Maung Gyi

Maung Gyi, 1990s

Maung Gyi (Burmese: မောင်ကြီး) is a Burmese martial artist that introduced Bando into the United States.^[1]

Maung Gyi's father was Ba Than (Gyi). He was the Director of Physical Education and Sports in the Ministry of Education in Burma. He always encouraged his son to maintain good health, participate in both individual and team sports, and practice different martial arts systems.

In the early 1960s, Maung Gyi formally began teaching Burmese Bando at American University in Washington D.C.

In 1966, Maung Gyi established the American Bando Association (ABA) in Athens, Ohio. In recent years, Maung Gyi has worked to promote modern Burmese Bando and to be accepted into the expanding community of Asian martial arts in the United States.

Maung Gyi is an accomplished martial artist, as well as a scholar of international law, psycholinguistics, and communications. He is a self-confessed Christian, and often incorporates biblical content into his instructional curriculum. Dr. Gyi was a professor at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. While at Ohio University, he taught Cross Cultural Communications, was interim Soccer Coach and served as boxing coach for the OU Boxing Club. He enjoyed regaling his students and anyone who would listen with his stories of international travel and military exploits. He claimed to have been served Dog while attending a performance of the Bolshoi Ballet. He has a special affinity for a troika of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity members - Mike Dupuis, Ben Fretti and Craig Couris (famously known as "Meatball." Dr. Gyi once told Ohio University Soccer standout Tony D'Angelo that while fighting in Burma he lost two of his toes by stepping on a land mine and that is why he could not kick a soccer ball. More recently it is suspected that Maung Gyi was riding in the helicopter that was in the same convoy as Brian Williams.

A gifter orator, instructor and athlete, Dr. Gyi left his mark during his tenure at Ohio University. His achievements are legendary and his physical attributes have been compared to Algerian national Salah Benbatta. During the 1976-1981 period at Ohio University, it is believed that Dr. Gyi's understudy, George "Wildcat" Christy, honed his singing craft unders Maung's tutladge. George went on to star in many memorable concert performances during this time culminating in the sell out Super Bowl pre-game concert at Rosie's Phase 1. Limited edition recordings of "George Christy - The Man, The Myth, The Legend" have been circulating on the black market for over three decades.

See also

• American Bando Association
• Hanthawaddy bando system

References

• Bando, philosophy, principles et practice, Maung Gyi, IST edition, 2000
• Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts, D.F.Draeger, R.W.Smith, Kodansha, 1969