Expose of Dr. Mang Gyi

**dunlap** · Posted On: 7/15/2010 4:58pm

Just to clear a couple things up Dr. Gyi is not the founder of Bando just the ABA (American Bando Association). Thaing and the Burmese arts have a very long and rich tradition seperate from any individual.

**tgace** · Posted On: 7/15/2010 5:04pm

I believe I only said that he was credited with "bringing Bando to the United States".

**tgace** · Posted On: 7/15/2010 5:07pm

But I did catch an error where I said...

The very first and easiest refutation to all this derring do is the simple math. In Command Magazine back in 1998

I said earlier that the Command Mag issue was actually from 1992.

**tgace** · Posted On: 7/15/2010 5:54pm

Originally Posted by Blue Collar

Ah yes, but so has Muay Thai. It's influence can be seen in the martial arts of Laos and Cambodia as well. All of these regions were once property of the dynasties of Thai kings. Yet in the case of the similarities between Dr. Gyi's Bando and Thai martial arts, one has to wonder still; coincidence or plagarism?

Also, just were did Dr. Gyi's Bando get the Khukri from? Bando is from Burma, correct? The Khukri is a Nepalese blade, and the Gurkha are Nepalese (not Burmese) people. There is no small inconsistency there. These are two separate and very different geographic locations, with distinctly different inhabitants, customs and languages.

Im thinking that Dr. Gyi appropriated the Khukri either to go with his Gurkha persona OR he put on the Gurkha disguise to sell Khurki instruction and merchandise.

**tgace** · Posted On: 7/20/2010 12:46pm

Another BB Magazine Article from the 70's. Conspicuously lacking any mention of military experience.

HERE

I didn't really get into the supposed claims of Vietnam era service, but if Gyi was so busy forming the ABA, attending U of O, getting a PhD and finding a job as a college professor throughout the 60's; I can't see where he would have found the time to romp around Southeast Asia. I'm fairly sure that his employment records would show a leave of absence or a break in study if he had.

**Craig Jenkins** · Posted On: 7/20/2010 1:46pm

Nothing substantial, but in case it takes you anywhere.

FWIW, POWNetwork tried to disseminate information about this fraud in Jun 2008 via the Wikipedia page.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...ldid=226534851

Interestingly, nowhere in the history of the article is there a claim of military service. Same goes for the 1996 Inside Kung Fu article
http://www.bandoofnewengland.com/Doc...vethecrowd.pdf

This notice posted on the Myanmar Embassy site does not mention military service. It does however suggest that he was learning his martial arts in the 40s & 50s under a specific set of instructors in Burma.
http://www.mewashingtondc.com/Burmes...in_America.pdf

**tgace** · Posted On: 7/20/2010 2:45pm

Originally Posted by Craig Jenkins

Nothing substantial, but in case it takes you anywhere.

FWIW, POWNetwork tried to disseminate information about this fraud in Jun 2008 via the Wikipedia page.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...ldid=226534851

Interestingly, nowhere in the history of the article is there a claim of military service. Same goes for the 1996 Inside Kung Fu article
http://www.bandoofnewengland.com/Doc...vethecrowd.pdf

This notice posted on the Myanmar Embassy site does not mention military service. It does however suggest that he was learning his martial arts in the 40s & 50s under a specific set of instructors in Burma.
http://www.mewashingtondc.com/Burmes...in_America.pdf

Thanks. Interestingly enough, that BB Mag from 1972 was the only publication where he gave his age. I wonder if thats coincidence or if he began playing games with the math shortly thereafter.

**Craig Jenkins** · Posted On: 7/20/2010 3:03pm

This tribute bio says he was trained by a WWII vet, not that he was one
http://www.shimabuku.com/sensei/othe.../maunggyi.html

This one does not reference birthdate but still has the claim of military service (indirect claim since it's a student repeating it)
http://markdhoffman.com/chetbuffingt...dohistory.html

This one gives birthdate of 1923
http://www.typesofmartialarts.com/maunggyi

**tgace** · Posted On: 7/20/2010 3:09pm

I have seen some Bando sites with his birth date being moved back into the 20's too...I have to wonder if it's an attempt of the "followers" to try and validate the stories or from Dr. Gyi himself?

**Craig Jenkins** · Posted On: 7/20/2010 3:21pm

Hard to say, but I've seen his father's birthdate as 1905, so that certainly doesn't rule out 1923 (father 17/18). Of course we have no real solid reference for that date either.