Rakhhine Traditional Martial Art of Wrestling (Kyun) Skip to main content

Rakhhine Traditional Martial Art of Wrestling (Kyun)



A traditional sport, Kyun, is very popular for Rakhine people in Myanmar. This sport began from the reign of former Rakhine kings in history. Figure of Kyun sport can be seen on the walls around the cave of Shaitthaung Temple built by King Mong Bar Gri reigned in Mrauk-U in A.D 1531.

Kyun sport, Rakhine wrestling, is a physical art for men Rakhine men are trained this art starting from childhood. The strong man who can wrestle well is regarded and honoured as "Kyun than" in Rakhine. Rakhine kyun sport is similar to wrestler in some way but it is quite different in rules and methods. A famous and outstanding Kyunthan had many difficulties to face and win rivals and matches.

In this competition, there are two steps. A new one can compete only in the step of silver gong (Nge-maung-dan) and a successful and well-experienced one can continue to compete in the step of golden gong (Shwe-maung-dan). Famous Rakhine wrestlers are Nyalar U Tun San Phyu, U Lun Hla Oo (Nyalar U Tun San Phyu's elder son), U Kyaw Min (Nyalar U Tun San Phyu's younger son), U Shwe Aung, U Maung Phyu Thee and U Maung Ni widely known in Myanmar.

There are 28 ways of Kyun wrestling and its 23 rules to follow. In Kyun wrestling, of two rivals, one is catcher and the other is defender Kyun wrestlers gird their loins wear a white belt and a black belt each. Their upper bodies have no clothes and are barefoot. This competition is done in the smooth and wide fields.

While competing, the catcher wrestler has to try to control the other three times. If he does not win even in the third chance, the defender becomes the catcher again. They use the ways of grappling, grasping, kicking, (leg)-putting, (leg) hooking and (leg) twisting in trying to make the rival fall down and win. There are two Kyun referees to watch carefully and make a decision whether two wrestlers use the right and systematic wrestling methods or not. The two referees' active movement is called Kyarlar.

Rakhine traditional Kyun wrestling was held in royal occasions in the reign of former Rakhine kings. Today, it is accompanied with pagoda festival, hoisting Hti (umbrella), funeral, Thingyan water festival and boat racing. If there are many competitors in Kyun wrestling, it takes for three days to select the winner. The last day of final match is for silver gong match and golden gong match. The winner or the loser can be awarded from the audience. The prize golden gong or silver gong is quite purely made of gold or silver and weighs one or two hundredth of a viss.

In the former days, precious diamond gong used to be in the central part of the golden gong. A famous Kyun wrestler's pleasant mind in his success makes him strong and confident for his future life.

In conclusion, Rakhine Kyun traditional sport is not only for physical art but also useful for our country and men because of supporting for full stamina, confidence and strong mind very much.

Photo: Internet

Credit:
 Aung, Myar. Famous Monuments of Mrauk-U (Useful Reference for Tourists and Travelers). (2nd ed.). Yango
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

After Reading this post collected by our group, please leave your suggestion for us.

Popular posts from this blog

MRAUK U

The abandoned city and  hundreds of temples and pagodas  at Mrauk U (also spelt Mrauk Oo and pronounced ‘Mrow Oo’ or ‘Myow Oo’, depending on Rakhine or Burmese pronunciation) lie across rolling northern Rakhine State hilltops and form an awe-inspiring sight, whilst providing an experience quite unlike anything else in Myanmar. From the 15th to 18th centuries, Mrauk U was the capital of a  mighty Arakan kingdom , frequently visited by foreign traders (including Portugese and Dutch), and this is reflected in the grandeur and scope of the structures dotted around its vicinity. But after the First Anglo-Burmese War in 1826, the British moved the regional trading centre down the Kaladan river to  Sittwe , and Mrauk U went  into decline . Today part of its allure lies in its isolation from the rest of the country; the lack of development; and that (for the moment) you are more likely to bump into a cow or a goat than into another tourist. The temp...
Post a Comment
Read more

Vesali: Second City of the Rakhine

“Having built a city which is more beautiful and splendid than the city of the celestial beings as if mocking the latter city . . .” – Anandacandra Stone, Verse 21 To hear about a Lost City , one that you’ve never heard of before, particularly when it is older than the one you’re already in, can be an exciting prospect. And while Mrauk U was fascinating with its monumental, semi-abandoned temples amidst what had essentially become a historic backwater, I was told that it was merely the fourth and final Rakhine capital, and therefore relatively recent. Exterior of the Mrauk U city wall. Only six miles north of Mrauk U was their second capital, Vesali. It’s often included in local day trip packages to the Mahamuni Paya and past Dhanyawaddy, their first capital about 2 hours away. There was also, reportedly, very little there to see there. So instead, I spent $2 renting a bicycle and was off down the rough road into the backwaters of the already exc...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sandamuni Buddha Image

King Athor Ka of Padalipoat kingdom excavated seven Sarwat at Buddha relics king Azar Ta That buried in Razargyo kingdom. Sarwat is a container (the unit of measurement). In accordance with the advice of monk Shin Maha Mauk Ga Li Poat Tiek Tha, he sent the Buddha relics to the Buddha’s prophetic places for building the pagodas. King Thu Ri Ya Sak Ka of Dynyawaddy kingdom and king Athor Ka, were simultaneous kings. King Athor Ka ruled his country from BC 326 to BC 286. King Thu Ri Ya Sak Ka ruled Dynyawaddy from BC 316 to BC 272. King Athor Ka sent monk Shin Bar Ku La and monk Shin Maha Teik Tha bringing Buddha relics to king Thu Ri Ya Sak Ka to build the pagodas in the prophetic places of Buddha in Dynyawaddy. The two monks gave him the Buddha relics and the replica of Sandamuni Buddha image which Buddha cast by himself while he was alive. According to the two monk’s instruciton, he built 248 pagodas int he prophetic places of Buddha who visited Rakhine. The pagodas...
Post a Comment
Read more