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Bando Thaing

Bando Thaing is Burmese for "the way of the warrior." Bando is the primary Burmese martial art practiced in the US today. This would be an effective method of self defense for women.

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"Bando", a hybrid word composed from the Burmese "Ban" and the Japanese suffix "do", has three primary meanings:

A "way of discipline"
Systems of defense
The art of fighting, or combat

It's origins are closely tied to Buddhist temples. These temples traditional functioned as educational centers. People from India brought their martial arts to the Himalayas and Southeast Asia.

The Chinese also influenced their teachings. The mix of Indian and Chinese martial arts including the animal styles gave birth to Bando Thaing.

Indigenous to Burma, this martial art is an incorporation of Karate style kicking techniques and striking, as well as Judo style swordplay, fighting, throwing techniques and usage of knives, sticks and spears. All body parts are used in withdrawals followed by attacks outside of your opponents reach. It utilizes grappling and locking techniques for the attack. Often practices that are considered impolite and base, such as biting, eye gouging and groin attacks are encouraged and studied.

There are three stages of training. The first stage teaches basic stances and footholds. The second stage consists of learning blocking and parrying moves. When finished with this stage a student can defend herself against unarmed attackers, but is not a full fledged fighter. The last stage covers offensive techniques.

Bando Thaing contains animal systems meant to compliment the practitioner’s psychological characteristics and demeanor as well as her body type, size and physical strength. The following animal systems are studied:

Boar
Bull
Cobra
Eagle
Panther
Python
Scorpion
Tiger
Viper

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