Manama, Bahrain, August 26, 2025: Myanmar has sent a two-man delegation for the 1st OCA-AMMA Development Course for Coaches and Referees – they both belong to the country’s Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
Thant Zin Oo, President of the Myanmar Jiu-Jitsu Federation explains: “We don’t have a mixed martial arts federation in Myanmar at the moment. But the Myanmar Olympic Committee wanted the country to be present at this seminar and they have nominated us.”
With MMA being a medal sport in a number of multi-sports Games in Asia in the next few months – starting with the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain in October, 2025, then the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya 2026, and the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Riyadh 2026 – the Myanmar Olympic Committee knows the importance of promoting the sport.
“We were not aware that MMA would be a medal sport in a number of major Games in Asia until we arrived here. We knew that it would be in the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand this December, but now we know the added importance of being here in Bahrain,” says Thant.
Thant, and Nyi Aung Win, Secretary of the Myanmar Jiu-Jitsu Federation, have been taking down copious notes and clicking away at the information presented on slides as they realise they will need to disseminate all this knowledge back home.
“We have a few MMA fighters, around 40, both men and women. But it is mainly Brazilian jiu-jitsu which is popular. Luckily there are similarities between both sports with a few differences, mainly in striking. But the rules are new to us. All this is a learning process,” Thant pointed out.
Thant used to study and then worked in Japan for 25 years during which time he picked up jiu-jitsu. He coaches a jiu-jitsu club back in the capital Yangon. He will soon be teaching MMA too.
“There is a lot of interest in MMA, especially among the youth who have all been watching the sport on television. I’m confident we can promote the sport,” he added.
