Rescued from Oblivion: The Military Athletic Club
As the clouds of what would become World War II hung over Asia, the British authorities in Burma permitted small scale martial arts training under government sponsorship and rigid controls (in order to prevent the spread of these disciplines into the populace as a whole). This was accomplished through the establishment, in 1933, of the famous "Military Athletic Club."
The Club was first formed by nine Gurkha officers (including Dr. Gyi's father, U Ba Than Gyi). These nine men were determined to restore full vigor to the ancient fighting arts of India, Tibet, Burma, and China. The group also was intent upon integrating some aspects of Japanese arts. As of 1966, information on the Founders of the Military Athletic Club was as follows (ages as of 1966):
- Yogi Abehanada Indian, 76 years old, retired near Darjeeling, India
- C. C. Chu Chinese, 80 years old, returned to mainland China
- A. K. Khan Pakistani, 69 years old, retired in Karachi, East Pakistan
- U Zaw Min Burmese, 70 years old, retired in Tongoo, Burma
- G. Bahadur Gurkha, 79 years old, retired in Darjeeling, India
- Saw Ba U Karen, 66 years old, retired in Insein, Burma
- Dowa Naung Kachin, 71 years old, retired in Mogong, Burma
- Boji Mein Sa Arakanese, 63 years old, retired in Rangoon, Burma
- U Ba Than (Gyi) Burmese, 81 years old, retired in Twante, Burma
Guruji Gonju Bahadur was the first Chairman of the Club. Initially, beyond the Founders, there were some 90 members. In 1936, selected non-military men were allowed to participate due to their high level of martial / combative knowledge and skill. In 1939, total membership was increased to 300.
The training in the Military Athletic Club was extremely stark, rugged, brutal and realistic. From the perspective of today’s legal environment in the United States, such training is inconceivable. For example, it is reported that 15 members collapsed and died during a series of incredibly rigorous training drills. Some 33 members are said to have died of injuries during the group's annually staged private combat bouts.
Lord Mountbatten (then High Commissioner of His Majesty's Imperial and Colonial Forces in Asia) reportedly attended one of these tournaments in 1937. After viewing these life and death contests, he is said to have made his historic remark: "Beautifully brutal art . . . I'm happy they're on our side." General Orde Wingate is said to have called the members of this private military club "Bando Bastards."
Nationalism
During the same time, small sects of thama (ones who use Burmese fighting arts) trained secretly in the Hanthawaddy district and elsewhere. Burmese youth movements of the 1930s also used these combative systems for the purpose of defying the British and to emphasize the nationalistic ideology which was becoming more prominent.
After the successful invasion of Burma by the Japanese, Burmese nationalists were genuinely happy the British had been driven in disarray from Burma. The Japanese encouraged revival of Burmese combative arts. The humiliating British defeat is well described in the literature: Belden, (1944), Slim (1957), and Segrave (1943), are but a few of the popular "I was there" descriptions of those desperate days.
In Burma, a "trust Japan" campaign for gaining the confidence of the populace was instituted throughout Burma. From the perspective of the martial arts, the key organizations were the East Asia Youth League and the Japanese-Burmese Budo Association During this time, some Japanese influence was added to the Burmese arts, particularly from the arts of Aikido and Jiu-Jitsu.
The Japanese Occupation: "Independence"
On January 22, 1943, Premier Tojo of Japan announced that Burma would be given her freedom and independence. This was looked upon by many Burmese citizens as final deliverance from the British occupation and its concomitant oppression of their own culture. Instead, a puppet government was installed by the Japanese.
The new government was determined to establish an unbreakable grip on the populace. Its most horrifying tool was the use of the Japanese Secret Police (KEMPETAI). The KEMPETAI's actions seemed to be deliberately modelled after the Nazi Gestapo. The KEMPETAI shocked not only the Burmese, but many high-level well-educated Japanese military personnel. Thus, initial admiration and support of the Japanese turned into hatred. Burmese troops led by General Aung San eventually joined the Allied cause.
The Japanese staged a major offensive to conquer India, using Burma as a base for the attack. After some of the bloodiest battles in Asia, the Japanese were defeated. (V-J Day remains a holy day for American Bando practitioners.) The Japanese suffered as many as 150,000 dead, wounded and missing.
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