Bando Revisited

Errrr...Bill, that may not work out too well.

These "very ancient" systems including Bando, Kali, some of the Japanese Koryus and others have "subtle little details" going on that can't be expressed by video. In extreme cases you can have two guys standing in the same stance but the "internal stance" is different! It's a combination of "where on your body you're focused", slight balance shifts, even attitude that's not externally visible, and much more.

A good teacher can show you this stuff, help you feel it...but it don't come across completely on a boob tube. You can use videos to home-practice what's going on in a good dojo but...totally replace 'em? No...not if the system is any good.

The good news is, Dr. Gyi is teaching future teachers. It won't die out with him. There seems to be a trend where FMA people cross-train with him but that may be due more to "compatible attitudes" than any stylistic similarities.

Political point: in several states there have been moves made to "regulate" martial arts instructors. This must be fought at all costs. It's worth suffering the existence of a few Ashida Kims. See, the "big name" arts like TKD, Karate, Aikkido, Judo and to a lesser degree the Chinese stuff are "watered down" from their original roots and/or aren't big on weapons training. There's historical reasons for this; China and Korea have a history of major-grade weapons control; in Japan, the "combatives" elements of all the arts were tamed down in the post-Shogun era starting around 1868ish, the year the Bushido were banned from sword carry. In Bando, the FMAs, Indonesian Silat and others the divergence from "true combat roots" was less if it happened at all. So that's one reason any gov't licencing board might discriminate against them; the board will be dominated by the "big names". Problem 2 is that the Japanese in particular tend to view people from Indonesia, the Filipines and Bangladesh/India/Nepal as "lesser people" - yet they've got more "true combat roots" in their systems.

It's a recipe for discrimination, is what it is.

Fight like wild dogs to avoid gov't licensed Dojos or teachers, other than a standard business license perhaps.

Jim
 
Marc, I hope I didn't cause you any embarassment. My point here was to spread the word. As far and big as the Net is, there are many sites and items people are unaware of. I found out about you from another site and a recent seminar.

Peace to all,
smoke
 
15 or 20 years ago I was informed that Bando is a Burmese MA! The moment I started reading threads in KnifeForums and Bladeforums (about a year ago) I was surprise to know that Bando is a Gorkha's MA!

Please let me know which one is correct - is Bando a Burmese MA or a Nepalese MA or both of that regions MA?

Take for example - some people might refer Pencak Silat as Malaysian MA or Indonesian MA or Southern Thai MA or Filipinos MA - but actually Pencak Silat is the MA of all that region with slight variation from place to place!

One other Q: Is that true that Khukuri is the integral weapon in Bando (just like Keris is the integral weapon in Pencak Silat)?

Please educate me in this matter!
 
Gi Is Burma.Kaliman,if you are genuine,have a mutual friend vouch for you.The real Bando know me.I do not know you.
I would not iniate a contact of a commercial nature.It would be unseemly..,as you appear to be.
I am not discussing Master Gi here,or anywhere else.It is his wish;unless he turned into Ron Reagan when I was not looking.

[This message has been edited by ghostsix (edited 16 November 1999).]
 
Jim,

With regards to your views on martial arts videos I wholeheartedly agree. I doubt anyone could learn effectively without proper guidance and personal instruction, there are just too many variables that will be missed on tape. I had the pleasure of a couple of seminars with Willem DeThouars a few years ago and he would demonstrate a technique that would usually send someone effortlessly to the ground and we would all break up to practice the technique amongst ourselves with mixed results, uncle would wander by and adjust our positioning a fraction of an inch or so and boom it would work flawlessly. This kind of stuff just isnt possible on video, that being said however I do think in combination with instruction or as a backup when you cant get instruction but already know enough of how to work on things, tapes serve as an excellent tool.
As for state certified martial arts schools it is indeed a scary idea, that would most definatly harm the non mainstream and less commercially recognized styles. Last year or so I read the bill being put forth in north or south carolina I think, seem to recall it requiring a state buruacrat having at least a black belt in a recognized style, which instantly prejudices it against those styles having a non-standard grade system much less those having no ranking system at all, as many of the more village oriented styles from south east asia do. Next you have the issue of authentic and verifiable lineages, which again is biased towards those countries where written records were the norm, Personally I dont care squat about someones lineage (except in an interesting historical aside) if a man claims a magic bean taught him how to fight and he moves well I'd take him over the guy with a room full of paper certificates dating back to the dawn of time if can't move well, (granted with regards to the magic bean I may have a few other concerns...) This is really a case were the consumer has to educate himself and know what to look for which is not easy for someone with no experience but there arent any shortcuts.

thats my two cents worth,
crow
 
I have no martial arts experience but I do know people from Burma. Bando is quite common in Burma. The khukuri does not seem be a big part of Bando in Burma. Again this main be due to who is telling me this. These guys were fairly young when they took Bando and edge weapons may not have been taught yet. Maybe someone can set me straight.

When I showed my khukuri to the guys from Burma they reconized it and got an interesting story. They said that the people who use the khukuri can kill a tiger with it. However, the people and tiger generally try to avoid each other.

Will

 
I would just like to see some books or video on the bando style. Even if it would not be the best instruction it would give me an idea of what it teaches and what the students have to learn. Just what I've heard here has been interesting and I would like to hear more.
 
OK.I will call Gi.
I have been in combat.I know BS when I see it.

[This message has been edited by ghostsix (edited 17 November 1999).]
 
Enough of this crap.Gi did not authorize Marc to do anything.More to follow.
kaliman is a fraud.Don`t send him money.

[This message has been edited by ghostsix (edited 17 November 1999).]
 
I sure hope that Will or Arvind weren't suckered out of their money before the truth was discovered. Ghostsix, I'm sure that many forumites owe you one for your detective work.

Bob
 
No, Big Bob, I was'nt. I have'nt sent money for this as of yet, and if what Ghostsix mentioned is correct, then I will not be either. I just felt a little disappointed that a lot of the conflict and negativity that I've seen in the course of going to some of the martial arts schools has come over here to the HI forum in some of the comments that I saw from quietone and dragoncjm. In most of the martial arts schools I've been to both here in NJ and in Massachusetts, I noticed a lot of criticism of different styles of the martial arts. The way I always looked at it, a punch is a punch, a kick is a kick regardless of which martial art you take. It's not the art but the person learning the art that determines it's success or failure. My martial arts experience is very negligible but I know this much at least. I've also seen misunderstandings crop up because of a few words that were said. I personally would like to see how khukuri is incorporated whether by bando or otherwise. But not with commercialism or negativity. Just my two cents. I apologize if anyone finds this to be offensive, my intent is not to do that. On a good note, I found the way Kaka Bill and Rusty as well as other forumites handled the problem to be very good and this makes me proud to be a part of the Forum.

Arvind
 
We don't always do it right but we certainly try.

Again, if anybody is interested in Bando email me and I'll put you in touch with the Sec. of the ABA. A good guy who can give you waybills on where to go and who to see.

------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ

 
Colonel, thanks for the research. The "end result" of all this still shouldn't reflect badly on Dr. Gyi or Bando.

Anybody's name and rep can get "diverted" but such fraud doesn't last long.

Jim
 
Thanks Ghost for doing the research. I didn't send money either. I guess being a bit slow does pay off sometimes.

Will
 
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