Sunday 6 September 2015

AP PHOTOS: Myanmar athletes train amid traffic

In this Wednesday, July 15, 2015, photo, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, practices strengthening exercises during a practice session at their gym on a street in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.
In this Wednesday, July 15, 2015, photo, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, practices strengthening exercises during a practice session at their gym on a street in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.   

In this Tuesday, July 14, 2015, photo, Phoe Thaw, center, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, stretches during a practice session in their gym on a street in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.
In this Tuesday, July 14, 2015, photo, Phoe Thaw, center, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, stretches during a practice session in their gym on a street in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.  
In this Tuesday, July 14, 2015, photo, members of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, practice in their gym on a street in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.
In this Tuesday, July 14, 2015, photo, members of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, practice in their gym on a street in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.   
In this Wednesday, July 15, 2015, photo, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, practice in their gym on a street as customers eat a meal at a roadside noodles shop in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.
In this Wednesday, July 15, 2015, photo, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, practice in their gym on a street as customers eat a meal at a roadside noodles shop in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.  
In this Tuesday, July 14, 2015, photo, members of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, warm up in their gym on a street as a man pushes his rickshaw with a load of charcoal in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.
In this Tuesday, July 14, 2015, photo, members of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, warm up in their gym on a street as a man pushes his rickshaw with a load of charcoal in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.  
In this Tuesday, July 14, 2015, photo, members of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, do strengthening exercises as another watches from the verandah of their coach's house at their gym on a street in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.
In this Tuesday, July 14, 2015, photo, members of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, do strengthening exercises as another watches from the verandah of their coach's house at their gym on a street in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.  
In this Wednesday, July 15, 2015, photo, a Buddhist nun walks to collect alms as a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, lifts-weights as another punches the air in their gym on a street in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.
In this Wednesday, July 15, 2015, photo, a Buddhist nun walks to collect alms as a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, lifts-weights as another punches the air in their gym on a street in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.  
In this Wednesday, July 15, 2015, photo, members of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, warm up in their gym on a street as customers eat a meal at a roadside noodles shop in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.
In this Wednesday, July 15, 2015, photo, members of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, warm up in their gym on a street as customers eat a meal at a roadside noodles shop in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.  
In this Wednesday, July 15, 2015, photo, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, does crunches with the help of discarded tires in their gym on a street in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.
In this Wednesday, July 15, 2015, photo, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, does crunches with the help of discarded tires in their gym on a street in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.  
In this Wednesday, July 15, 2015, photo, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, practices strengthening exercises during a practice session at their gym on a street in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.
In this Wednesday, July 15, 2015, photo, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, practices strengthening exercises during a practice session at their gym on a street in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.  
In this Tuesday, July 14, 2015, photo, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, sits during a practice session in their gym on a street in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.
In this Tuesday, July 14, 2015, photo, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, sits during a practice session in their gym on a street in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the club's members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym: a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.  
In this Tuesday, July 14, 2015, photo, Dawna Aung, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, kicks a pole covered in used tires during a practice session in their gym on a street in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Dawna Aung, a 34-year-old father of two, hopes competing will help him change his family’s life. The ethnic Karen lives in a rural village in Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Delta region, and his family runs a small dried fish business.
In this Tuesday, July 14, 2015, photo, Dawna Aung, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, kicks a pole covered in used tires during a practice session in their gym on a street in Oakalarpa, north of Yangon, Myanmar. Dawna Aung, a 34-year-old father of two, hopes competing will help him change his family’s life. The ethnic Karen lives in a rural village in Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Delta region, and his family runs a small dried fish business.  
In this Thursday, July 16, 2015, photo, Dawna Aung, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, poses for a photograph ahead of his lightweight-class fight for a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, in Yangon, Myanmar. Dawna Aung, a 34-year-old father of two, hopes competing will help him change his family’s life. The ethnic Karen lives in a rural village in Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Delta region, and his family runs a small dried fish business.
In this Thursday, July 16, 2015, photo, Dawna Aung, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, poses for a photograph ahead of his lightweight-class fight for a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, in Yangon, Myanmar. Dawna Aung, a 34-year-old father of two, hopes competing will help him change his family’s life. The ethnic Karen lives in a rural village in Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Delta region, and his family runs a small dried fish business.  
In this Friday, July 17, 2015, photo, Hlit Hlit Lay, right, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, poses with opponent Tha Pyay Nyo, left and "One Championship" President Victor Cui, center, ahead of their featherweight fight at a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, in Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.
In this Friday, July 17, 2015, photo, Hlit Hlit Lay, right, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, poses with opponent Tha Pyay Nyo, left and "One Championship" President Victor Cui, center, ahead of their featherweight fight at a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, in Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.  
In this Saturday, July 18, 2015, photo, Hlit Hlit Lay, center, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, stands with his opponent Tha Pyay Nyo, left, ahead of their featherweight fight at a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, in Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.
In this Saturday, July 18, 2015, photo, Hlit Hlit Lay, center, a member of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club, a Myanmar traditional martial-arts club which practices a rough form of kickboxing, stands with his opponent Tha Pyay Nyo, left, ahead of their featherweight fight at a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, in Yangon, Myanmar. Three of the White New Blood lethwei fighters club members competed this summer on a stage a world away from the street gym where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.  
In this Saturday, July 18, 2015, photo, fighters exhibit lethwei - a Myanmar traditional martial art which practices a rough form of kickboxing - at a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, in Yangon, Myanmar. Fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who runs a street side traditional fighters' club he started 15 years ago.
In this Saturday, July 18, 2015, photo, fighters exhibit lethwei - a Myanmar traditional martial art which practices a rough form of kickboxing - at a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, in Yangon, Myanmar. Fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who runs a street side traditional fighters' club he started 15 years ago.  
In this Saturday, July 18, 2015, photo, a ring girl walks at the beginning of the lethwei featherweight match - a Myanmar traditional martial art which practices a rough form of kickboxing - between Tha Pyay Nyo, left, and Hlit Hlit Lay, at a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, in Yangon, Myanmar. Members of a street side gym competed this summer on a stage a world away where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.
In this Saturday, July 18, 2015, photo, a ring girl walks at the beginning of the lethwei featherweight match - a Myanmar traditional martial art which practices a rough form of kickboxing - between Tha Pyay Nyo, left, and Hlit Hlit Lay, at a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, in Yangon, Myanmar. Members of a street side gym competed this summer on a stage a world away where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.  
In this Saturday, July 18, 2015, photo, Dawna Aung, bottom and Saw Ba Oo, compete using the lethwei style of fighting - a Myanmar traditional martial art which practices a rough form of kickboxing - during their lightweight fight at a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, in Yangon, Myanmar. Dawna Aung, a 34-year-old father of two, hopes competing will help him change his family’s life. The ethnic Karen lives in a rural village in Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Delta region, and his family runs a small dried fish business.
In this Saturday, July 18, 2015, photo, Dawna Aung, bottom and Saw Ba Oo, compete using the lethwei style of fighting - a Myanmar traditional martial art which practices a rough form of kickboxing - during their lightweight fight at a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, in Yangon, Myanmar. Dawna Aung, a 34-year-old father of two, hopes competing will help him change his family’s life. The ethnic Karen lives in a rural village in Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Delta region, and his family runs a small dried fish business.  
In this Saturday, July 18, 2015, photo, Phoe Thaw, a lethwei fighter - a Myanmar traditional martial art which practices a rough form of kickboxing - celebrates his victory over Kyal Sin Htoo during their Lightweight fight at a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, in Yangon, Myanmar. Members of a street side gym competed this summer on a stage a world away where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.
In this Saturday, July 18, 2015, photo, Phoe Thaw, a lethwei fighter - a Myanmar traditional martial art which practices a rough form of kickboxing - celebrates his victory over Kyal Sin Htoo during their Lightweight fight at a mixed-martial-arts “One Championship” event broadcast globally on cable television networks, in Yangon, Myanmar. Members of a street side gym competed this summer on a stage a world away where fighters could receive $1,000 for each fight, according to coach Myint Zaw who started the traditional fighters' club 15 years ago.
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