OUR TEAM – Thut Ti Lethwei Global

OUR TEAM

SAYA WIN ZIN OO

CHIEF INSTRUCTOR

One of Myanmar’s foremost Lethwei Saya (coach/ teacher), Win Zin Oo is a highly respected and sought-after mentor and trainer. Saya Win is the founder and senior coach of the renowned Thut Ti Lethwei Club of Yangon, Myanmar.

DR. PATRICK FINLEY

DIRECTOR

Since 2018, Dr. Finley has spent more than 600 hours learning Thut Ti Lethwei with Saya Win Zin Oo. Dr. Finley is an authorized Thut Ti Lethwei Global Senior Instructor under Saya Win to teach Thut Ti Lethwei.

SAYA RODNEY LIBERNINI

PROGRAM MANAGER

Saya Rod began his Thut Ti Lethwei journey in 2020, accumulating more than 400 hours learning from Saya Win Zin Oo. He is currently a Thut Ti Lethwei Global Associate Instructor authorized by Saya Win to teach Thut Ti Lethwei.

GURO DAN INOSANTO

SENIOR ADVISOR

As an unrivaled repository of martial arts knowledge, Guro Dan Inosanto is also arguably its foremost teacher alive today. As with all great teachers, Guro Dan is the preeminent student…

SAYE JOE WADE

PROGRAM ADVISOR

Saya Joe first served as a rescue swimmer in the U.S. Navy during the 1990s. Retiring from the Navy at the end of the decade, Saya Joe reenlisted in the Marine Corps after Sept. 11 finding a call to serve…

SAYA PETE MENKE

PROGRAM ADVISOR

While serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Saya Pete studied Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), Judo, Muay Thai and Wrestling. During his time in the Marines, he earned a Black belt in the Marine Corps Combatives…

DR. SAW MIN HTOO

MEDICAL ADVISOR

Dr. Saw Min Htoo has served as the Thut Ti Lethwei Club’s team doctor, he advises Saya Win Zin Oo and his fighters. Dr. Saw Min Htoo has also acted as medical officer for various Lethwei competitions in Myanmar.

VICTOR (HTOO ZIN OO)

MEDIA ADVISOR

The younger son of Saya Wi Zin Oo, Htoo Zin Oo grew up immersed in Lethwei. With years of experience with Lethwei, Htoo Zin Oo often assisted his father with the training of Lethwei fighters and clients alike.

SAYA WIN ZIN OO

CHIEF INSTRUCTOR

One of Myanmar’s foremost Lethwei Saya or teachers, Win Zin Oo is highly respected and sought-after coach, instructor, mentor, and trainer. Well-educated, unassuming and kind-hearted, Saya Win is the founder and senior coach of the renowned Thut Ti Lethwei Club of Yangon, Myanmar. A professional Lethwei coach since 1982, Saya Win transformed his home into the Thut Ti Lethwei Club (Thut Ti translates as “courage”) and has overseen the practice of Lethwei there to the present day. Since his Thut Ti Lethwei club opened its doors, Saya Win has seen a steady procession of fighters and non-fighters alike. Saya Win’s understanding and practice of Lethwei was initially learned from his grandfather, a farmer and amateur Lethwei competitor. It was further cultivated under the tutelage of Saya Win’s Lethwei teachers including Saya Aung Gyi, Saya Moe Gyoe, Saya Duang Ni and Saya Maung Nyunt.

A prominent figure in the modern history of Lethwei, Saya Win was the first coach to take Lethwei onto the international stage, bringing his fighters to countries including Australia and Japan. He has spent his entire coaching and teaching career improving and promoting the practice of Lethwei. He was appointed the Joint Secretary of Myanmar Lethwei Federation in 1994 and in 2007 was assigned as the Vice President of the Federation. In his role as Vice President, Saya Win serves as the primary technical advisor for training and competition.

Appearing in the Netflix martial arts documentary series, “Fightworld”, Saya Win is the focus of episode 3, “Myanmar: Crossroads”. He has also been featured prominently in numerous articles and documentaries on the art of Lethwei. Saya Win is widely respected for his extensive knowledge and experience of Lethwei as well as his ability to work with culturally diverse coaches, fighters, and representatives. He is considered the preeminent global ambassador for Lethwei.

In his more than 40 years as a Lethwei coach and teacher, Saya Win has coached numerous local, national and international Lethwei champions including Saw Gaw Mu Doe, Lone Chaw, Maung Maung Gyi, Shwe Du Won, Shan Lay Thway Saw Thae Aung, Saw Thae Myo, Eh Htee Kaw, and Moe Pa Lae. In addition to producing top Lethwei fighters, Saya Win’s teaching and influence has helped produce many top Lethwei coaches such as Moe Pa Lae, head coach of “Cement Factory Lethwei Club”, Kyaw Soe, head coach of “Na Ga Mann Lethwei Club”, and Saw Thae Aung, head coach of “Kanyaw Thwi” Lethwei Club. Additionally, Lethwei promoters like Soe Than Win, Vice President of the World Lethwei Championship and Saw Nyi Nyi, TNT Lethwei Promotions also experienced Saya Win and the Thut Ti Lethwei Club’s approach to Lethwei practice.

Saya Win and the Thut Ti Lethwei Club have been an example of authentic Lethwei and owner-run operations. Saya Win introduced the model of the Lethwei gym not only for training fighters, but also as a place to provide Lethwei training for health, fitness, and personal enrichment. Presently, the owners and coaches of many of the modern Lethwei gyms in Myanmar such as Phoenix and Balance trained with Saya Win at the Thut Ti Lethwei Club and adopted its model. To this day, fighters and martial artists from around the world come to his Thut Ti Lethwei Club to learn and train.

In addition to sharing his passion for Lethwei through his coaching and leadership, Saya Win continues his professional work in Disaster and Emergency Management, Disaster Risk Reduction, Safety, and Security. He has worked with numerous non-profit, government, non-government, and charitable organizations including World Vision, Save the Children, U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Disaster Center, UNICEF, and World Food Program. He has received several awards for his work in disaster management and humanitarian work. Saya Win earned his bachelor’s in civil engineering as well as master’s in business administration (MBA). His MBA Capstone thesis examined applying a business model to the combat sports and martial art of Lethwei. He also earned an International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance as well as completing a Fellowship in Southeast Asia Development Management.

Since beginning his journey as a teacher and coach of Lethwei so many years ago, Saya Win has continued to apply his personal philosophy of Lethwei as not only a vehicle for preparing individuals for fight competitions but equally as a means of personal development and enrichment. Saya Win has used Thut Ti Lethwei to meet the needs of his students, whether those needs were as a Lethwei fighter, to study Lethwei as a martial art/fighting system, for fitness and personal development, or learning about a vital piece of Myanmar culture. In Saya Win’s own words:

“I want to personally contribute to the development and spread of Lethwei as a fighting sport, a martial art, a form of self-defense, and for fitness. I want to show the respect and quality of the fighters and teachers. Lethwei is also a deeply rooted part of our culture. I want to share this important aspect of Lethwei as well. I want it to be something that a diverse audience can understand, train in, and enjoy.”
Win Zin Oo

DR. PATRICK FINLEY

DIRECTOR

A student of Saya Win Zin Oo since 2018, Dr. Finley has been privileged to spend multiple sessions each week learning Thut Ti Lethwei. During this time, he also worked with Saya Win Zin Oo and the Thut Ti Lethwei Global Advisory Team to develop a comprehensive curriculum, associated training program, and instructor preparation program following the Thut Ti Lethwei taught by Saya Win.

Dr. Finley began studying martial arts in 1972. He has been a student since 1982 and instructor since 1984 under renowned martial arts instructors Tuhan Dan Inosanto and Magulang Na Guro Paula Inosanto. He currently holds an eighth-level black belt in Bando through Dr. Maung Gyi, founder and Chief Instructor of the American Bando Association. He is also an authorized representative instructor in Combat Submission Wrestling under Sensei Erik Paulson as well as an instructor in Bukti Negara Pentjak Silat under Paul deThouars, Mande Muda Pencak Silat under Pak Herman Suwanda, Pikiti Tirsia Arnis under Tuhon Leo Gaje. He also holds black belt ranking in Doce Pares Escrima under Grandmaster Diony Canete, Judo under Sensei Gil Gilbert, and Kobujitsu Karate under Sensei K. Marks.

Dr. Finley previously competed in full-contact combat sports competitions between 1977 and 1996 including PKA (Professional Karate Association) and WKA (World Karate Association) Full-Contact Karate matches, Hanthawaddy Burmese Bando Boxing tournaments, WEKAF Full-Contact Stick Fighting contests, and U.S. Shooto Association Mixed Martial Arts competitions.

A professor of Exercise Science and Public Health, Dr. Finley has taught at a number of academic institutions including the George Washington and the America Universities. He recently retired from Howard Community College after 37 years in higher education where he served as Director and Chair of the Department of Health Promotion and Human Performance. Prior to entering the academia, Dr. Finley served as a researcher at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

Dr. Finley completed his baccalaureate studies in Kinesiology and Philosophy at the University of Maryland, received his master’s degree in Exercise Science from the George Washington University, and earned his Ph.D. in Public and Community Health from the University of Maryland. He is a Certified Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine, a Certified Sports Nutritionist through the International Society for Sports Nutrition, and a Sport and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.