- Burmese martial arts
, have a long history, which includes regional influences.
Origins
Burma (also known as Myanmar) bordersIndia ,China andThailand . As a result, it possesses a richmartial arts heritage. As with the fabledShaolin Temple ofChina ,Buddhist monks fromIndia introduced the martial arts intoBurma almost 2000 years ago. Later, Chinese styles filtered their way south, merging with earlier influences to form the martial body of knowledge collectively known asThaing .Originally, there were nine main forms of Thaing corresponding to each of
Burma 's major ethnic groups, namely the Burmese, Chinese, Indian, Chin, Kachin, Karen, Mon,Shan andTalaing . Today, Thaing includes both unarmed arts, of whichBando is the most widely known, as well as arts of the sword, staff, and spear, 'Banshay . Other unarmed arts includeNaban or Burmese wrestling andLethwei or Burmese boxing, closely related to other boxing styles found inSoutheast Asia .As in the case of
China ,Buddhist monks had much to do with the development of the fighting arts inBurma . There are many legends aboutBuddhist monks teaching students the martial arts in secret. In those days, it was unwise to make public one's fighting techniques. Once a technique became public property, it was no longer as effective as before, because counters would be invented to neutralize the techniques. Therefore it was safer for the monks to teach their martial arts in the close secrecy of the monastery.Ancient writings reveal that as far back as the time of King
Anawrahta (1044 - 77 A.D.)Buddhist monks were teaching the secrets of breath-control and mediation practice in addition to the principle of yielding of force – a principle that is found in arts liketai chi ,aikido , and evenjudo .These techniques spread by the 11th century monks were handed down from generation to generation until now, where they have become part of the 'bando ' system of Burmese martial arts.The method known as Thaing Byaing Byan in
Burma is a unique fighting art of mysterious origin. Generally, the name U Maung Lay is closely associated to this method. It was said that his master came down from Norther Shan state and taught only 3 students, the yougest was U Maung Lay and he became a founder of Thaing Byaing Byan group inBurma . Unique philosophy that differ in many ways from other fighting arts inBurma is notable and the moves and the training patterns are remarkably different from other methods found inBurma .Thaing Byong Byan also known as Khu-Kar-Chant meaning "Counter Thaing" is the
Jujitsu of Burmese martial arts. Students and teachers of Thaing Byong Byan usually wear traditional shan dress. Thaing Byong Byan technique is known to be very effective in close quarter combats. The history of this technique is told to be originated in Kanbawza palace martial art technique. Whether this means Kanbawza palace inShan State or Kanbawza Thadi or Hanthawadi Palace inPegu is unclear.Among the arts of unarmed combat listed under the term 'thaing' are:
*Bando ("Animal system" or "free hands system")
*Banshay (Arts of the sword, staff and spear)
*Lethwei (Burmese Boxing)
*Naban (Burmese wrestling)Training levels
All bando schools start off by teaching the basic stances and the footholds as is common to most
Asia n martial arts. 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 andparrying 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. There have been many cases of students abusing their acquired skills to the extent that sometimes the masters are threatened.
Under the British
All forms of Burmese martial arts or Bama Thaing suffered enormously under British rule (1888 - 1947) as the colonial administration at the time took draconian measures to stamp out any form of resistance. Anyone found practising and/or teaching martial arts were labelled as rebel or insurgent affiliate and were summarily prosecuted. Thaing exhibitions and competitions were banned altogether. Traditional Pwe Kyaung or Martial art teaching
Buddhist monastery were outlawed. Burmese craftman and blacksmiths were banned from making any martial arts weaponry including Burmese sword or 'dha'. They were only permitted to make decorative form of dha.ee also
*
Thaing (burmese)
*Bando ,Pongyi thaing ,Banshay
*Lethwei (Bando kickboxing )
*Naban
*Min Zin ,Bando yoga References
* Ba Than (Gyi), "Manual of the Bando discipline", National Bando Association, Burma, 1946-68
* Maung Gyi, "Bando, philosophy, principles et practice", IST edition, 2000
* Maung Gyi, "Burmese bando boxing, Ed. R.Maxwell", Baltimore, 1978
* Don F.Draeger and Robert W.Smith, "Comprehensive Asian Fighting arts", E. Kodansha, Tokyo, 1969
* Zoran Rebac, "Traditional Burmese boxing", Ed. Paladin Press, Boulder, 2003External links
* [http://www.bando.fr// French Bando & Lethwei Federation]
* [http://www.americanbandoassociation.com American Bando Association] (USA)
* [http://www.greaterhartfordbando.com// American Bando Association & More Info (Greater Hartford Bando Association page)]
* [http://www.thaing.net/thaing.htm Advanced Fighting System]
* [http://www.bandoofnewengland.com// Bando of New England]
* [http://www.novabando.com// Northern Virginia Bando Club]
* [http://www.bohans-family.com/bando_notebook/meaning_of_bando.htm Bohans Family]
* [http://www.anymartialart.org/09_Martial_Arts_Info/index.php?MArtID=4 Martial Arts Infos]
* [http://www.geocities.com/kungfu_galaxy/Others/BurmaArts.htmlKungfu Galaxy]
* [http://www.atlantamartialarts.com/styles/bando.htm Atlanta Martial Arts]
* [http://martialsarts.jameshom.com/library/weekly/aa031201a.htm James Hom Librairie]
* [http://dogbrothers.com/wrapper.php?file=teachers.htm Drogbrothers]
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