The Mongols Invade
The grand civilization of the first Burmese Empire was devastated by Mongol invasion of Genghis Khan in the 13th century; it would take the Burmese some 200 years to restore peace and unity. Despite the clear military superiority of the invading Mongols, the Burmese resisted against all odds.
After suffering ultimate defeat at the hands of the Mongols (including the fall of Pagan), the Burmese continued to harass and attack the conquering Mongols. One is reminded of the resistance in Afghanistan following the Soviet invasion of that country. With the assistance of the fierce Shan tribesmen in Northern Burma, the Mongols suffered a particularly punishing guerrilla war across the mountains of Burma.
Rise of Post-Mongol Burma
A Second Burmese Empire was established during the lifetime of the warrior-king Bayinnaung (1551 A.D.). However, after his death, the kingdom disintegrated. It was not until 1758 that a third warrior-king, Alaungpaya, successfully and fully reunified the nation. He was killed at the siege of the Siamese (Thai) capital of Ayuthiya. He had already expelled the French and burned the British trading posts. Alaungpaya's son continued the war, and, in a savage act of revenge, conquered and devastated the Siamese capital in 1767 A.D.
The pagodas, temples, relics and irreplaceable cultural artifacts in the capital were decimated as the rampaging Burmese sacked the capital.
Dr. Gyi points out that to this day, the Burmese people carry the guilt of this cultural atrocity. The virtual demolition of a great cultural and religious center was an act of unrestrained vengeance.
Conquered by the British
After repulsing forces from China, the Burmese then pressed West into India, seizing Assam. There, the Burmese encountered an immovable object directly astride their path of conquest: the British Empire. Three bloody Anglo-Burmese Wars resulted: 1824-26, 1852 and 1878. Losing these wars, Burma became a subjugated Asian Colony of Britain, annexed to India.
With this accomplished, the British set about ruthlessly suppressing indigenous Burmese combative systems, both empty-hand and weapon-oriented. This action was calculated to inhibit rebellion, but it also nearly destroyed the precious cultural artifact of indigenous and highly-developed Burmese combative systems. This process is not unlike the suppression of indigenous martial arts on Okinawa.
Burmese Martial Arts Go "Underground"
Prior to World War II, Burmese combative systems had been generally termed "Thaing," with at least nine major systems, each linked to the primary Burmese racial/ethnic groups: Burmese, Chin, Chinese, Indian, Kachin, Karen, Mon, Shan and Talaing, each with a different manifestation of the art. Nonetheless, these systems had been driven "underground" for nearly a century as World War II approached.
Only a select few were taught the arts in secret by the Masters, so the young could carry on the knowledge of the past. In the land where Bando Boxing had been the "Sport of Kings", it had now become a criminal act. Under Sections 109 and 110 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, imposed by the British, Burmese "Letway" boxers and Thaing/Bando practitioners were classed as "vagrants" and "habitual criminal offenders."
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