| Bando is a multi-faceted martial art, with roots in China-Burma-India. The system was brought to America in the late 1950’s by Maung Gyi (now Dr. U M. Gyi, Grandmaster.) It is practiced by a small group of dedicated students and teachers here in the U.S. under the auspices of the non-profit American Bando Association.
The Association is unique in that its purpose is to honor and support veterans. Dr. Gyi has retired from active involvement in the Association, but continues to maintain a demanding teaching schedule.
During the past half-century, Dr. Gyi has raised up a cadre of senior students who are now Masters in their own right. Grandmaster Gyi has appointed Masters for the various Bando animal systems and other arts, such as Kukri and the Monk System. The Bando system is comprehensive and diverse, even eclectic.
Kickboxing
Bando kickboxing has been practiced in the U.S. since the 1970’s. This full-contact sport has its roots in Burma (now called Myanmar), where it was once known as the “Sport of Kings.” Royal Boxers were maintained as part of the Royal Court. Today, however, the Sport of Kings is not widely practiced in its homeland. Grandmaster Gyi modified the brutal kickboxing art of Burma for American use, eliminating some targets and some techniques.
Today, Bando kickboxing is led by Master Dale Minor of Ohio, a legendary Bando kickboxer. Each year in November at the time of Veteran’s Day, in a unique tournament honoring veterans, Bando kickboxers compete with each other and with kickboxers from other systems to honor veterans, to test their skills and to practice brotherhood in the martial arts.
Middle Style
Bando also offers a rich tradition within its “Middle-Style” disciplines. For example, middle style fighting resembles karate tournament fighting, but is not of the typical “point” start-and-stop variety. Instead, fighters compete with controlled/limited contact for an entire round and judges make an overall assessment of the fighters’ technique, skill, strategy and conditioning in awarding the match. In the annual Middle-Style Nationals (held on Memorial Day weekend) Bando middle-style fighters meet and compete under rigorous rules, including round-robin fighting. Excellent conditioning is a must for these events.
The Middle Style Nationals also provide a forum for form competition in Bando’s stick systems (long stick, short stick) and bladed systems (the Gurkha kukri and the dha). Empty hand forms from various Bando disciplines are also involved in the form competitions, including Bando’s animal systems.
The Middle-Style nationals also feature seminars from leading Bando Masters, so that students from across the nation can have the opportunity to meet and train with Grandmaster Gyi’s direct lineage students. On rare occasions, the Grandmaster himself will conduct a seminar.
Animal Systems
American Bando includes the following major animal systems: Boar, Bull, Cobra, Eagle, Panther, Python, Scorpion, Tiger and Viper. Each of these nine systems has a Master, personally trained for years by Grandmaster Gyi and designated as the leader of the animal system. These Masters, in turn, may appoint a Second, or apprentice Master, to inherit the system from them at some point in the future. Each animal system has unique weapons systems as well, some of which are still in the process of transmission by Grandmaster Gyi to the animal masters.
Weapon Systems
Bando features several families of systems for the long stick. These forms are typically done with a stick which is longer than the typical six foot karate “bo” staff. Lengths of seven feet are common, adjusted for the practitioner’s own height. In addition, Bando also contains short stick forms which range from police baton drills to the difficult Wizard System. In the Wizard System, skillful manipulation of the stick and the use of unorthodox angles of attack combine to make the stick apparently “disappear” and “reappear”, always to the disadvantage of the opponent. There is a Wizard long stick system as well. And, as indicated above, there are animal system stick weapons.
Bladed weapons are also taught to more senior students. The weapon which is symbolic of American Bando is the Gurkha kukri short sword. Grandmaster Gyi has designated a Master for the kukri. The Burmese dha is also taught in Bando, with several challenging forms available to black belt students.
Internal Systems
Bando systems range broadly from clearly “hard” and “external” systems (such as kickboxing) to softer and more internal approaches. One of Bando’s most unique systems is the Monk system, which is described by Grandmaster Gyi as a “non-violent martial art.” The Monk system emphasizes evasion, trapping and locking, as well as non-lethal strikes, all with a view to avoid or minimize harm to the attacker.
Health Practices
Bando also involves health related practices. There are forms and practices simply for meditative purposes, and there is the practice of Min Zin, similar in concept to Chinese Chi Gung (Qigong). Grandmaster Gyi has also introduced yoga systems involving the use of staffs, ropes and partners for static and dynamic flexibility training and for meditative purposes.
Special Programs
Bando offers special programs for training of law enforcement officials, led by Viper System Master Mike Decker. Other Bando black belts have conducted training for senior citizens designed to maintain or improve balance and flexibility. Some Bando schools also have well-developed programs for young students. Contact us for more information. |
