Bando

Bando is a way to fight from Myanmar

. It is a special skill. Students learn to stay safe first. This helps them not be mean to others.

They practice moves that look like animals. Some moves look like a fast eagle

. Others look like a strong tiger

.

First, you learn how to stand. Then, you learn how to block. You can even use your elbows and knees. It is a great way to learn skill.

Bando is a way to fight without weapons from Myanmar. It is one part of a larger group of arts called thaing. In Bando, defense is the most important thing. Students learn to protect themselves first. This helps them stay calm and not be mean to others.

Training happens in stages. First, students learn how to stand and move their feet. Next, they learn how to block attacks. Later, they learn how to strike back. Many moves are practiced alone. These patterns are called aka. Later, students practice with a partner.

Many moves look like animals

. A student might use the eagle style to strike with their hands

. They might use the scorpion style to pinch nerve centers

. Other styles include the bull, cobra, and tiger

. The panther style is the highest form. It combines all the other animal moves

.

Bando is now taught in many places. It is popular in the USA and Europe. Students can earn colored belts to show their skill. A student must train for five years to earn a black belt.

Bando is a defensive martial art from Myanmar. It is a way to fight without using weapons. Some people think Bando is the name for all Burmese fighting arts. However, Bando is just one part of a larger group called thaing. In Bando, protecting yourself is more important than attacking. This focus on defense helps students stay calm. It also teaches them to be careful and not start fights.

Learning Bando happens in several clear stages. First, students spend months learning basic stances and footwork. Next, they learn how to block and parry attacks. This helps them stay safe if a fight starts. After that, students learn offensive moves. Most of these moves are taught as forms called aka. A student practices these forms alone at first. Later, they practice them with a partner or in a contest.

Many Bando moves are based on the way animals move. These patterns are meant to imitate the spirit of the animal. For example, the eagle style uses striking and blocking with both hands. The scorpion style uses pinching and seizing nerve centers.

The bull style uses charging strikes and tackling. A tiger style uses clawing attacks. Some teachers even teach the black panther style. This highest form combines all the other animal moves together.

Bando has a long history in Myanmar. After World War II, a man named Ba Than Gyi worked to modernize the art. He created the Hanthawaddy bando system to unite different styles. In 1946, U Chit Than formed the Youth Thaing Group. Later, the Myanmar Thaing Federation was formed in 1966. In 2009, the International Bando Association became the ITBA. Vazquez Jesus Rivera was its first president. Sayagyi U Hla Win became the next president in 2012.

Today, Bando is practiced all over the world. Maung Gyi began teaching it in Washington, D.C., in the early 1960s. His style is very popular in the USA. In Europe, U Hla Win brought Bando to England in the 1960s. Later, Jonathan Collins brought it to France, Switzerland, and Spain. In many schools, students earn colored belts to show their rank. They might wear white, green, brown, or black belts. A student must train for at least five years to earn a black belt.

Bando is a defensive, unarmed martial art originating from Myanmar. It is important to distinguish Bando from the broader category of Burmese fighting systems known as thaing. While people often use Bando as a generic term for all Burmese martial arts, it is actually just one specific discipline within the larger thaing tradition. The core philosophy of Bando prioritizes defense over offense. This approach is designed to protect the practitioner if a conflict arises. By focusing on defense, the art aims to discourage aggression. It teaches students to apply their physical skills with great care and intention.

Training in Bando follows a structured sequence of developmental stages. The preliminary stage involves mastering basic stances and footwork. Traditionally, this foundational phase lasts for several months. In the second stage, students learn a series of blocking and parrying techniques. Because Bando emphasizes defense, students learn to leave the initiative to the opponent. They rely on counter-maneuvers to respond to threats. Once a threat is evaluated, the practitioner may respond with a counter-strike, grappling, or locking. The third stage introduces offensive moves. These techniques are often taught through forms called aka. Students first practice aka solo. They eventually progress to partnered sets and, finally, to contests similar to free sparring.

Many offensive forms in Bando are inspired by the movements of animals. These animal styles likely entered the art through influences from India and China. Each pattern is characterized by the specific behavior of the animal it imitates. For example, the Boar style uses rushing attacks with elbows and knees. The Bull style focuses on charging strikes and tackling. The Cobra style targets upper vital points, while the Viper targets lower vital points. The Eagle style involves striking and blocking with both hands. The Monkey style emphasizes agile movements. The Heron style uses fast arm movements and short jumps. The Leopard style involves circling and leaping. The Python style uses chokes and locks. The Scorpion style focuses on pinching and seizing nerve centers. The Tiger style uses clawing attacks. Finally, the Black Panther is considered the highest form. It combines all the previous animal forms into one system.

The history of modern Bando involves several key figures and organizations. After World War II, Ba Than Gyi served as the director of physical education and athletics for the Union of Burma. He attempted to modernize the art by founding the Hanthawaddy bando system. This system united various existing techniques. In 1946, U Chit Than formed the Youth Thaing Group under the All Burma Youth League. Following Myanmar's independence in 1948, all Thaing masters held a major competition at the Nay Thu Yain theater. The Myanmar Thaing Federation was later established in 1966. In 2009, the International Bando Association evolved into the International Thaing Bando Association, or ITBA. Vazquez Jesus Rivera served as the first president. He was succeeded in October 2012 by Sayagyi U Hla Win.

Bando has expanded significantly across the globe. Maung Gyi, the son of Ba Than Gyi, began teaching in Washington, D.C., during the early 1960s. His Hanthawaddy style is currently the most popular Burmese martial art in the United States. The American Bando Association (ABA) utilizes a 9x9 matrix of techniques and principles. This system encourages students to understand underlying principles rather than just memorizing single moves. In Europe, U Hla Win introduced Bando to England in the 1960s. Later, in late 1986, instructor Jonathan Collins introduced the art to France, Switzerland, and Spain. The European Bando Thaing Federation now operates as a member of the ITBA.

Progress in Bando is often marked by a system of colored belts, a practice adopted from judo. Common belt colors include white, green, brown, and black. Some schools also use yellow as an advanced white belt. Achieving a black belt requires significant dedication and time. A student must train for at least five years before they can test for this rank. To earn a black belt, the practitioner must demonstrate proficiency in several areas. These include aka (empty-handed forms), stick weapons, and bladed weapons. They must also succeed in sparring and pass a physical fitness test. This rigorous process ensures that students have truly mastered the defensive and offensive complexities of the art.