americanbandoassociation

Open Freestyle Martial Arts Tournament

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 02:54:30 GMT

The May 2026 Bando Open Freestyle Martial Arts Tournament is set for May 16th in Weirton, WV, hosted by Weirton Bando in conjunction with the ABA/NBAA at the Millsop Community Center, and it’s shaping up to be a strong event. This is a great opportunity for folks of all levels to compete, demonstrate and gain valuable experience.

Tournaments like this are a vital part of our specialized brother and sisterhood. They provide a chance to grow, perform, and test skills alongside others in the Bando community. Whether you’re competing or coming to support, each person’s presence adds to the level of the event. As part of the ABA/NBAA mission, we also take pride in honoring all veterans and first responders through events like this.

Following the tournament, there will be a black belt promotion and induction ceremony on Saturday evening. Anyone who believes they are eligible for promotion or induction must contact Jerry George at jageorge3@aol.com or 304-231-8936. Promotion criteria remains: 1. Active/Perform 2. Current/Dues 3.

Recommendation/Confirmation

Training will be offered the following day, May 17th, with two sessions at the Millsop Community Center:

Stick of Steel Training with Sayaji Jerry George: 9:00–11:00 AM — open to all styles and experience levels, $30 (pay at the door)
BJJ Seminar with Butch Hiles: 9:00-11:30 AM — open to all styles and experience levels, $50 (pay at the door)

Looking ahead, we’ll carry that momentum into the ABA/NBAA August/Summer Camp in Athens, Ohio, scheduled for July 31st through August 2nd. This year’s camp will contain variety. Additional information to come.

We look forward to seeing strong participation at these upcoming events.

Jerry A. George

ABA/NBAA Chief Instructor and President

Respectfully,

50th Annual Boxing for Books event

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 04:23:30 GMT

The American Bando Association/National Bando Association of America (ABA/NBAA) extends our gratitude to everyone who attended or participated in the 50th Annual Boxing for Books event hosted by Sam’s Gym on November 2, 2025. This year’s milestone gathering was a tremendous success, filled with spirit and sportsmanship.

A special thank you to Mr. Sam Jones for inviting the ABA/NBAA to showcase a series of full-contact Bando matches, featuring talented fighters from Athens Bando and PA Bando. It was inspiring to see the match ups as well as other Bando members from differing areas come together to support this event and its charitable mission.

As the nation commemorates Veterans Day, we are proud to say that Bando’s mission continues to honor veterans through discipline, respect, and the warrior spirit. During the event, a moving salute to our great veterans reminded all in attendance of the sacrifice and service that safeguard our freedoms.

To all veterans within our Bando family and beyond we thank you and wish you a heartfelt Happy Veterans Day. Your courage and dedication remain an inspiration to us all.

Strouds Run Animal/Yoga Camp August 23–25, Athens, Ohio

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 04:13:41 GMT

We are pleased to share that this year’s Animal/Yoga Camp, held August 23rd–25th at its original outdoor location in Strouds Run, Athens, Ohio, was a well-attended and memorable gathering. The weekend reflected both the strength of our traditions and the dedication of our Bando Brotherhood and Sisterhood.

A sincere thank you goes to the animal masters who shared their lifetime of knowledge, preserving and carrying forward the systems originally taught to many of us by Dr. U Maung Gyi:

• Boar: Dave Kinney

• Bull: Heather Hogan, Jeff Stanton, Carl Knoyer

• Cobra: Stephen Knoyer

• Eagle: Mary Mester

• Panther: Steve Jasek

• Scorpion: Dwight Lucas

• Tiger: Jerry George, Derek George, Mark Clayton

• Yoga: Gary Layton, Cheryl Cesta, James Sheeran and Karena Kilcoin

Our “why” remains clear: to maintain and provide extensive animal training for dedicated members, offering opportunities for growth through events that call upon discipline, perseverance, and respect.

We extend congratulations to Ron Minnix and Anthony Wilburn on their promotion to Seventh Level. In addition, we were honored to witness Grand Master Tim Fleming, together with Gary Layton, personally entrust the cherished Panther system to the very deserving Aaron McAvoy. This passing of knowledge marked a profound and inspiring moment for all in attendance.

Looking to the future, discussion was held to include a time slot at next year’s camp for basic matrix unification. This addition will strengthen transparency and shared understanding of the foundational matrix, the very base of our Bando system.

We are also pleased to remind that our annual November full-contact fighting event will be held in conjunction with Mr. Sam Jones’ Boxing for Books, traditionally hosted the first weekend of November. Mr. Jones and his team have carried on this remarkable effort for over 50 years, and it is an honor for us to join forces for such a meaningful cause. We look forward to welcoming many fighters to this unique collaboration. More details will be shared in the future.

In closing, we thank every participant, instructor, and supporter who made this year’s camp a success. Special appreciation also goes to those who took the time to set the camp up—Mark Semingson, Gary Layton, Cheryl Cesta, Mary Mester, and many others—whose hard work made the weekend possible. Together, we uphold a tradition of excellence while building a future of strength, respect, and unity within our Bando community.

A reminder for the ABA/NBAA Summer Training Camp

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 03:59:16 GMT

Bando Brothers and Sisters,

A reminder for the ABA/NBAA Summer Training Camp

August 22-24 2025

Strouds Run Campground

Athen’s, Ohio

Registration:

$60 prior to August 1 as well as a current member status

$90 after August 1 or non-current members

Attending ABA/NBAA events is vital to staying connected to our roots and growing in both skill and spirit. Our national training camps are where the depth of the Bando system truly comes to life. From some to include the powerful Animal Systems to the discipline of Bando Yoga, these camps offer training you won’t find anywhere else. The in-depth focus on the Nine Animal Styles and Bando Yoga is not just tradition; it’s part of the heart of our system. These camp opportunities are more than just events—they’re where brotherhood, sisterhood, technique and tradition come together. We encourage all instructors and students to attend to experience what makes our system truly unique.

ABA/NBAA Memorial Freestyle Tournament – Thank You & Recap

Tue, 27 May 2025 04:07:18 GMT

Dear Bando Family,

As the energy from the Annual Memorial Freestyle and Full Contact Tournament settles, the American Bando Association (ABA)/National Bando Association of America (NBAA) wants to extend our deepest thanks to everyone who made this event a success. From the fierce competitors to the dedicated coaches, sharp-eyed judges, tireless volunteers, and all the supporters who filled the venue with Bando spirit—we are incredibly grateful. The commitment and energy brought this event to life, and your support helps keep the traditions of Bando strong and growing.

We were honored to welcome schools from across the region—including Athens Bando, DMV Bando Club, PA Bando, Sam’s Gym along with Chad Blevins- Bando Boxing, Steubenville Bando, Thompkins Karate Association, Weirton Bando, Wheeling Bando, and other dedicated systems who joined us in brotherhood, sisterhood and shared tradition.

This Memorial Freestyle and Full Contact Tournament, we came together not only to celebrate the spirit of Bando but to honor the legacy of our law enforcement, first responders, and veterans—those whose sacrifice and service protect the freedoms we hold dear. Competing in their honor added deeper meaning and purpose to every form, every fight, and every show of respect on the floor.

We were proud to witness youth and adult practitioners across all belt levels—black, brown, green, and white—displaying the discipline, tradition and skill of Bando. Each performance was a testament to the dedication and heart you bring to this sport. Each competitor upheld the values that make our organization unique.

Sunday Training Clinic

This year’s clinic centered on entry point strategies, offering in-depth instruction in:

Empty Hand
Kukri Hand
Staff Hand

Students gained valuable insights into the foundations of effective attack and defense sequences across forms and weapons.

Upcoming

Outdoor Animal Camp

Get ready for the next event. The Animal Camp will be held at Strouds Run in Athens, OH. This immersive experience will bring students and instructors together in nature for intensive training and camaraderie. Keep an eye out for the flyer with full details.

November Full Contact Fighting Tournament

Annual Full Contact Fighting tournament in November is likely to be held in conjunction with Sam’s Gym’s “Boxing for Books” event in the Columbus, Ohio area. More information will be released as it comes.

We are proud of everyone who took the floor to compete, honor, learn, and lead. Thank you for continuing to elevate the spirit of Bando. We look forward to training, growing, and celebrating with you again soon. We hope everyone had a meaningful Memorial Day, taking time to reflect on what the day truly represents—a solemn remembrance of the first responders, law enforcement, and veterans who have made great sacrifices in service to our communities and nation.

In Brotherhood, Sisterhood, and Respect,

�� Division Champions

Black Belt Champions

• Animal Empty Hand Form: �� Zach Stahly | �� Michael Stahly

• Line Form: �� Will Stange

• Staff Form: �� Michael Stahly

• Edge Weapon: �� Will Stange

• Freestyle Fighting – Bracket One: �� B. Davis | �� Will Stange | �� Zach Stahly

• Freestyle Fighting – Bracket Two: �� Michael Stahly | �� D. Farmer | �� J. Marcellus

Brown Belt Champions

• Animal/Empty Hand Form: �� Greg Vasey | Female: ��Michelle Eitel

• Line Form Female:��Michelle Eitel

• Staff Form: �� Greg Vasey

• Edge Weapon Female: ��Michelle Eitel

• Sparring: �� N. Shrestha | �� Frank O’Brien

• Heavyweight Sparring: �� D. Farmer | �� B. Rogers | �� Greg Vasey

Green Belt Champions

• Animal/Empty Hand Form: �� Frank O’Brien | Youth: �� Sam Kerr | �� Colton Braddock

• Staff/Stick Form: �� Frank O’Brien | Youth: �� Colton Braddock

White Belt Champions

• Sparring: �� J. Poches | �� T. Gordon | �� L. Thompson | Female: ��Shekinah Apedo

• Staff/Stick Form Female: ��Shekinah Apedo

• Line Form Female: ��Shekinah Apedo

Most Outstanding Awards Earned by 9 Point System

• Most Outstanding Female Competitor: Michelle Eitel

• Most Outstanding Male Competitor (Tie): Michael Stahly & Will Stange

• Most Outstanding School: Wheeling Bando

Additionally, Curtis Jayjohn performed an impressive edge weapon demonstration as part of the evaluation for his promotion to Black Belt – 7th Level. His performance reflected the depth of skill, precision, and commitment required at this elite rank.

The tournament also proudly included Full Contact Fighting (FCF), adding an intense and dynamic level of competition that tested the skill and courage of all who stepped into the ring.

Full Contact Fighting (FCF) Winners

• Bout #1: �� Smith | �� Beal • Bout #2: �� Millard | �� Moreno • Bout #3: �� Karasarides | �� Sayers

• Bout #4: �� Davis | �� Thompson • Bout #5: �� Goodin | �� Stange • Bout #6: �� Graffagnino | �� Demko

• Bout #7: �� Shrestha | �� Millard

These matches highlighted the courage and physical intensity that define FCF. We commend all fighters who tested themselves in this demanding division.

Generous donation

Sat, 17 May 2025 04:26:13 GMT

With deep appreciation we are proud to announce that Andy Hogan has made an incredibly generous donation of $4,000 to the American Bando Association and the National Bando Association of America in conjunction with Wheeling Bando. The best part is— we’re passing that donation straight on to the Helping Heroes Foundation. Helping Heroes is dedicated to supporting the brave men and women who have selflessly served our country, and it is a cause that aligns beautifully with the core of Bando’s teachings— discipline, respect, service, and honor. The ABA and NBAA are deeply thankful for Mr. Hogan’s generosity. With this gift, we are reminded of the power of unity and the impact we can make when we come together with purpose.

This donation not only supports our veterans—it also strengthens our continued mission to honor those who protect and serve, to cultivate character in our students, and to carry forward the legacy of martial arts as a force for good in the world.

Thank you, Mr. Hogan, for your support. And thank you to everyone here who plays a part in keeping this mission alive.

Let us continue to honor service, celebrate generosity, and train with purpose.

2025 ABA/NBAA events

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 03:55:26 GMT

Greetings,

We hope everyone is doing well. It has been a long, cold winter thus far, hasn’t it? We hope you and your families are staying active, healthy and safe.

Please see the agenda of 2025 ABA/NBAA events that are currently on the calendar.

May 17th – Weekend – ABA/NBAA Free Style Fighting (FSF) Tournament. Competition categories are as always: Forms, Weapons, + Free Style Fighting. The Full Contact Fighting division will be open with the same format as 2024. Online registration is a must to be able to prearrange categories. We encourage all age groups to participate with a chance to test skills in a competitive atmosphere. Remember, this tournament is to honor First Responders, Law Enforcement, and Veterans. The FSF Tournament will be hosted by Wheeling Bando and held at Total Athlete Center home of the Ohio Valley Pickleball Club in Triadelphia, WV.

August 22nd-24th - Bando Animal Systems training being held at Stroud’s Run in Athens, OH. This venue comes as a desire to have our animal camp in the traditional outdoor setting.

November – Date and Location TBD – Full Contact Fighting (FCF) Veterans Day Tournament. Likely to be held in conjunction with Mr. Sam Jones’ Boxing for Books in Ohio

We look forward to the 2025 events. As there are changes and/or new information, members will be updated. Please be aware that yearly membership dues will be raised to $60. Additional details of why and when this adjustment will be implanted is to come. Continue to look out for newsletters in the future.

President’s Corner: ABA Evolution and the Bando Community

Wed, 05 Dec 2018 05:12:06 GMT

Through the many organizations I’ve belonged to, one lesson I’ve learned is that the heart of an organization is in the people who are committed to its mission. With the right intentions, the structure of an organization doesn’t impede people doing from what they know needs to be done. At the same time, I’ve also learned that organizations that do not adjust their structure in response to change can make things harder for people to connect and to do what’s important. The environment is never static, and organizations must evolve to survive.

"Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future ”

– John F. Kennedy

Many of you have heard that there has been talk of organization change, or even dissolution, for the ABA. For those of you who may not have time to read this entire message, I’d like to make sure you are aware that Dr. Gyi does not want to see the Bando community disbanded or the knowledge that has been shared lost. He does want, however, for us to have a viable structure that reflects the current environment and which encourages our senior leadership to be responsible for growing, sharing, and evolving Hanthawaddy Bando. The fellowship that has grown among our Bando community does not depend on any single organizational structure, and everyone I know wants to honor Dr. Gyi’s legacy by continuing to embody what he’s taught and to pass on the knowledge that he’s shared to the next generation.

Within the American Bando Association, I, and many others, are recognizing that we are at a point where it’s important to revisit our mission and organizational structure:

The ABA was founded as a veterans memorial martial arts organization, and specifically has the mission to honor those who served in military roles in the China-Burma-India (CBI) theatre of World War II. Now, there are very few Veterans who are still alive that were part of the CBI theatre, and with membership dwindling, most, if not all, of the groups commemorating this special group of Veterans have been laid down.
Dr. Gyi has also laid out a vision for a “New Chapter” of ABA, recognizing the leadership and on-going contributions of people who exemplify individual Bando skills and continued personal growth while also continuing to actively train and promote students. Those people are: Chet Buffington, Kenny Corl, Michael Decker, Karl Duff, Jerry George, Dave Keeney, Gary Layton, Mary Mester, Rick Suskind, and Duvon Winborne. As our Bando community reluctantly begins to consider how we will operate when Dr. Gyi is no longer actively teaching, we will need to rely on a new model that builds on the diversity of skills and knowledge that exists within the Bando community.

Earlier this Fall, Dr. Gyi had sent to ABA 9th level Grand Masters a note declaring his intention to dissolve the ABA, and to encourage leadership to establish their own organizations to match their interest areas.
At the last ABA event, we held a “campfire” meeting to elicit feedback from the Bando community on their thoughts regarding the ABA future. It was clear that those present highly valued the role of ABA in connecting the Bando community and making opportunities for training together.
And more recently, Dr. Gyi has expressed the opinion that ABA could be renamed as the National Bando Association of America (NBAA). This name honors the organization that his father set up, and retiring the name “ABA” (but not dissolving the organization) reflects that the current mission of honoring CBI veterans is complete. (Rights to the ABA name and logo would still reside with this organization in that case.)

There have been several ideas considered related to ABA’s future, although none have resulted in any official decisions:

No change to ABA’s structure, mission, or name can be implemented arbitrarily. Our ABA by-laws define the steps needed for change, including the need to include members in any decision that considers dissolution of the organization. There are also legal considerations that have to be understood and complied with to make sure that we implement changes with open eyes. And because we are a Bando community, we also don’t intend to implement change without fully seeking input from you, our Membership. Right now, we don’t have enough facts on the table to let you know what the implications are for alternative paths that ABA may take. I can commit to you, though, that we will share this information as we find out.

When I speak to our ABA senior leadership, nearly everyone has expressed their desire to honor Dr. Gyi’s wishes in recognition of the essential role he has had in establishing ABA and in sharing his knowledge with so many. I have also sent a letter to the ABA Board of Directors recommending 1, that ABA should not be dissolved and 2, that we formally evaluate options and understand the implications of evolving the ABA into the NBAA. These recommendations will be addressed in the January ABA Board meeting.

There are a lot of questions that need answering, and for many of you, you may want to share your thoughts and to explore how you feel about changes to the ABA. Feel free to share your thoughts with friends, but I ask you to be careful to acknowledge that there are still unknowns about the future. ABA will be actively seeking out your input as well, as we have information to help clarify what different paths mean. If you are attending Dr. Gyi’s seminar on the Healing Arts in Virginia, ABA will be hosting a membership meeting on March 3rd at the Best Western Fairfax (4-6pm) to give you a chance to share your thoughts and concerns. We’ll also be reaching out via email and other means as we explore what different paths may mean. You are also welcome to reach out to the members of our ABA Board of Directors with your thoughts and questions. Our current Board members are: Dave Decker, Michael Decker, Jerry George, Steve Jaszek, Eugene Johnson, Dave Keeney, John Kelley, Anthony Milburn, and Mark Semingson.

Changing ABA’s structure (or name) does not mean that we lose the knowledge of any aspects of Bando, including the more hard styles. All aspects of Bando will continue to be cherished and honored. Those who want to preserving free-fighting, naban, or any other aspect of Bando that is taught are encouraged to teach and to host related events. The organization can facilitate knowledge sharing, but it’s the active involvement of each of you that is needed to grow and to share our collective skills.

Memorial Day, 2018

Sun, 27 May 2018 05:53:03 GMT

Memorial Day marks a season of passage and transition. For many of us, it marks the beginning of Summer and the shift to outside activities. Pool openings, parades, store sales, and barbecues with family and friends are timed to coincide with this weekend that holds so much meaning. The deeper meaning of this holiday, of course, is tied to honoring those Veterans who have passed away and who are no longer with us.

Around the time of the Civil War, practices began to specifically honor fallen soldiers. Shortly after the end of the war, the head of a group of Union veterans, Maj. Get John Logan, proclaimed that a Decoration Day be held on May 30th to lay flowers on the graves of all fallen soldiers, both Confederate and Union. And in Charleston, SC, a community of former slaves collected the bodies of Union soldiers that had been laid in a mass grave at a Confederate prison camp. After two weeks of effort, new graves had been laid and a community-wide celebration was held in gratitude for the freedom that their sacrifices helped to enable. A small town in Waterloo, New York, had also started a community wide, annual day of recognition of fallen soldiers. This community was recognized a hundred years later through a Congressional proclamation as the birthplace of our modern Memorial Day.

This is a holiday that grew almost organically to acknowledge the sacrifices of our dead soldiers and to honor our collective loss of these souls. Honoring ancestors occurs in cultures across the world, and in the US, families have gathered at cemeteries to lay flowers at the graves of relatives and to spend time together well before there was a recognized holiday.

On Memorial Day, we honor all soldiers who have passed away. Some have fallen in the battlefield, and others have died afterwards as a result of the injuries (whether spiritual or physical) acquired while serving. Many veterans have died of other causes well after their military service has been completed; their willingness to serve and to sacrifice is also honored on this day.

This weekend, find your own way to honor the Veterans in your family and community. I recently discovered that my home town (Warrenton VA) also contributed to the origins of Memorial Day — it was in 1861, in Warrenton, that the first decoration of a Civil War soldier occurred. And this weekend, I’ll be attending the Warrenton Memorial Day parade and graveside ceremony.

There are so many ways to express reverence for those no longer with us who chose to serve and to acknowledge our shared loss. Perhaps you can lay out a small memorial in your home and exchange stories to bring alive the memory of someone who had served. Or maybe there is a community event nearby that you can attend – your efforts and presence will speak volumes about valuing our Veterans.

Respectfully,

Deborah Kirkman

President, American Bando Association

2014 ABA Weapons Camp

Fri, 12 Jan 2018 06:33:23 GMT

ABA President’s Corner

The 2014 Weapons Camp will be held on October 17 ^th – 19 ^th and we will be celebrating 50+ years of Bando in America. The camp will be open to all brown-belts and above and will include training in the Hanthawaddy Bando systems of Dhot and Dha, as well as, the Kukri of the 10 ^th Burma Gurkha Rifles. You can get more information, including registration and waiver forms, by clicking here. For ABA members who register before July 30 ^th , the camp is FREE!

We strongly encourage all ABA members who are planning to attend the Weapons Camp to attend the 2014 ABA Summer Camp. Our focus at the summer camp will be honing our skills in Dhot and Dha applications and kukri drill sets in preparation for the Weapons Camp. A detailed agenda for the Summer Camp is forthcoming.

Congratulations To Our Kickboxers!

Fri, 12 Jan 2018 06:27:14 GMT

ABA President’s Corner

Many thanks to everyone who made this event a success and a special thank you to Sayama Leslie Darr and Saya Bill Darr, who did a great job in hosting the 2013 Bando Kickboxing Nationals in Northern Virginia.

We had a great turnout this year – thanks to all of our competitors and to our Bando family members who came out to support our fighters as well as to honor our veterans.

Highlights of the tournament include the awarding of both “Best Kickboxer” to Michael Dixon of Athens Bando Club and “Best Kickboxing School” to the Fredrick Fight Club of Northern Virginia.

For a complete listing of tournament results, please check out our November issue of the Crossed Swords

ABA President’s Corner

Fri, 12 Jan 2018 06:21:22 GMT

ABA’s mission, from it’s very beginning, has included honoring members of the U.S. military. Dr. Gyi’s father, U Ba Than Gyi, encouraged his son to “Express your gratitude and honor the servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives in defense against the tyranny of Nazism and Fascism during World War II… Remember, the American troops were in Burma.. “ And in ABA’s very first mission statement, the first of three missions was to “honor both the Allied and Axis veterans of the Burma Campaign of the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater of WWII in Asia”. As our servicemen and servicewomen have been challenged to support military needs in many additional theaters since WWII, ABA has expanded its outreach to honor veterans of more recent conflicts as well. I’m proud that our organization is about something larger than the individual benefits that can be achieved through the practice and preservation of Hanthawaddy System of Bando.

ABA thanks our many members and friends who contributed to the “Care Packages for Veterans” collection. Over our three national camps in Strouds Run Park (Athens, Ohio) last year, ABA collected gifts to share with those serving overseas. We received snack items, games, reading material, condiments, coffee supplies, and toiletries that could be sent overseas. Many of you also provided money that was used for additional supplies and to help pay for mailing these packages. Overall, ABA sent eleven care packages in 2017 – a way to directly help those who are far from the comforts of home.

One of the most visible ways we honor the sacrifices of our military personnel and veterans is by holding our events on weekends that commemorate important events or themes. This year, we will be holding events on the weekends associated with Armed Services Day (May), Victory over Japan (V-J) Day (August), and Veterans Day (November). These weekends are an opportunity to remind all who participate in our camps the gratitude we owe to our veterans. And last year (2017), ABA donated $3,300.00 (three thousand, three hundred dollars) to support to a number of national groups serving Veterans, including the USO, the Disabled American Veterans, Fisher House, and the Gurkha Welfare Relief Trust.

This year, ABA also provided some Christmas cheer to a disabled veteran family in the Washington DC area. Wakeel Abdullah, who has been serving with the local chapter of the Disabled American Veterans, shared with us the special request of a family where both heads of the household were dealing with significant disabilities; one had served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the other in Operation Enduring Freedom. ABA provided gifts for their three children as well as some items for their father and mother, providing a personal message of support and care.

ABA encourages everyone to support our veterans through club-level or individual efforts (e.g., see our article on Michael Gallagher’s support of the “Paws and Stripes” project). We’d love to hear how you are honoring our Veterans and those currently serving in the military, whether it be something as simple as attending a local ceremony, supporting fund-raisers, or actively helping with Veterans’ needs. Sharing your story can help encourage our other members to find inspiration and explore their own way of honoring our Veterans.

Sayamaji Debby Kirkman

President, American Bando Association

Honoring and Serving our Military and Veterans

Mon, 08 Jan 2018 20:38:16 GMT

ABA President’s Corner

Fascism during World War II… Remember, the American troops were in Burma. “ And in ABA’s very first mission statement, the first of three missions was to “honor both the Allied and Axis veterans of the Burma Campaign of the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater of WWII in Asia”. As our servicemen and servicewomen have been challenged to support military needs in many additional theaters since WWII, ABA has expanded its outreach to honor veterans of more recent conflicts as well. I’m proud that our organization is about something larger than the individual benefits that can be achieved through the practice and preservation of Hanthawaddy System of Bando.

One of the most visible ways we honor the sacrifices of our military personnel and veterans is by holding our events on weekends that commemorate important events or themes. This year, we will be holding events on the weekends associated with Armed Services Day (May), Victory over Japan (V-J) Day (August), and Veterans Day (November). These weekends are an opportunity to remind all who participate in our camps the gratitude we owe to our veterans. And last year (2017), ABA donated three thousand, three hundred dollars to support to a number of national groups serving Veterans, including the USO, the Disabled American Veterans, Fisher House, and the Gurkha Welfare Trust.

ABA encourages everyone to support our veterans through club-level or individual efforts (eg, see our Crossed Swords article on Michael Gallagher’s support of the “Paws and Stripes” project). We’d love to hear how you are honoring our Veterans and those currently serving in the military, whether it be something as simple as attending a local ceremony, supporting fund-raisers, or actively helping with Veterans’ needs. Sharing your story can help encourage our other members to find inspiration and explore their own way of honoring our Veterans.

Veterans Day Message

Thu, 09 Nov 2017 20:42:37 GMT

ABA President’s Corner

The armistice of World War I was the result of frantic negotiations occurring almost a hundred years ago, as it became clear that Germany had no hopes of prevailing in the battles that were occurring in many parts of the world. Although talks of a cease-fire started in October, it wasn’t until early November of 1918 that negotiations between representatives of the German government and Allied forces began to gel. Finally, on November 11th, at 5am in Paris, the Armistice was signed with an effective time of 11am later that day. Even with the signature and news of the truce, fighting in many places continued right up to 11am. The very last soldier killed in action was an American, Henry Gunther, killed one minute before the official start of the cease-fire.

On November 11th, the United States will be recognizing Veteran’s Day. In many other countries, this day of reverence is also known as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day. Recognition of our those who serve or have served in the military, and the gratitude for the cessation of fighting and hostilities from WWI, is commemorated much of Europe, Great Britain, Australia, Canada, India, Kenya, Poland, and other countries.

One of the vivid images from WWI was captured in a poem written in 1915 by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, who was a doctor in the Canadian Army. Stricken with the deaths of so many, McCrae found some solace by writing a poem as he looked across to a cemetery. In this place, and many others, McCrae had seen red poppies grow and bloom among the graves. His poem, In Flanders Fields, has inspired many to wear a red poppy as a way to commemorate the sacrifice of so many.

The American Bando Association will be hosting a training opportunity this Veterans Day weekend, and we’ll be continuing to honor our mission of honoring Veterans through our common remembrance of the debt we owe to those who are willing to risk their lives, with our collection of goods for soldiers serving overseas (our Care Packages for Troops collection), and by following a world-wide tradition of having a minute of silence at 11am on November 11th. I hope you can join us for this. If you’ll be somewhere else, you can plan to attend a Veterans Day ceremony or even hold a private minute of silence wherever you are at 11am. And perhaps you’d like to wear a red poppy – it might be a way to start conversations with others on your own respect for our Veterans – those currently serving, those who have served, and those who are no longer with us.

Sayamaji Deborah Kirkman
President, The American Bando Association

2017 Magical Cane Camp

Wed, 26 Jul 2017 20:54:11 GMT

ABA President’s Corner

The ABA Magical Cane Campwill be held in Stroud’s Run State Park in Athens, Ohio. This is a special opportunity to train with Dr Gyi in this ancient system that still has relevance today. Here are links to:

Hope to see you there!

Memorial Day Message 2017

Wed, 26 Jul 2017 20:47:14 GMT

ABA President’s Corner

Memorial Day – May 29th, 2017

The World War II memorial in Washington, DC, includes recognition of the CBI theatre.

Many of us have time off today to spend time with family and friends. Memorial Day is much more than a holiday marking the beginning of summer, though. Originally called Decoration Day, the holiday arose after the Civil War as a day to visit the graves of soldiers and to mark them with flowers and other signs of remembrance. Originally celebrated on May 30th, in 1968 the US Congress established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May.

The ABA has a unique mission among US martial arts organization in honoring America’s veterans of the Burma Campaign in the China- Burma-India (CBI) Theater of WWII. Many of these veterans have passed away, and it’s estimated that only 3% of the original 16 million members of the US armed forces during WWII are still alive. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that nearly 400 WWII veterans die with each passing day. In more recent conflicts, there have been over 50,000 military deaths associated with conflicts in this century.

Deborah Kirkman
President, American Bando Association

It’s a sacred act to remember those who have passed away. With this holiday, I hope you will join me in setting aside time to honor those who have served and who are no longer with us. Perhaps it might be through recalling the service of a family member or by visiting a memorial site. Make a donation to a veterans organization or thank a veteran you meet today, knowing that each person who serves in the armed forces may face perilous risks that we can enjoy so many freedoms. Many of our ABA members have served in the military, and perhaps you can reach out to a fellow member in friendship and gratitude.

On behalf of ABA, thank you to all of our veterans for your work to serve our country and to preserve the freedom and values of our United States that we so treasure.

Crossed Swords – Spring 2017

Tue, 13 Jun 2017 08:59:43 GMT

ABA President’s Corner

Click here to view the Spring 2017 edition of Crossed Swords