Bando
From OTMWiki
Bando (aka Burmese Silat) is the official Burmese Fighting System. (See [[Burmese Martial Arts]])
A full body, comprehensive and evolving martial art. Bando has a rich history, due in part to the geographical location of its native Myanmar. (formerly Burma).
Anyone familiar with the major Japanese or Chinese martial arts will recognise aspects of their own embedded in Bando. Karate kick and punch techniques along with Judo type throws and rolls are all part of this eclectic system.
It’s important to note that in Myanmar the term ‘Thaing’ is often used to describe martial arts and indeed in many ways one might consider Thaing a direct equivalent to Wushu, the term used in neighbouring China.
Use of weaponry in Bando is not uncommon although broadly speaking, it is an unarmed system. You may find organisations describing themselves as Bando where they practice unarmed techniques and as ‘Thaing‘ where they use weapons, it’s a matter of choice rather than tradition. However, the terms are not interchangeable.
Lethwei or Lethawae also known as Burmese Boxing and Myanma Traditional Boxing (which is a sub-system of Bando) may well be the most brutal and exciting form of kickboxing the world has ever seen. Lethwei is in many ways similar to its younger sibling Muay Thai from neighboring Thailand. If Thai Boxing is the science of 8 limbs than Lethwei is the science of 9 limbs due to the allowance of head butts. There are records recording Lethwei style matches dating back to the Pyu empire in Burma.
Lethwei participants fight without gloves only wrapping their hands in hemp or gauze cloth, rules are similar to Muay Thai but allow and encourage all manner of takedowns along with head butts. Traditionally held outdoors in sandpits instead of rings but in modern times are now held in rings . Popular technique in Lethwei include leg kicks, knees, elbows, head butts., raking knuckle strikes and ballistic takedowns.
In the U.S. the American Bando Association (ABA) is the largest Bando organization. The ABA teaches a combined form of Bando which includes self defense, edge weapons, stick weapons, free sparring, and full contact kickboxing. The ABA sponsors the longest continuiously held anual kickboxing tournament in North America.
See also
http://www.bohans-family.com/bando_notebook/meaning_of_bando.htm
http://www.bohans-family.com/bando_notebook/FutureOfBando.htm
http://www.bohans-family.com/bando_notebook/bando_notebook.htm
http://www.bohans-family.com/bando_notebook/bando_fighters.htm
http://www.anymartialart.org/09_Martial_Arts_Info/index.php?MArtID=4
http://www.bandoofnewengland.com/
http://www.greaterhartfordbando.com/
