the secret art

The nation of Burma, now known as Myanmar, borders India, China, and
Thailand. As a result, the nation possesses a rich martial arts heritage. As
with the fabled Shaolin Temple of China,
Buddhist monks from India introduced the martial arts into the country a
thousand years ago. Later, Chinese styles filtered their way south, merging
with earlier influences to form the martial body of knowledge collectively
known as 'thaing'.

Thaing includes both unarmed arts, of which Bando is the most widely known,
as well as arts of the sword, staff and spear. Other unarmed arts include
'naban', or wrestling, and 'lethwei', or Burmese boxing. Naban, derived from
the strong heritage of Indian wrestling, and Burmese boxing, considered more
powerful than Thai boxing, were both powerful arts..

Bando can be thought of as a unified martial art that includes hand strikes,
kicks, and grappling moves. This places Bando in a select group of unified
arts, but what truly sets Bando apart is its modeling of some quite unique
animal fighting styles.


the nine animal systems of bando

The Bando system, as developed by U Ba Than Gyi, consists of 9 animal
systems. These 9 systems are Eagle, Tiger, Cobra, Scorpion, Bull, Viper,
Boar and Panther. Each system is unique in its skills and fighting style.

The Cobra and Viper systems are similar in that their
techniques emphasize explosive strikes and kicks to nerve centers from long
and medium ranges. The systems differ in the individual techniques, how
power is derived and how the blows are delivered.

The Python system is involved in close range where grappling,
locking and choking are
effectively used. This system has also been called 'death of a thousand
screams' because the Python traps anything thrown at it, and breaks
everything attached to that weapon.

The Bull and Boar systems are similar in that they both utilizecrushing blows
from elbows, knees, stomps and
head butts at medium and close ranges. The systems differ the application of
these weapons and in the targeting, with Boar being morespecific and Bull
being more general.

The Tiger and Panther systems both use
open palms strikes, sweeps, and claws to open and attack vulnerable areas
such as the neck, throat, groin and eyes. The systems differ in their attack
patterns, with the Tiger being a direct attack that draws its prey into its power.


The Eagle system employs the use of both hands
simultaneously to block, parry and strike at vital targets from medium and long
ranges. Although very beautiful, these birds of prey are extremely powerful
and explosive with their attack.

The Scorpion system employs traps, and places great
emphasis on pinching, pressing and plucking sensitive nerve centers. Like
the Cobra, the Scorpion is lightning quick with great precision in its strikes,
delivering a lethal blow deep into its prey.

Universal to these animal systems is an emphasis on footwork to maneuver
outside the opponent's arm's, and moving to the opponent's blind side before
striking. As Bando student's progress into the rank of black belt they are
allowed to study the animal systems under one of the Bando Animal Masters.
In Bando, it is said that the animal chooses the student. Each Bando Animal
system has different physical requirements and demands on the body, and
each student of the Bando Animal systems is matched to their natural animal
based on body-style, personality and natural tendencies.