Hopefully this site will prove to be timely and informative, and will provide insights as to the origins of today’s International Thaing/Bando systems, and especially Dr. Maung Gyi and the American Bando Association’s role in the development of the Burmese/Bando Martial Arts in America. * Please; If you have comments, stories, or anyone that you feel should be remembered here (Teachers-Colleagues-Students), by all means send in your information/suggestions for their inclusion. As a student/teacher/practitioner of Bando myself (45+ years), it is an all but impossible task for me to know, or to write about the many great personalities of the Thaing/Bando systems; So I am somewhat dependent on the collective energy & efforts of all of You who have been on this remarkable Journey as well…
TEMPLATE FOR SUBMITTING A MARTIAL ARTIST’S BIO/BACKGROUND:
- What kind of activities/sports/martial arts were you, or your recommendation involved with as a youth?
- Traditional sports – i.e. soccer, football, wrestling/boxing/gymnastics/weight training/track & field/martial arts/shooting/archery/scouts/ ? …
- What things were you/your recommended involved with in adolescence/young adulthood?
- What martial arts/sports combatives/military or law enforcement types of training have you participated in/learned or become proficient at or certified in as an adult?
- What achievements/rankings/levels/awards/competitions or recognitions have you earned/received ?
- What contributions to Thaing/Bando have You made; or successes have You experienced with your own students/athletes?
- Service: Military experience? Law Enforcement? Community/Social Work? Para-Military?
Thank You Again for your participation and contributions; Nomostay;
Respectfully Yours; Jon Collins – site moderator
Who will this site cover? Can anyone make contributions? Will it cover Bando persons not affiliated wth the ABA? What about the Burmese/Myanmar organizations? What about the ITBA or other international Bando groups? “We want anything & everything from anyone, as long as it is accurate and respectful.” Nomostay
It is the intent of this site to include all relevant persons, schools, opinions, etc. Because we are just getting under way, please be patient while we consider the parameters and magnatude of this undertaking. Thank You…Nomostay
This is great! Sign me up!
Saya Wakkeel, Thank You for your approval of our attempts at bringing some of the Bando History to Life/light via descriptions of some of its greatest people. Please feel free to post your own memories/feelings about the same. Peace & Brotherhood…
Thank You Jean-Roger; I await the descriptions, histories, and stories about the French Thaing Bando Master Saya/Teachers. Peace & Brotherhood…
Congratulations on this great website. Long life to this one. Thank you Master Jonathan Collins
This is a great place to have been created… Great Job Jon. I have been studying and a practitioner of Bando for 50 years, and have lived with Dr. Gyi on his farm when I was around 18 years old. I shall submit my complete Bio, along with my brother Laszlo and Lajos, whom taught in Pittsburgh, Pa for years, and we always had students that were charged not one single penny. Again, thanks and I will be posting an extenstive Bio later. Your Brother in Bando, Istvan (Steve) Balogh
my teachers practiced with you James Terry and Gary Lewandowski. thank you for the training I’ll always appreciate it.
Both Jim terry and the are gary L were both students of mine and my brothers here in Pittsburgh, Pa many years have past… Istvan ( steve) balogh.. Bando
This site that Jon has compiled and put up for the practitioners of the Burmese martial systems will serve a purpose long needed, without politics, prejudices, or policy’s. I have along with Jon, served a much needed appreciation of American Veterans… Kevin Martin
Yes, We must always remember our fallen brothers that have fallen in the fields, sky’s and oceans in the past and present wars for the very freedoms that we so enjoy. They are the ones that we must always HONOR!
Istvan (Steve Balogh.. Pittsburgh Bando
Master Collins, I often repeated my/this saying to all who would listen, ” Pain is the utmost important principle of the System, ruthless but necessary.”
A blind fist see’s no target.
K. Martin
“there’s no defence against surprize”. I was reading that out of my pirated ABA manual on the way to PennState (?) in the passenger seat of Tommy Strawsberg’s Nova (?) as he swerved off the road, nodding off…
Jon, I have really enjoyed the site and especially see the potential to coordinate a self written dialog of Bando’s history spoken through the participants themselves! The 60′s & 70′s had its own rich history and as we’ve seen recently those that lived it, fought, taught and grew the Bando tradition are passing on. That tradition needs to be relived, remembered and experienced by all Bando members especially the new generations to come. Kudos for your efforts and thanks for your dedication! Sayaji Douglas Lake
My name is Mark Decker and I belong , trained and instructed at the Steubenville Bando Club with my brother Dave Decker and Tony Porco ! I started training at the age of 12 with John France as my instructor ! I like this website !
Is there any training class in Singapore? I want to join and learn more about Bando. I had trained just for a few months and I still want to improve it.
Hello this is Dan Fahey and would like to assist and donate. My Martial Arts foundation started with Bando in 1970 and currently with Martial Arts Koncepts under Mike Krivka.
I have been so Blessed to have worked out with some of the founding members of the ABA, Mr Bob Hill, Mr Randy Webb, Mr John Taylor, as well as countless other great Bando practitioners. The life lessons and training have made me the man I am today…I have so many stories I would love to share, from the wild workouts in Mr Hill’s basement..ouch!!! to all the good times at the Cleveland Tn. Branch…Thank you….With Respect! Monty Walker
Great site…great idea. I will support it and help in anyway possible. Thank you Mr Collins….With respect! Sayaji Mfundishi Maasi…Blood Oath, second generation.