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Like Thailand, Burma, its neighbor,
developed systems of unarmed fighting
hundreds of years ago. Since India and China
are two of its neighbors, it is not
surprising that the evolution of unarmed
fighting techniques owed much to India and
China.
As in the case of China, Buddhist monks
had much to do with the development of the
fighting arts in Burma. There are many
legends about Buddhist 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. This is because there
would be counters 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 Anawratha (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 seems
to be found in arts like Tai Chi, Aikido,
and even Judo.
These techniques spread by the 11th
century monks were handed down from
generation to generation until they have
become part of the 'bando' system of Burmese
martial arts.
But the bando system is not all of
Burmese martial arts. The overall name is
actually 'thaing'. This word is Burmese for
'self defense'. The term is the equivalent
of the Chinese term 'wushu'.
Among the arts of unarmed combat listed
under the term 'thaing' are:
• Bando
• Lethwei or Burmese Boxing
• Naban or Burmese wrestling
These are the basic divisions in the
world of unarmed combat in Burma.
Burmese Arts Popularised
When the Japanese – during World War
II – occupied Burma, they encouraged the
practice of the Burmese arts of unarmed
combat. This led to a revival of interest in
the martial arts and subsequently it led to
the rapid spread of the knowledge and
popularity of the arts of unarmed combat. By
1944, the East Asiatic Youth League – an
organization promoting the practice of
thaing – had an enrollment of 20,000.
In their enthusiasm for the martial arts,
the Japanese went to the extent of
participating in some of the bouts for
bandoists. It led to some surprising
results. Judo, aikido, and even jujitsu
exponents pitted their techniques against
the bandoists of Burma.
This intermingling of two different
cultures and different styles of unarmed
combat benefited both the Japanese and
Burmese. The two sides saw the weaknesses
and the strengths of their respective arts
and this led to the elimination of
weaknesses and the further development of
the martial arts. As a result of contact
with the Japanese, the bando art of fighting
evolved into a much more lethal system of
empty-hand fighting.
Like karate and the other forms of
martial arts, there are many styles of bando
fighting. Despite the variety, it is
possible to trace certain basic similarities
in all the schools of bando fighting.
Training Levels
All bando schools start off by teaching
the basic stances and the footholds – just
as in kung fu or karate. 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 and parrying 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.
This cautious attitude towards the learning
of the martial arts was probably derived
from the Chinese tradition of martial arts
instruction. There have been many cases of
students abusing their acquired skills to
the extent that sometimes the masters are
threatened.
Various Names of the Forms
Animal names are used to denote some of
the forms that can be found in Bando. This
probably comes from the Chinese influence.
There are forms called Boar, Bull, Cobra,
Deer, Eagle, Monkey, Panther, Scorpion,
Tiger and Viper.
The names indicate the characteristic of
the forms, which they denote. Thus the
Python form includes crushing, strangling
and gripping moves while the Tiger form
applies quite aptly to maneuvers, which
involve clawing, and ripping. The Deer form
has been given that name because it is meant
to develop alertness in the bandoist.
Bando fighting generally leaves the
initiative to the opponent. It is a style of
combat that relies heavily on countering
moves. Thus when attacked, the bandoist
would first withdraw and then would begin
the counterattack.
Bando attacks include much handwork
directed at the body. But the bandoist does
not neglect using head, shoulder, elbow
knee, and foot for offensive purpose.
Attacking the private parts is also a
favorite technique with bandoists.
The techniques of bando fighting are
learnt mainly through the practice of forms
and with partners. The final stage of
mastery includes participation in contests,
which sometimes end in deaths. |
