Bando? Hmm....

Don Rac

Don Rac

Joined
Oct 3, 2001
Messages
1,191
I don't know if this has been talked about alot already, but I was getting interested about learning about what Bando is all about. Then I learn that it's founder was a man posing as a WW2/Korean War/Vietnam War/Persian Gulf war vet. Not to try to stir up any bad blood but would that in itself discredit Bando as an effective thing to learn about all together? It looked effecient but then looks are decieving, especially in the world of self-defense.
 
From a number of sources over the years I've learned that Bando is a fine art with a rich history. You might check for various websites and certainly Inside Kung-Fu and Black Belt, among other fine martial arts magazines, have covered Bando quite well over the years. I don't put much stock in cyber-gossip about this or that personality. Check the art out and make your own decision if what it offers is what you're interested in. Any Bando players out there that can provide more info?
 
The source: http://www.phonyveterans.com/ has posted accusations against two people associated with bladeforums in the past.

Here is their page on Maung Gyi: http://www.phonyveterans.com/Gyi.html

Their page on Bob Taylor (the source Quoting Greg Walker's Battle Blades on this page): http://www.phonyveterans.com/Taylor.html

Their page on Ron Hood: http://www.phonyveterans.com/Hood.html

Dr. Hood has addressed these accusations on his website: http://www.survival.com/asaintro.htm
http://www.survival.com/education.htm

"Phony" vets are something that deserves to be debunked, but as with anything you must question the motives and character of the person doing the "debunking". Internet can be a pain in the ass that way. But the flipside is the person unjustly accused is often vindicated in the process, and comes out looking better for it.

I think the attack on Mr. Bob Taylor is out of proportion and based on the Overzealous (and tasteless) marketing of TRS.

BS is a futile path - it is just TOO EASY to check out anyone's credentials.

To my knowledge Dr. Gyi or the ABA have never addressed these accusations, seemingly taking the stance that it is beneath them.

This is not always a wise policy - the accusations are pretty damning.

Like the man said "dont beleive ANYTHING you HEAR and only HALF of what you SEE" .... and that was said before there was any such thing as internet forums :barf:

ALWAYS question the source.

I know people who are HIGHLY critical of "martial arts" that still hold Bando in high regard as a combative system. All other questions nonwithstanding - there are also other schools of Bando.
 
I've trained with Dr. Gyi, who has taught seminars at the Inosanto Academy and at Dog Brothers training camps. His history is certainly a matter of controversy. However, his skills and teaching abilities are pretty impressive. When other students ask me about him, I suggest they read the research, get the opinions of those who have trained with him, then make their own decision on the issues. I don't want to act as a defender of Dr. Gyi or his disputed history. I'm just saying that he has some legitimate skills.

You can probably get more recent info from Uncle Bill in the HI Forum, but I don't believe that Dr. Gyi is presently the head of the Bando organization.
 
I see, thanks alot for all the responses guys. I guess the best way to know even more now is to try it out, I guess it can't hurt to try anyways.
 
Short version. Bando is nasty nasty nasty and works. The training is brutal at times and straightforward, the art is designed to break and destroy people rather than disable or incapaciate, whatever the nice words are for protect yourself and not hurt him too bad.

There are some really good Bando players out there, Gyi is resonsible for training lots of them and his training, whatever your opinion of the man himself, is very direct and imprints itself easily into whatever else you are doing. It is also conceptual enough that you can incorporate it into whatever you work with regularly.

As an analogy, there is a lot to be said about the styles of close conflict evolving inside prisons, and not a lot of folks doing hard federal time are nice respectable citizens, but you gotta give credit as due.
 
Throughout the years I've heard nothing but praise for Dr. Gyi's fighting art and instruction. We were in contact once and he was quite polite, very gracious, and never offered more than his interest and support.

I've likewise heard nothing but praise for Bando. A fighting system that works as advertised.

All the other "stuff" is perhaps important to someone other than either me or this forum.

Check out the art with a certified, qualified, dignified instructor and enjoy.
 
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