User:Thaing Bando

A Brief History of Myanmar Martial Art (or) Myanmar Thaing

Myanmar Martial Art Federation was formed on 1 January 1966. Myanmar Martial Art had existed as an art of traditional self defence since before the formation of Myanmar Martial Art Federation officially. uring the royal occasions celebrated by the ancient Myanmar Kings, Myanmar Martial Art Professionals were tasked to safeguard the royal families and the audience.

There was also a risk that Myanmar Martial Art was about to vanish while Myanmar People were taking part in the revolution against the expansionists imperialists colonists by using available weapons during the (3) predatory wars, the first of which started in 1824. Then, the Art had been spread widely by the Martial Art Experts U Ba Yin, U Ba Thwin, U May Dar through the National Campaign Activities of General Council of Burmese Association (GCBA) in 1920.

During the ruling time of the British Colonists and the Japanese Fascists in Myanmar, Myanmar Martial Art Experts and Myanmar Youths were suppressed and banned in various ways for fear of spreading the Martial Art among the people. The rulers of that time used many ways to stop the spread of the Art by prescribing laws on weapons, taking actions, arresting and instilling fear into the public.

Myanmar Martial Art had been protected from vanishing by the Martial Art Experts and Youths with strong patriotic spirits. The Experts and Youths, though there was much suppression by the expansionists, learned and spread the Art secretly by training and practising in the remote forests and mountains, and in the ground holes at silent night times.

The Art became widely known among the public only after the Peasant’s Revolution in Myanmar Era 1300 (A.D. 1938), due to the efforts made by Martial Art Experts.

In 1942, the trainings of the Art could be conducted extensively in parallel with the Art of self defence practiced by Japanese soldiers. With the leadership of U Ba Gyan (Chairman of Asian Youths Association), U Ba Shin (Major Ba Shin) of Asian Youth Association, Sayagyi U Pyi Thein (Martial Art Expert) and the organizing strength of Myanmar Patriotic Youths, a country wide Myanmar Martial Art Competition was held by Dr. Ba Maw Administration at Kay Bo Taing Island (now Bogyoke Park) in 1944. The first Bando and Ban Shay (other form of self defence of Myanmar) competition was held at No. 8, Ko Min Ko Chin Street (now School of Fine Arts) in 1948 and the second was held at Aung San Stadium in 1951.

Then, the Government recognized Martial Art Competitions could make the fruitful gathering of Martial Art Experts from all over the country and the Experts put in their continuous efforts in spreading the Art widely in the country. As a result, the Art has spread more widely through the activities such as demonstration of the Art to the distinguished guests from abroad and to the Chinese Wushu Experts, giving trainings at Myanmar Police Force, Myanmar Tatmadaw (Military Forces) and the Universities.

In 1963, the preparation to form the Myanmar Martial Art Federation was made with the leadership of U Zaw Weik, Former Director General of Sports. In 1965, the Department of Sports and Physical Education took the responsibilities to form Myanmar Martial Art Federation.

( Copy from MINISTRY OF SPORTS ) » MEMORY OF GRAND MASTER SAYAR GYI U PYI THEIN ( MARTIAL ART EXPERT