddy side and to other side (*Thailand ) to fight in boxing matches. Most boxers use holy water, mantra recited oil and pepper. This is a mixture of traditional boxing and supernatural knowledge.

When I was 20 years old, I went over to the Thailand side and started my boxing career. Just when I gained little fame, I came back to Myanmar and started to enter boxing matches there.

Writer: Sayagyi, the techniques and the skill set you gained at that time, were they Thai or Burmese techniques?

U Than Shwe: Personally, I studied and learned from the Shans. (Note - All the residents of Myawaddy called them ‘Shans’ instead of ‘Thais’, they called it ‘Shan language’ instead of ‘Thai language’, referred to the ‘Shan side’ as the ‘Thailand side’ and named it 'Shan oil' although the oil came from Thailand.)

Writer: Sayagyi, how do you use and perform these rituals such as – holy water, mantra recited oil and pepper?

U Than Shwe: Just before the match started and the fight began, I drank holy water, used mantra recited oil and had it sprayed and rubbed on my face and body. As for the mantra recited pepper, I chewed it diligently into paste and had it rubbed on my face and head.

Writer: It seems like you indeed use these methods yourselves. Sayagyi, throughout your boxing career did you perhaps have a special and strong mantra? Like the ones that are hands-on and gained you immense success.

U Than Shwe: Oh yes, of course I do. There is this one mantra that actually boosts my life to huge success.

Getting started with the conversation, Myawaddy U Than Shwe fascinatingly began telling his personal encounters in the boxing world related to supernatural mantras in the following paragraphs.

U Than Shwe: It appears as though I have to tell you a part of my life to have it make sense. Ever since I was a kid I was very passionate about boxing and my parents scolded me frequently. At some point they even kicked me out of the house. My father is Shan and my mother is Myanmar (Burmese). I was born in Myanmar Year 1301 (1939) and now I am in my sixties. When I was about 20 years old, I had gone to the other side (referring to the Thailand side, namely Mae Tao and Mae Sot) to take part in boxing contests. Only when I gained popularity I started fighting in Myanmar boxing tournaments.

Writer: Sayagyi, could you please tell about some of the memorable boxing events involving supernatural knowledge?

U Than Shwe: There were times when I was young and immature, and I did not take interest in incantations and mantras. The year was 1967 when I fought with “Thaton Maung Dway”. In that match, Thaton Maung Dway hit me so brutally with his head that I lost two teeth and my left frontal bone (eyebrow) was also broken. I couldn't even manage to get up and my eyes refused to open, so I had to tell the referee to stop the match. I had had my complete defeat.

In the following year 1968, I learned the “Hanuman mantra” and started to use it in complete faith and trust. Ever since then, I did not lose even a single match and won flags. In the Yangon matches, “Thaton Maung Dway” and “Chit Zabe” (Chit Sa Pae) were pretty famous. In 1967, I lost to Maung Dway, but in 1968, although they hit me fiercely, I did not dodge any of their blows. Instead I went head-on enduring the pain and fought back savagely relying on the Hanuman mantra. That was how I won and gained glorious victories.

Both Chit Zabe and Maung Dway ran offstage in my boxing contest with them. That is the power of the “Hanuman mantra” sir.

Writer: Sayagyi, please tell me more about this mantra.

U Than Shwe: I learnt this mantra from the Shans (the Thais). The rule of this mantra is not to start a fight with the opponent. Instead we have to wait for their attack first. As I pursued and studied Thai boxing, I also learnt this mantra.

Hanuman Mantra

(Accordingly with Shan/Thai pronunciation)

“Buddha Pisayukar Widnarmi,

Tangarta Harnumarna Dukwar,

Khaungkha Arsariya Kugan(Gugan) Widnarmi,

Sayatkha Hanumarna Widnarmi.”

While reciting the mantra, we have to clutch our fingers tips tightly like a monkey, putting the palms of both hands together and pray to Buddha. Afterwards, while we are about to take a bath, we will have to recite the following mantra whilst moving water with our hand, before taking a shower.

The mantra to recite whilst moving water: “Iti Muli , HtooKwar Khaungkha“

After reciting the mantra three times, we take a bath. And after taking a bath we will have to recite the following mantra three times while combing our hair: “AyeKo BatToe”

But the ritual is not yet completed, sir. While we are wearing thanatkhar, we also have to recite the following mantra: “PhotHtetSa”, three times. That mantra has to be recited with a Pali voice-over (PhuHtaTa pronunciation) just as the Burmese speak. After having completed those stages, we then walk onto boxing ring and show our respective lethwei yay (fight dance).

The most important thing while performing lethwei yay is to position our hands in a upper and lower position as per Hanuman’s prescription.

Afterwards, before the referee announces the first round, we will have to go to the opposite corner of our spot (opponent’s corner), and recite the mantra “BetMar Mi...Ar”, before returning back to our respective position.

Writer: So, is this “Hanuman mantra” now completed, Saya?

U Than Shwe: Yes sir, this is the complete ritual of the Hanuman mantra. And then we start exchanging blows. But we must be strict and be careful not to start throwing a punch to the opponent first.

Writer: Sayagyi, do you have other mantras and rituals that you use?

U Than Shwe: Yes, of course. I will surely tell you the next time we meet sir. For now I have a few errands to run if you will excuse me. And please do pay me a visit next time, sir.

Writer: Yes Saya and thank you very much for your time.

As a renowned figure in the boxing world who is still coaching famous boxers, despite getting old, Saya Myawaddy U Than Shwe has now opened the “Hnin Wut Mhone” restaurant at his home located at Bayintnaung Street, Myawaddy Township. Aside from this the professor has been teaching boxing skills and techniques passionately to Shwe Du Won, Shwe Htake Tin, Shan Lay Tway (Professor’s youngest son Kyaw Swar), elder son Aung Than Oo and amateur boxers. The professor’s eldest son, Ko Shwe Win has been helping with the teaching as his father’s assistant.

(In the not so distant future, I will continue the discussion with Saya U Than Shwe on “Supernatural knowledge within the boxing world”.)

Myanmar traditional boxing sports knowledge will conquer the World