The Thaing Master

Master Rupa Thein is aspiring to put her country on the map — through her passion for martial arts, writes

RUPA Thein takes a seat at a cafe in Yangon, Myanmar. The 64-yearold is unmistakeably graceful and poise. With her crinkle-free Burmese attire of longyi and blouse, her unassuming and warm demeanour makes you feel immediately at ease. Until she delves into her passion, that is.

“It’s a shame I left my swords at home. I should have brought them for you,” she remarks nonchalantly, with a trace of a smile.

I try not to gulp at this statement, for Thein’s name and reputation are as sharp as the weapons she owns.

She’s the only female Master to sit on the executive board of the Myanmar Thaing Federation (MTF).

Thaing is Myanmar’s traditional martial art, believed to have originated during the Bagan Empire in the 9th century.

Its history is steeped with tales of ancient kings, skilled warriors in epic

battles and rebels who fought against the British colonial rule.

Thaing is a collection of Burmese fighting systems that are categorised into six types: bando (unarmed combat) banshay (involves the use of weapons), leppan, lepwei (both are forms of grappling), lethwei (barefisted boxing and head-butting) and naban (forms of wrestling).

Thein has practised this traditional martial art for more than 50 years. Her dedication and commitment to Thaing remains strong — from her early days as a student, to being a Master, teacher and currently, chief instructor at MTF — and she’s passionate about teaching Thaing to today’s youth. Her personal journey with Thaing also chronicles the martial art’s significance to Myanmar’s social, cultural and political spheres.

However, Myanmar (then Burma) became a province of British India in 1886 and they prohibited the locals from training with swords and spears.

As a result, there was a decline in the fighting arts and knowledge of it was not widely shared during this period.

Recalls Thein: “Thaing was banned by the British because it was associated with patriots. Under the British rule, various forms of Thaing had to be practised in secret. Its popularity only rose after we gained independence in 1948.”

Thaing in post-independent Burma saw a slow re-emergence, and girls were increasingly interested to learn it, although numbers were still few during those days.