Bando Systems
According to documents of the Venerable Mogok Sayadaw (1911), tribes and clans of Northern India, Southwestern China, and Southern Tibet migrated into the lands now known as Myanmar [formerly known as Burma] 1000 years before the birth of Christ Jesus. With its dense jungles, high mountains and hostile weather, survival was very difficult. Some of these tribes developed systems of survival based on observations of indigenous animals that evolved over thousands of years. These ancient tribesmen were animists, worshiping nature and practicing shamanism. Since there was no written language at the time, they developed Myths, Ceremonies, and Rituals to pass on the knowledge to their young, insuring the tribe’s survival.
One of the earliest tribal rituals was to perform animal dances such as the Eagle dance, the Cobra dance, the Tiger dance, and etc. Tribal warriors began to add to these dances techniques of strikes, blocks, traps, jumps and rolls, imitating the movements of animals.
This knowledge provided information and guidelines for the tribe members to live by. Besides medical and seasonal information, it also provided the strategies and methods for hunting food and protecting the tribe from hostile raiders.
As time passed, these protective or combative strategies and techniques were passed from generation to generation through myths (stories), dance and rituals. They continued to mature over hundreds of years and became a deadly fighting system. However, with invasion of Myanmar [Burma] by the British in the 1800’s, many of these systems along with their teachers disappeared during British colonial rule beginning in the 19th Century and following World War II.
Many systems were lost, but in the 1940’s the National Bando Association under the direction of Grandmaster U Ba Than Gyi brought together the masters of the various animal systems to reorganize and systematize the ancient fighting arts of ancient Burma. Only nine systems were introduced to the United States by Grandmaster U Ba Than’s son, Dr. Maung Gyi.
Grandmaster U Ba Than Gyi began to see that once these foundational principles could be discerned, articulated and removed from needlessly mythic contexts, a hierarchy of principles, strategies, tactics and techniques could be constructed. This would provide, he reasoned, a coherent, comprehensive, and consistent approach to martial disciplines across virtually all-stylistic lines. The Elder Gyi established this structure. He organized, sifted, and classified his tremendous wealth of knowledge gained from hundreds of masters over many years.
In Elder U Ba Than Gyi’s approach, a set of combative behaviors was termed as a system. The system dealt with offense, defense, counter-offence and the like. The system consistently utilized the pervasive and sound underlying principles Dr. Gyi’s father had discovered to formulate reasoned responses within a chosen context. For example, this meant that a large and heavy man chose Bull or Python.
Elder Gyi removed other indigenous components of the behaviors that he felt were not necessary to understanding and manifesting the underlying principles. An example of these “removed” components could be beliefs in numerology, astrology and various superstitions.
Instead of creating a new mythology, the Elder Gyi took what we might recognize as a very Western and scholarly approach. He utilized the animal systems he constructed as a composite framework for particular strategic thoughts, tactical decisions and physiological weapon selection. But why did he choose animal systems to be the expository mechanism for his unique synthesis of fundamental cross-style principles? Why not a geranium style?
The answer remains rooted in myth shared cross-culturally down to the present day in numerous cultures, and across racial/ethnic boundaries. For example, there is the powerful German Eagle (and the American Eagle), the Russian Bear. Further, family crests in Europe feature animals of certain types as symbols for the family unit.
Dr. Gyi explains that we can only conclude, therefore, that a fundamental and powerful part of the human psyche is clearly fascinated with and identifies with animals.
Grandmaster U Ba Than Gyi chose the animal systems as unique repositories of the various principles for a wide variety of reasons, not the least of which was a three-fold analysis of why martial artists had instinctively imitated animals historically. First, there seemed to be a mystical attachment to certain animals along historic and cultural lines which increased the likelihood of students undertaking rigorous training to master the system. Second, we are humans feel in awe for these animals and the grace of their motions. Thirdly, we feel that by acting as an animal, we escape from ourselves and in turn liberate ourselves from societal strictures of behavior and response. We liberate our instinctive levels of personal physical capabilities, what other systems may attribute to chi, ki, or prana energy.
Each animal possesses different characteristics in size, strength, stamina, weapons, and targets. Their fighting and survival strategies are unique to the animal’s temperament and spirit. We study animal systems for 2 reasons:
- To understand their survival strategies as predators and prey
2. To emulate their movements so as to improve one’s martial skills
| Animal form | Characteristic |
| Tiger | Clawing attacks |
| Eagle | Striking and blocking with both hands |
| Cobra | Attacks to the upper vital points |
| Panther | Taught by some teachers as a combination of all the animal forms |
| Bull | Charging strikes and tackling |
| Viper | Attacks to the lower vital points |
| Python | Chokes and locks |
| Scorpion | Pinching and seizing nerve centers |
Tiger
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bando Animal Systems
The Tiger is an apex predator as well as a stealthy fighter. It is lean and powerful with quick cat reflexes. Its main weapons are its fangs, claws, and leaping ability to over power its prey. It is considered the top of the food chain in the animal kingdom. Of course, in the Bando animal systems the development of the weapon is the number one priority. Without development of these weapons, the tiger is simply a pussycat. The main targets are the eyes, the throat, and the groin with entries from the front, the side, and the back. The tiger system consists of simple locks, simple steps, and simple traps. The tiger practitioner must have great leaping ability to be able to spring on its opponent.
When studying the Tiger system, the practitioner will learn the following three points:
- How to find the target
- How to get the target
- What weapons to use on the targets
Each animal system has its own matrix. Which consists of: (9 x 9), (6 x 6), and (3 x 3) matrices. The level of experience will dictate which matrix is used; high level, middle level, or low level. The matrix consists of: 1) Stances, 2) Steps, 3) Body Angles, 4) Blocks, 5) Strikes, 6) Kicks, 7) Falls or Rolls, 8) Grabs, and 9) Throws.
For the Bando practitioner, individual body composition plays a key role in determining which animal system that is best suited for the individual. For example, if you are 5’9” tall and weigh 235 pounds, you are more suited to the Bull system. Similarly, if you are 5’10” tall and weigh 165 pounds, you are more similar in composition to the Tiger. The Tiger is very strong, fast, flexible, and agile. A student of the Tiger system must be able to combine speed, agility, and power in order to feature the whole system. With this basic understanding of the animal system, the student can begin to train in the mannerisms of the Tiger.
In learning the Bando Tiger System, these categories are the key to developing not only the Tiger System, but also any animal Bando System. The Hanthawaddy Animal Systems of Bando are the only thing that differentiates Bando from other martial arts systems. That is why we are making a very strong effort to keep these beautiful systems alive.
Eagle
bando Animal Systems
There are nine major animals systems in the Bando system and eight out of the nine animal systems represent animals or reptiles that live solely on the ground. The ancient Bando Eagle system is the only Bando Animal System representing a bird of prey where the sky is its domain.
The Eagle system is driven by three unique attributes that set it apart from the other systems.
1. Wings – which give it the swift and agile abilities for flight or fight;
2. Talons – which give it the gripping power to kill and carry its prey.
3. Beak – which allows it to cut or tear its food for survival.
The Eagle is an excellent symbol of nature with strong qualities of being courageous, swift, and agile. An Eagle practitioner, in their attempt to emulate this regal animal, must also possess similar abilities of unrelenting, continuous, agile, fast movements through defensive stepping, covering, and blocking techniques. The Eagle practitioner learns the art of breaking the balance of their opponent as well as deflection of their weapons for counter attack. The Eagle practitioner also strives to capture the disposition, or psychology of the animal; its qualities of pride, courage, honor, and aloofness. Similarly, practitioners of the Eagle system although varied much like the Eagles themselves are typically of smaller physical stature than the practitioners of the Tiger, Python and most certainly the bull systems and must employ different tactics to defend against, control and incapacitate an opponent. The combination of these specific attributes and weaknesses dictate the philosophy of the Eagle system.
Compared to other predatory animals the body of the Eagle is relatively small. It cannot rely on its body size alone to overwhelm its prey and to defend from attack. It must leverage its attributes of sight, speed, flight and wingspan to survive. In representing the magnificent span of its wings the Eagle system commands an authority of accuracy and proper distancing whereby long to medium range attacks and two-handed blocks and strikes are controlled through the use of footwork and body movement.
Defensively, footwork and body movement are combined with two-handed blocks and parries to safely move into position from where counter strikes can be made. Stepping in the Eagle system is done to support the need for middle to long-range offense and defense. It is very difficult for the Eagle to deliver its long-range weapons in close combat. Therefore, proper stepping is essential for the success in maintaining these ranges. The body position of the Eagle student is usually square with body agility for leaning, twisting and turning during offensive and defensive postures. Body turns, leans and sways are done to evade or deflect strikes and holds or to generate power for wing strikes.
Offensively, striving to imitate this bird of prey, the practitioner uses their limbs as the Eagles’ wings, fingers as the Eagles’ talons and hands woven together to represent the Eagles’ beak. The wings (palms and forearms) are used to stun, parry, trap or strike, the talons (fingers) are used to hold, crush or grab and the beak (clasped hands) is used to pierce, tear or rip. Two-handed strikes are used to confuse and to strike deep into target areas. Targets are small vital areas, those that will quickly incapacitate and opponent so as to neutralize a threat quickly before harm can come to ones self.
The hand movements in the Eagle system involve full circle, half circle or straight patterns to emulate the wings of the bird with blocking, striking, or trapping. More than 90% of the movements are made with two hands to block, strike or trap. Both hands are used simultaneously or alternately when blocking, trapping or striking.
An Eagle has very acute vision and its targets must be precise and accurate. The major target areas are the high (eyes, throat and face), middle (spine, kidneys and solar plexus), and low targets (groin, inside thigh and instep/toes). The Eagle practitioner will often attack two or more targets simultaneously. Just as an Eagle will coordinate his speed and timing of flight with eyesight and grabbing so must the Eagle system practitioner learn to coordinate the use of their legs and arms while stepping, spinning or sweeping. The Eagle student soon learns that just as an Eagle misses his target on the first attack not all techniques will be effective in one attempt. Therefore, there are numerous secondary attacks built into every attack. If the initial attempt was unsuccessful an immediate secondary shot will then be thrown. In many instances a feint is made first to distract or deceive the opponent with the secondary intended as a follow-up or finishing blow. The expansive limbs of the Eagle are used to be an effective deceptive move in fighting. One might feign with one hand and then strike with the other hand; or feint with the foot and then strike with the hands; or feint with the hands and kick or sweep with the foot.
As with all of the Bando Animal systems, training in the Bando Eagle system requires diligent practice and dedication through a variety of drills and exercises. Many of these drills are done for conditioning and strengthening of the weapons, drills for coordination and balance through stepping and stances, drills for proper breath for striking, drills for speed and sight for accuracy and timing, and drills for offense and defensive tactics. The Bando Eagle system includes an extensive curriculum of techniques and principles and takes years to master.
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Cobra
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bando Animal Systems
Not wanting direct contact (or the possibility of a brawl), the Cobra is instinctively quick & angular in the prosecution of technique and approaches attacking & defensive technique from the most obscure angels and body positions, relative to the opponent. The fastest of the animal systems, it is capable of striking and “injecting venom” at least six times within one second, ensuring that a ‘kill strike’ is hidden within at least one of the strike repertoire. As it prefers not to engage and make direct contact with the opponent, the Cobra System practitioner is taught to kill with one strike, targeting directly, with uncanny precision, nerve centers or clusters. As a nerve system animal, the Cobra attacks with multiple strikes that are so fast it is impossible not to be hit, or defend, only to be struck with a shot that is never seen. Nerves and nerve centers are attacked with extreme precision, targeting vital points designed to cripple motor, nerve and vital functions of the body.
The Cobra practitioner trains to develop single strike blows that can blind or deafen the opponent, using a ‘knee-up’ approach in its motion forward, it advances and also employs quick, snapping arm breaks – especially breaking a punching arm or kicking leg — rather than just blocking it, it will strike the incoming extremity and render it useless. The Cobra practitioner trains by breaking ping pong balls for speed, power and accuracy, boards for focused power and later on, stone with just one of the two main weapons (knuckles – index and middle) that represent the Cobra’s Fang. Cobra strikes are not just an attack to the eyes, or nerve centers, but one that can hit a man’s chest as hard as with a fist, and with only one knuckle, but with more penetration and PSI delivered.
The striking system is extensive and detailed incorporating ‘extreme velocity’ striking methods, including the knowledge of the nervous system, which is very detailed. While the Python practitioner trains to damage a large area on the body, the Cobra trains to attack a much smaller (medium) areas on the body, but more deeply.
The Cobra practitioner trains to employ a special hiss, which acts to place the Cobra specialist in a state of self-hypnosis-like body-numbness where there is no pain during the fight. The Hiss is also designed to exert a hypnotic chill of terror on the opponent and often immobilizes and affects actions by itself alone.
The Cobra system relies not only on speed and accuracy, which are critical for the execution of cobra strikes, but also in its ability, once in, to ‘inject the venom’ by the debilitate infliction of pressure by the middle knuckle to targeted nerve areas. Cobra seeks out small, well-defined targets and vital points, with the raised knuckle fist used for quick strikes to the eyes, temple and side of the jaw area. The Cobra system also comprises long-range techniques that are employed by the toe of the foot (with shoes on) in the same manner and speed, as you would see a cobra coiling back and lashing out before its deadly strike.
Target areas are the nerves behind the kneecap or lashing kicks to the kidney or spleen and to the vital point of the neck.
Panther
bando Animal Systems
The Black Panther System is one of the nine major animal systems practiced by in the Bando System. Ancient Burmese masters began studying and imitating panther movements hundreds of years ago and developed explosive and strong fighting techniques based upon the study of the Black Panther. An efficient fighting system is the result. Evasion is a major part of the system…footwork and stances provide the basis for evasion and explosive long-range attacks. There are low, medium and high stances…the panther fights from all levels…and close, medium and long-range attacks. A cat stance where most of the weight is on the stylist’s back leg, allows forward, backward and lateral movement. Springing backward, forward and laterally are parts of the evasive strategies for moving just beyond the enemy’s reach.
In Bando, once one achieves the rank of Black Belt, it is the time to select and to begin training in one of the nine major Bando animal Styles: Tiger, Panther, Cobra, Python, Viper, Scorpion, Eagle, Bull and Boar. Certain weapons, targets, techniques and fighting strategies as well as specific physical, mental and philosophical attributes characterize each of these animal styles. In choosing an animal style, one must insure that the requisite physical, mental and philosophical characteristics of the chosen animal style coincide with those of the practitioner. A common mistake is to choose an intellectually appealing animal style for which one may lack the potential to acquire the requisite characteristics.
Critical attributes of a successful Panther stylist are exceptional strength, speed, flexibility, stealth, stamina and adaptability.
The panther is the ultimate pragmatist…whatever is required to survive will be done. It exhibits supreme efficiency in its actions…it only uses techniques that promise the greatest chance of success. One of the methods the Panther uses to increase the likelihood of success is to use simple, powerful techniques in a unique way. Panthers in nature are infamous for appearing silently, unexpectedly and then disappearing so quickly and completely that people wonder if the panther was really there…if they are lucky enough to survive.
The panther is the epitome of adaptability. It must be able to operate in all environments, using stealth, skill and specialized knowledge to survive. The panther is the ultimate survivalist…certainly excellent survival skills are needed to be able to exist in all the different environments that the panther uses.
The three most important principles that define a panther’s approach to survival are safety, escape and deception. Safety is paramount for the panther…an injured panther may not be able to hunt and will starve…or it may become sick from the injury and be unable to defend itself from its enemies…or it may simply die from the injury. Escape and deception help the panther insure its safety.
Some animals, such as the tiger, will hunt not only for food but for sport – the tiger may kill for no apparent reason other than to simply kill. The panther kills to survive – either for food or in self-defense – it does not risk injury for the sake of sport.
Some animals when confronted will make a display to discourage further attack…this display may involve physical posturing, such as a King Cobra when it rears up to face a threat, or sound, such as the roar of a tiger that is startled. The panther is a silent killer…it does not want its prey to be aware of its presence…it attacks with speed and surprise.
Some animals employ a gradation of attacks against an enemy…the python may simply grasp its prey within its coils and hold it…or it may crush it. The cobra sometimes strikes prey with a closed mouth…injection of venom is not always part of an attack. For the panther there are only two choices…no attack or death.
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Bull
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bando Animal Systems
The Bull system is not for everyone. There are some subtle prerequisites, such as proper attitude. Like a beast of burden, a Bull practitioner must be willing to both build and abuse his body in a systematic manner. Black is the official color of the Bando system, but the unofficial colors of the bull system are black and blue — for the bruises a student must endure while training. Additionally, the Bull student should not be prone to unnecessary aggression. Like a real Bull, he is not a predator; he should be tolerant of others — up to the point of “trespass”. The practitioner’s body type is also important. “If you want to study the Bull system,” Dr. M. Gyi explains, “you’ve must have a big bone structure and muscles to be able to take the shock of impact”.
Bull training builds hardened weapons that have no specific targets. Through the slow, systematic toughening of the skin, muscle and bone, a student’s fist, forearms and elbows become “horns,” and his shins and feet become “hooves.”
Although a Bull stylist’s fighting techniques are somewhat slower than those of other animal systems, his use of full body power and hardened weapons, plus his willingness to strike his adversary’s bone’s, joints and spine, makes him a significant threat to any attacker.
The Bando Bull stylist also incorporates body-hardening methods into his training. By practicing techniques against the “bull post” and the “bull bag,” students get the abusive impact training necessary to hone their “horns” and “hooves.”
Bull practitioners force themselves to endure pain and use correct techniques in a specific pull / twist / turn motion. They gradually increase the number of repetitions and the power of their blows as their bodies toughen. The training must be maintained on a regular basis otherwise the bodies conditioning will degenerate. In addition to body-toughening drills, Bull stylists must perform strength-building exercises that promote “body lock” — the instantaneous tightening of muscles and joints — which adds support to a powerful technique upon impact with a solid object. In addition to other exercise routines, Bando stylists build strength by lifting logs and scaling ropes.
Proper breathing is extremely important in each of the Bando Animal Systems. By keeping air low in his lungs, the Bull practitioner is able to deliver up to six techniques in one breath. Further distinguishing the Bull system from other Bando animal styles is it lack of specific targets. In the Bull system, everything is a target. A “horn” punch that might be used to break an opponent’s neck could, from a different angle, also be employed to “gore” or scoop up an attacker’s leg.
Because of his use of the body-lock technique and low breathing, a Bull practitioner’s punches can become as powerful as his kicks. His thrusting kicks are generally low stomping maneuvers delivered no higher than the opponent’s abdomen or floating ribs. Provoked into violence, a Bull stylist might just as soon as punch or elbow an opponent’s incoming kick as to hit any other part of his foe’s body. Even the Bull system’s six basic blocks are intended to strike an incoming arm or leg. The Bull system, with its emphasis on middle and short-range techniques, makes full use of the “weapons destruction” principle. The Bando Bull system includes a “tornado” technique, in which the Bull stylist spins toward his opponent and delivers a shin kick/front-hand smash followed by a rear – hand hook punch and/or sweeping kick to the back of the thigh. The Bull practitioner locks his body as he executes a powerful spin of up to 360 degrees. The air around him becomes filled with his flesh and bone “debris” and threatens anybody within his turning radius.
In the lesser-known Burmese art of Bando, there are nine subsystems patterned after animals. The most noteworthy of these is the bull style, which offers the most powerful animal techniques in Bando.
Viper
bando Animal Systems
A more linear striker than the Cobra, the Viper is a point-to-point fighter that tends to beat the opponent to the shot or strike directly off the block. As the proverbial counter striker, the Viper hits hard and fast, never wasting time with fancy techniques. It gets the job done quickly and moves on. By adopting the fluidity of the Viper allows the specialist to entwine with their opponents in defense and strike them from angles they wouldn’t expect in offense.
The Viper has single high-speed techniques designed to combat more than one opponent. The pain from the screams of one so hit has a terrifying effect on that assailant’s companions. His actions look like the Cobra, but it is short, fast, confusing, ever-changing, arising out of a seemingly peaceful placid position where the Cobra explodes into the enemy’s face or body.
His training is to work on medium range. His body weapon conditioning is to work on medium range strikes. The Viper is a counter-fighter and must be able to strike an opponent with substance-breaking power with a flurry of moves (3 to 5 moves in a second from the same hand, or 2 to 4 moves with both hands in a second). This is applied to multiple kicks as well. The Viper uses Viper hiss-breathing to momentarily numb pain when struck. His whole body is not toughened, but rather he learns to send his (Chi) mental force to an area for an instant to absorb and repel an attacker’s strike.
The Viper has single-strike, high-speed techniques designed to combat more than one opponent in a single encounter. The pain from the screams of one so hit has a terrifying effect on that assailant’s companions! His actions look similar to that of the Cobra but are shorter, fast, confusing and constantly changing, arising out of a seemingly peaceful placid position where the Cobra explodes into the enemy’s face or body.
It is conservative in its’ footwork (trident stepping pattern) preferring not to move too far from its’ prey, requiring great skill in body swaying, twisting, turning, to avoid blows and at the same time, generate coiling power for strikes.
Like its’ names sake, it strikes hard and deep with it’s characteristic pressured strikes to vulnerable areas of the human body. The combination of the penetrating weapons and specific targets are meant to mimic the effects of the Vipers deadly venom. Viper venom is primarily Hemotoxic, attacking the blood, vessels and organs of it’s prey hence the characteristic heart, joints, and liver strikes of this martial system. The Viper venom also contains neurotoxins that attack the nervous system and are the impetus for the Viper systems nerve strikes.
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Python
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bando Animal Systems
The Python is a military system that was time tested in combat. Combat techniques are designed for their highest effect (casualty / death) with minimal effort in the least amount of time. Only 10 percent of the Python can be applied to martial sports and self-defense use because of its military applications. This is the basis of so much secrecy surrounding these systems and why masters are slow to teach such techniques. These systems, to survive and withstand the test of time in real wartime combat, have much more to them than just kicking and punching alone. Every martial system can be examined by its basic structure elements.
Where did the model for these martial systems originate? The eastern cultures strive for harmony with nature and its great forces. There is no better model for a fighting system than the perfect killing machines found in nature. Animals, like the python, have evolved and adapted to survive for thousands of years. How does man take these behavioral traits and qualities and form a fighting system for humans?
To understand the Python Martial System of Bando, you must deal with its mythological foundation. The myth and symbolism of serpents and other animals play an important role in most cultures in Burma.
The snake or serpent has a long history of myths and cultural perceptions in eastern and western societies. In Christian society, the snake myth is perceived as evil and temptation through the Bible. In some eastern societies, the snake myth symbolizes fertility and renewal of life.
Through these myths, humans project various meanings toward animals and attach certain behaviors. Every country or culture uses animals symbolically to represent different meanings. For example, the wolf myth in American culture symbolizes cleverness, independence, etc.; the American Eagle stands for power, strength, etc.
The Python Martial System has it’s own mythic qualities and symbolism of the giant Burmese Python constrictor snake. When we establish the governing foundation of, and the highest level of meanings of the myths and symbolism of the python snake, we will equal the basic underlying philosophy of this animal system.
Animal systems can be understood on a basic level in these terms: Philosophy, Principles, and Practices. The philosophical foundation is the basic structure or building block of any martial system. Without this there would be no proper principles or practices. The purpose of training animal systems is to understand how that animal adapts to nature and environment and to understand their survival techniques and principles. These behaviors are what humans seek to imitate for a fighting system. Mankind has always lived in harmony with nature as we try to use animals as a reflection of ourselves. The purpose of training Bando is to honor the great animals that we give to the mythic interpretations. The philosophy of the Python System is derived from the laws of nature that govern them in the environment. Laws of limitations, likewise, govern the python. Man’s brain helps him transcend some of these laws of nature, but not all of then.
In the Python System, we are trying to develop knowledge by understanding that every animal system is controlled by a certain set of laws. The python practitioner must find out what are these laws and how appropriate and useful they are to us humans for a martial system. Certain animals are meat eaters and some are vegetarians. The python is basically a meat eater. All meat-eating animals need to develop and have skills and techniques to control or capture their prey. This is where the principles and practices come into play. There is no way a tiger can be taught to be a vegetarian. Its own laws of limitations govern the python. Principles of different animals can be understood by looking at who is their prey and how do they stalk it. The tiger’s weapons are claws, teeth and its weight. The cobra uses its fangs and poison. The bull uses its horns, hoofs, weight and strength. The python uses its striking ability to stun and its great constricting power.
Weapons are the key to an animal’s survival. If the weapons are injured, the animal is doomed to die. The nature of weapons is the essence of all offensive techniques. Without proper weapons, there is no martial system. To excel in the python system, you must strive to advance to the best physical and mental state and get practitioners in top physical condition by the imitations of principles of animals. The python man must study the structure and anatomy of the snake, learn it’s philosophy and characteristics of striking and constricting power. These python practices or drills are the essence of the system not just techniques to be memorized. The weapons must be developed. In the python system a strike has more purpose than just a hit, a stunning blow, or pre-technique, which precedes a grab or wrap. Grabs in the python have three purposes: 1) so the prey cannot escape (e.g. grabbing the limbs, arms, legs, etc.), 2) to develop constriction or asphyxiation (e.g. to the body, neck and mouth), and 3) breaking techniques to cause death.
Humans imitate pythons by responding appropriately to a fighting situation in context to many factors like environment; first of all by choosing amongst the three levels of behavior. These contextual behaviors are applied techniques to produce certain results.
Scorpion
bando Animal Systems
The Scorpion combines patience, stealth, and precision as it transforms a hapless rodent or bird into a hearty meal. The prey is easily defeated by a progressive attack that begins with the strategic trapping of limbs and ends with a fatal injection of poison. Scorpion masters in ancient China, Tibet, India and Burma took their lessons directly from nature, reflecting in this unique style of fighting the survival strategy of the deadly scorpion.
Tactically a grappling system, the Scorpion Style is one of the nine “animal” combat methods incorporated in the American Bando Association. Seizing and holding techniques that simulate the hunting patterns of actual scorpions characterize the Scorpion System. Striking methods within this style are designed to produce a “poisonous” effect on the nerves and muscles of humans-again, to simulate the scorpion’s hunting pattern.
The scorpion style in Bando has evolved into a sophisticated combat approach, which combines the scorpion’s fighting instincts and temperament. Some martial artists might attempt to compare the scorpion style with the better-known praying mantis style practiced in Chinese systems. But, the two styles have very little in common. In reality, the scorpion style is closely linked with two other animal styles in Bando that derive their techniques from poisonous animals – the Cobra and Viper styles. Also, many weapons and techniques found within the Bando Eagle style are closely linked with scorpion approaches.
Scorpion fighting behaviors are imitated by combining human limbs into trapping, pressing and pinching motions. Fingers, knuckles, palms, elbows and knees. Scorpion stylists to gain control in a fight use even the head and chin.
Three types of targets are definite in the scorpion style, with highest priority given to areas where penetrating strikes are most effective. Primary targets are the eyes, throat, and groin. Most often, hand weapons are used against these primary targets, and the goal is to puncture or pinch highly sensitive areas. When primary targets are well protected, the scorpion stylist will attack nerves in the arms, leg and torso to cause pain that can weaken an opponent. Bone, muscle, and skin nerves are likely to be attacked during combat, depending on an opponent’s position. There are even nerves in the hands and feet that can be pinched or struck with disabling results. Whenever possible strikes and pinches will be executed to immobilize weapons or to injure targets that will stop an opponent.
Conditioning methods common to many martial systems are used in the scorpion style. Weight training, aerobic conditioning, stretching and calisthenics are all used to improve performance. There are, however, specific training which enhance the effectiveness of various techniques. Specialized training approaches are used to improve flexibility of the wrists and to increase hand strength for effective grappling and striking. Weights and customized devices are used to enhance wrist motion and strength. Striking drills with coarse sand or gravel are helpful for conditioning fingers and knuckles for the pinching techniques. Also, leather and vinyl targets are used in striking drills to simulate the skin, soft bones and muscles of an opponent. Other training methods involved striking and grabbing bags filled with sand, using various leg and arm techniques.
The Scorpion style is comprehensive and complex, yet the principles are readily obtained from the animal. In the true spirit of Bando, nature serves as a teacher to those martial practitioners who follow the Scorpion.
Bando Articles (lethweiamerica.com) (2014) An Exploration of the Bando System (Journal of Asian Martial Arts, vol. 23 2014) pg 16,17