Bando

Despite the Chinese influences, Bando is credited as a style of armed and unarmed combat native to Burma. It is an assimilation of Karate-like striking and kicking techniques, Judo-like throwing techniques, swordplay and fighting with knives, spears and sticks.

There are numerous interpretations of the term Bando, and different linguistic and ethnic groups hold to diverse translations. It is generally interpreted in three ways:

Some Bando groups have combined all three translations in one, making it similar to the Japanese term Budo (stop conflict), the Chinese word Wu Shu (war art), or the English terms military arts or martial arts. Some etymologists believe the term Bando derives from Chinese, while others claim Indian or even Tibetan origins. Bando is also called "Thaing."

There are many styles of Bando, but most follow basic instructional patterns. The art emphasizes initial withdrawal followed by an attack outside the opponent's reach. All parts of the body are employed in these attacks, and once the initial technique is delivered, grappling and locking techniques are used. Techniques are learned first through formal exercises in some systems and only later through sparring.

When the Japanese invaded Burma in 1942, they encouraged the practice and proliferation of Bando and influenced it by exchanging techniques from Judo, Jujutsu, and Aikido. After World War II, Bando was furthered through a large number of competitions.

Bando was introduced in the U.S. by Dr. Maung Gyi, a college professor who began teaching the art on April 3, 1960, in Washington, D.C. Later, Bando classes were formally conducted at American University until the fall of 1966. Dr. Gyi organized the American Bando Association on June 15, 1968, at Ohio University. Members present at this initiation ceremony took a blood oath.

The International Bando Association was officially formed on March 9, 1946, by U Ba Than, then director of physical education and athletics for the Union of Burma. The IBA was organized in honor of those servicemen who fought and died in the China-Burma-India theater of World War II.

All bando schools start off by teaching the basic stances and the footholds – just as in kung fu or karate. This preliminary stage of training lasts for several months. In some cases the first stage might drag on for years, depending on the instructor or the style of bando being taught.

In the second stage of training, the bando student has to go through a whole arsenal of blocking and parrying techniques. At the end of this stage, the student is fairly well equipped for defending himself against unarmed attackers. But he cannot be regarded as a full-fledged fighter.

The final stage involves the learning of offensive techniques. Before the student learns these techniques, the master makes sure that he will not abuse his knowledge. This cautious attitude towards the learning of the martial arts was probably derived from the Chinese tradition of martial arts instruction. There have been many cases of students abusing their acquired skills to the extent that sometimes the masters are threatened.

Animal names are used to denote some of the forms that can be found in Bando. This probably comes from the Chinese influence. There are forms called Boar, Bull, Cobra, Deer, Eagle, Monkey, Panther, Scorpion, Tiger and Viper.

The names indicate the characteristic of the forms, which they denote. Thus the Python form includes crushing, strangling and gripping moves while the Tiger form applies quite aptly to maneuvers, which involve clawing, and ripping. The Deer form has been given that name because it is meant to develop alertness in the bandoist.

Bando fighting generally leaves the initiative to the opponent. It is a style of combat that relies heavily on countering moves. Thus when attacked, the bandoist would first withdraw and then would begin the counterattack.

Bando attacks include much handwork directed at the body. But the bandoist does not neglect using head, shoulder, elbow knee, and foot for offensive purpose. Attacking the private parts is also a favorite technique with bandoists.

The techniques of bando fighting are learnt mainly through the practice of forms and with partners. The final stage of mastery includes participation in contests, which sometimes end in deaths.

There are numerous interpretations of the term BANDO. Different linguistic and ethnic groups define and interpret the word differently, and often some schools emphasize only one aspect of Bando Discipline such as – empty-hand defense system.

For our present purpose, we will use all of the above three definitions and combine them as one. Therefore, “Bando” will have a meaning equal to the Japanese term “Budo” or the Chinese word “Wu-Su” or the English term “Military or Martial Arts.”

The word “Bando” is a Burmese term. Various etymologists express their views differently. Some say that it originated from the Chinese, and others claim that it came from India, and there are some who propose that it can be traced back to Tibet. We will not go into etymological arguments.

Karate techniques are but one aspect of Bando Discipline. Techniques of throws, holds, locks, chokes, foot-sweeps, etc., are but various aspects of Empty-Hand Bando Discipline. Stick fighting, sword fighting, knife fighting, spear fighting, etc., are but other aspects of Weapon-Hand Bando Discipline.

A. Ancient civilization arrived from India. The date is unknown. The early development of Burma (300 A.D. – 1700 A.D.) was greatly influenced by the active interaction with the three bordering giant ancient empires – India on the western border, China on the eastern border and Tibet on the northern border.

The wisdom and philosophy of India, the art and culture of China, and the spiritual knowledge of Tibet greatly affected the lives and growth of the people of Ancient Burma.

The fighting arts of ancient India, Tibet and China also made a strong impact on the development Bando Discipline. Ancient Burma enjoyed the unique privilege of gaining direct knowledge from those three neighboring powers, thus giving her an opportunity to digest and assimilate various fighting arts into a distinct system.

But the ferocious invasion of the Mongol hordes in the mid 13th Century left this unique civilization in the state of destruction and chaos. It took over 200 years for the Burmese kings to restore her unity and stability.

The terrible sweep of the Mongol invaders also left the great China, India, Russia, Persia and other countries near total devastation. The Japanese island-kingdom, by the will of the gods, through the great typhoon, Kamikaze, was spared a similar fate of Mongol terror.

B. Modern development and growth of Bando Discipline (1500 A.D. – 20th Century) was greatly influenced by three major historical events.

1. The first was the Burmese wars against the neighboring states especially Siam or Thailand where the Burmese kings led massive armies of horsemen, battle-elephants, bow-men, spear-men and swords-men into some of the fiercest battles in Asia. (1500 A.D. – 1800 A.D.)

Burma’s continuous wars with Thailand led to the refinement of stick, spear and sword fighting. Burmese and Thai Boxing became national combat sport for those two warring nations. The combatants made legal use of brass knuckles, iron fists, steel eagle claws, thorn-tipped fingers, etc., and fought each other till death. (The fighting techniques had striking resemblance to those of the Roman Gladiators).

2. The second great influence was the Burmese wars with England from 1824 to 1885, which brought her eventual defeat. The fierce Burmese warriors could not stop the great firepower of the British guns and cannons. Modern scientific weapons won the day and changed the history and strategy of war in Asia. For over a century Burma became a colony of England, and the country was annexed to India.

The great Western Powers such as England, Germany, France, Belgium, America, Spain and Portugal took theirs – colonies in Asia. England ruled India, Burma, Pakistan, Ceylon, Malaya, Singapore, Sumatra, Java, and Hong Kong. France controlled Indo-China (now Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia). The Dutch governed the exotic islands of Indonesia. America took over the Philippi no Islands, and Portuguese grabbed a chunk form India. Great China was divided into spheres of influence under the western powers. (Japan again escaped the control of the foreign powers until her surrender and her near total destruction by the Second World War).

The old Asia could not compete against the modern scientific and technological knowledge of the young western nations. For over two centuries Asian countries came under direct domination and rule of the West.

Many of the ancient fighting arts were ruthlessly suppressed for fear of native rebellion. In Burma, for over a century, the training of Thaing, Bando and Ancient Boxing disappeared from the public. The arts were driven underground. Only a selected few were taught in secret by the masters so that the young would carry on the knowledge of the past.

3. The third great influence was the rise of Japan in Asia as a great Eastern Power. Japan first escaped the total destruction of the Mongol invasions that other Asian countries suffered, and from which they could not recover from total desolation and devastation of their ancient cities and cultures. And again, Japan eluded the colonization of the western powers, which other Asian countries faced for nearly two centuries. Thus Japan was able to maintain and develop her ancient traditions, and also had an opportunity to adopt many of the western scientific and technological skills to develop herself into a powerful Eastern Nation.

With the rise of economic strength and military power, Japan’s ambition was to force the Western Powers out of Asia, and directly or indirectly control China, India, Burma and other Asian countries. This led Japan to wage war against England, America, France and Belgium.

The great European powers were then engaged in death battle with Nazi Germany. Hitler invaded Europe. Japan invaded China and Southeast Asia. Japanese army marched into Burma in 1942 with the help of the nationalist Burmese who wished to kick the British out of the country.

There were also thousands of people such as the Karons, Chins, Kachins, Gurikhas, Indians, Chinese, etc., living in Burma who joined the Allied sides and fought the invading Japanese. Many joined the Chindits under General Wingate, many entered the Merrill’s Marauders, and many joined forces with the Chinese Army stationed in Northern Burma under the command of General Stilwell and General Lee. Many assisted in the success of the Flying Tigers. Many organized special units such as Panther Unit, Tiger Unit, Cobra Unit, etc., etc., etc.

Thousands of people served in the building of the Burma Road. This famed road served as the only blood transfusion to China, because the Japanese had occupied the cities along the coast of China and ruled the China Sea. China was cut off from the rest of the world except through the Burma Road. (450 miles of rugged highway over the treacherous Himalayan range form Assam, India, through Northern Burma and to Southern China).

During the occupation of Burma, the Japanese tried to restore the ancient fighting arts of Burma, and also introduced the fighting arts of Japan such as Judo, Aikido, Jujitsu, Kondo, Karate, etc,; thousands of young men joined the training programs. Thus Bando Discipline was restored, and the brutal Burmese Boxing was again revived as a national combat sport.

Japan’s attempt to invade India and block the Chinese supply line by cutting the Burma Road with some 150,000 Japanese, Korean, Okinawan and native troops using Burma as a base for attack eventually brought her own defeat. The Japanese armies were over extended, and the Special Units repeatedly cut off supply lines.

The Americans, Australians, British, Irish, Scotch, Gurkhas, Punjabis, Sikhs, Karons, Kachins, Shans, Hons, and the Burmese, and Chinese armies systematically pushed back the great Japanese armies under the able command of General Kawabe and General Tanaka. The courageous Japanese warriors fought back with tenacity and stubbornness against great odds. Some 100,000 Japanese and her Axis troops fought and died in the battles of Burma.

The Japanese occupation of the Asian Continent aroused the spirit of Nationalism in the invaded countries. With the unconditional surrender of Japan after her devastating military defeat, Asia began a new chapter in world history.

Many colonies won their independence, and regained their ancient heritage and identity. But the influence of the West had affected the cultures and manners of these ancient civilizations.

It was not an easy task to shake off the 200 years of western influence. It was not an easy task for the leaders of the newly independent countries to restore their economies, cultures, traditions, etc. after near total destructions of their agricultural fields, plantations, factories, mines, and others during World War II.

With her great internal problems of recovering her national balance, the throat of communism now cause a new problem for Asia. The tragic Korean War and the Vietnam War dramatize the seriousness of the communist threat.

The sages and astrologers of Asia foresee more wars and more conflicts, but in the year 2400 A.D., it is predicted that Asia will regain her internal equilibrium and harmony.

The East learns much from the West, and the West gains much from the East. Bando Discipline has a distinct mixture of Ancient East and Modern West.

The terrible sweep of the Mongol invaders also left the great China, India, Russia, Persia and other countries near total devastation. The

Japanese island-kingdom, by the will of the gods, through the great typhoon, Kamikaze, was spared a similar fate of Mongol terror.

B. Modern development and growth of Bando Discipline (1500 A.D. – 20th Century) was greatly influenced by three major historical events.

Many colonies won their independence, and regained their ancient heritage and identity. But the influence of the West had affected the cultures and manners of these ancient civilizations.

The sages and astrologers of Asia foresee more wars and more conflicts, but in the year 2400 A.D., it is predicted that Asia will regain her internal equilibrium and harmony.

The East learns much from the West, and the West gains much from the East. Bando Discipline has a distinct mixture of Ancient East and Modern West.