Maung Gyi, also known as Dr. Maung Gyi, is a martial artist who introduced Bando Thaing to the United States after World War II. Bando Thaing is a Burmese martial art that combines Karate kicking techniques and Judo influenced swordsmanship, fighting and throwing techniques.
This Burmese expert of Bando Thaing was born in Burma in 1923 and grew up with is father, Ba Than, who was the Director of Physical Education and Sports in the Ministry of Education in Burma. He formed the International Bando Association in Burma after World War II in 1946. With his father’s support and encouragement, Maung Gyi quickly became involved in playing team sports and participating in individual sports along with studying and practicing martial arts. He learned the techniques of Bando Thaing and soon perfected them. Not only did Gyi practice martial arts, he also studied other fields including international law, psycholinguistics and communications.
It wasn’t until the 1960s that Gyi brought his expertise to the United States and began teaching the Burmese martial art at the American University in Washington D.C. After a few years, he established the American Bando Association in Athens, Ohio and he was also a professor at the Ohio University.
One of Maung Gyi’s most popular styles of Bando Thaing is the Hanthawaddy Bando System which is still taught today. His techniques are inspired by traditional Burmese martial arts but have different variations and influences from American teachings. He has been a large influence in the United States for promoting Bando Thaing into Asian martial arts communities and is admired as a leading expert in 20th century Bando Thaing.