Expose of Dr. Mang Gyi

[Sam Browning]

I just read this very troubling discussion of Dr. Mang Gyi's false claims concerning his military record. Gyi is the founder of a martial arts organization that teaches Bando, a martial art from Burma. http://www.phonyveterans.com/Gyi.html

[Wraith]

Even if it's true what they are saying, it doesn't take away from his ability as an instructor.
I train with a member of the organization who is a fifth level in the system and even he has questioned Dr. Gyi's claims. The only thing that that bothers me about the controversy that is going on is I hope Bando as system doesn't get a bad name because of It. Bando as a martial system is a very effective system for self defense.

[Wounded Ronin]

This Page Cannot Be Displayed.

[Matsufubu]

I get the same.

[nasty_totoro]

ooopps

[Jekyll]

Try this http://www.pownetwork.org/phonies/phonies38.htm

[Fantasy Warrior]

I've never seen Bando but from what I've heard it is a lot like Muay Thai (in the great schoeme of things) and an excellent art. Pitty it's crapped on by twats making false claims.

Can't someone make him rebrand to Hapkido so that the Bando name is left untarnished?????

[Wounded Ronin]

Oh, I'd actually read that before. Yesh....

[Chronomorte]

As I can see, the site doesn't refute that he's an excellent martial-artist, just that his stories
of war and some of his history has been fabricated. That's a shame, I found the stories
inspiring and I hate to find out that someone who has the respect of quite a few other
martial artists felt it necessary to pad his resume.

Better to know the truth, though. The 'question everything' lesson is one I learn over and over.

[Blue Collar]

If I may interject; you really have to look at this issue with a discerning eye.
Bando as it it taught today is without a doubt a strong and effective system.
However; if a man lies repeatedly about his life and military service, then why wouldn't he spin yarns about his martial arts.

Bando sword and staff methods closely resemble Krabi Krabong, the Thai sword and staff/spear methods. Dr. Gyi's Burmese boxing closely resembles Muay Thai. Is this merely a coincidence of cultural similarity or an instance of plagarism? It's not impossible to pull the wool over the eyes of American martial arts enthusiasts looking for something "exclusive".

This forum has exposed many bull-shitters for what they are. Dr. Gyi just may be a bull-shitter (or a bull-shitter's bull-shitter) who was able to pull together a useful system out of things that he learned elsewhere and renamed under his own banner. It happens all the time, and the American public falls for it.

Whether or not Dr. Gyi's Bando is authentic or fabricated; and whether he is a good instructor or not, one has to wonder whether or not he is really a man of honor after he fabricated his military and personal history.