I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I figured with the general similarity between Bando and Muay Thai, it might be...

I know there are many people who have trained in Thailand at Muay Thai camps. Has anyone heard of anyone training in Myanmar for Burmese boxing? It is definitely not as stable a country as Thailand and I'm sure the practicioner would face some trouble, but it can be done, can't it?

Has anyone heard of any such people and where they went?

Hmmm never heard of anyone training there.

Anyone know how popular it is inside of 'Burma'?

I had some friends from there I never heard mention of it.

Thats an interesting question...anyone?

I think Burma is a closed country. I don't think you (or any non-Burmese) would be allowed to travel there.

I believe it's actually open. There are certain restrictions, but the generals of Myanmar couldn't hold out after seeing its neighbors pull in the big tourism bucks. With the instablitity of the country, however, that information may already be dated.

One thing is for sure; if anyone has traveled/trained there, it would be more than just a martial arts adventure.

TexasKid

Hhhmm I think its open. Or at least I think it was in 94-95 when I was living in South East Asia.

All I really know about 'Burma' is that the people seem really cool, musicl and good at football(soccer). (had a few friends from there)

Off topic but there we go again. N. Americans screwing names around. :)

The whole world knows soccer as football except here pretty much anyway....why is this? :P

I would love to go find out what its really like there. I can only remember one thing from thier language and its pretty bad. :)

Arn't there two little twins that run a terrorist military up in the Burma mountains.

I've tried to check around to find what exactly bando is. This thread has sparked my interest.

Anyone want to describe it?

As far as I can tell(and my sorses are not 'Burmese'). Its somewhat similar to MuayThai but with more of a Chinese/Kung Fu element.

I have seen footage(just a few fights) but it was a long time ago and I only really remember the outcomes.

burma now called 'myanmar' is open to foreigners....but there are certian places open to visitors only/. at cheing saan the northern most point in thailand, an american with a USA passport can enter myanmar with a small fee of $5....which is worth HELLLA in burma. there are many restrictions in myanmar...i wouldnt recommend going over there.

Its wierd saying myanmar...I have never been there but had a few friends from there while I was in Singapore..but yes it is now myanmar....when was that...90s right?

Felix,

There is quite a bit of stuff out on the internet, but I'll give it a shot:

Bando is similar to Muay Thai. They share the same powerful kick, but whereas in Muay Thai there is an emphasis on elbows and knees, in Bando the emphasis is on grappling and locking techniques. They also practice the headbutt. The practioner trains in basic Burmese boxing for a good while, becoming familiar with a lot of aspects similar to Muay Thai, after that he moves onto the animal postures.

There are 12 (maybe more in different regions) different postures based (like kung-fu) on animals. In theory, the teacher takes into account the student's physique, stamina, and speed and teaches the particular posture that best suits that student's characteristics.

It seems that there is a national Thaing (which is the general Burmese word for their martial art) training center in Myanmar. I'm sure there are plenty of camps like around the country, as well.

cool thanks for the info

there is another place that has a fighting sport like mt, it's called yaw yaw. i don't know where it's from though.

Guys you shouldn\'t be going to Burma at the moment, it\'s \"politically incorrect\" The democratic leader has asked people not to visit as the tourist money is helping keep the facist military in power.

Don\'t get me wrong I\'d love to go there but now is not the time

Headbutts huh? Sounds bloody. The sport... not the facist military. :)

Nothing like a lot of facial scarring to doom your chances of ever dating again. :)

No really. Are the locking techniques to the elbow like in judo? Do Mike Tyson (arm twisting) and Evander Holyfield (head butting) have bando coaches? :)

Sorry guys. I can't keep a straight face right now. I'll post again when I grow up. I wouldn't want to be accused of cultural insensitivity... again.

For some cool pictures of Burmese Boxing look at this page Click on the fighters for pics - doesnt look like they use gloves either.

I dont think there is to much in the way of rules for thjese guys. Apparantly every year in Norther Thailand they fight Muay Thai stylist to celebrate New Year - under modified rules.

Holy shit! This is gruesome stuff. They don't have gloves, yet they have hand wraps. Whew!

Check out this head kick though...


And this punch..


and this knee

Crazy.

Some time ago I ordered the tape of the bare knuckle fight that is held in Northern Thailand between Thai and Burmese styles. I'll let you guys know how it is as soon as I watch it.

Myanmar is definitely nuts as far as politcally. To attract tourists the generals bulldozed villages, basically forced the citizens into slave labor, and then started razing the rain forest. I guess, in comparison, bare-knuckles and headbutting really isn't that bad ;)

I wonder if they use the old style of wrapping their hands like Muay Thai did before the 1930's (with out the glass, IF that even happened)?

Anyone know how to wrap your hands that way?

Are there fighting sprots like that in Laos or Cambodia?

Burmese boxing is over 3 x 5 min. rounds. There are two referee's. fights are matched by two fighters agreeing to fight and shaking hands. They strip off for an official to judge they are about the same weight.
There is no decisions, it's a ko or a draw. Hand wraps are optional.

I copied this off a web site. Is bando and lethawae the same thing.

"Lethawae also known as Burmese Boxing may well be the most brutal form of kickboxing. In many ways similar to Muay Thai from neighboring Thailand. If Thai Boxing is the science of 8 limbs than Burmese Boxing is the science of 9 limbs due to the allowance of head butts.

"Participants fight without gloves with wrapped hands , rules similar to Muay Thai but allowing all manner of takedowns along with head butts. Traditionally held outdoors in sandpits instead of rings. Popular technique in Lethawae include leg kicks, knees, elbows, head butts.,raking knuckle strikes and ballistic takedowns.

"Matches traditionally go until a fighter can no longer continue. If a knockout occurs the boxer is revived and has the option of continuing as a result defense, conditioning and learning to absorb punishment are very important. Burmese boxers spend a great deal of time preparing the body to absorb impact and conditioning their weapons to dish it out."

Here is a definition from another site.
" BANDO - The martial art of the infamous Burmese soldiers, the Gurkha.Actually the art is ancient, consisting of 3 seperate forms until they were fused in the 1930's. Its attacks are centered around incapacitition above death. This means a practitioner will most likely go for an unprotected leg before attempting to strike a defended head or torso. Thier are many animal forms to this style, each with slight variations. It also places emphasis on use of the Kukri blade, a heavy knike which acts as both a combat weapon and machete."

Damn, all forms of takedowns allowed?

Good question about the differences between names.

Only thing I can think of is that maybe Burmese boxing is the ring form of Bando which is more of a complete martial art.

I've heard Thiang,Lethawae, Bando, and Muay Pama thrown around to describe one form or the other of fighting arts from Burma. Anyone know the differences (if they exist)?

Colin

Are you sure about the 2 refs?

I saw MuayThai vs Bamdo and they had a ref from both Thailand and 'Burma'. But I thought that was simply because it was Thailand vs 'Burme'.

Maybe that is how they do it...

I got Thailand v Burma from a few years ago, both fighting 'Burmese boxing' and there were two men in charge. Maybe i'm wrong but i've seen fights from different years and the same happened in both?????