Giving Back to the Veterans

One of the key points of the American Bando Association is "to honor the veterans who fought and died in the Burma-China-India [CBI] Theatre of World War II in the Burma campaign." To me, this means honoring all of the veterans of all the wars in which men and women devoted and sacrificed their lives to protecting what they loved.

My friend, Jesse, was selected to partake in the Warrior Hike this year. It is a mission to "Walk Off the War". These 10 men and women were chosen to hike the Appalachian Trail, and to spread the word about the need for added support for our own veterans.

Jesse has been hiking since March 17th, 2014. I have known Jesse since 2010, when we worked together at a local motorcycle shop. And in these four years, I have come to know a strong, charismatic, fun-loving man who is fiercely devoted to his family. To know him, and to be considered his friend, is an honor.

The American Bando Association is hosting a national tournament on May 23rd, 2014, in Virginia, just about the time that Jesse is going to be passing through Virginia. After leaving the tournament that Saturday, I will be finding transportation to meet him on the Appalachian Trail, and to help him with the "Virginia Blues" (named so because the hike through Virginia is somewhere around 500 miles). My intention is to hike somewhere in the nature of 100 miles with him.

This is my way of giving back to the Men and Women who have supported my personal freedoms by giving their lives. I can't say to everyone to come out there and meet us on the trail, but I can encourage you to support the Warrior Hike.

"I do and give, because I can. And given that I can, therefore: I must."

Unveling

What is said, I'll hear, and believe as a half-truth. What isn't said and heard is what speaks the ultimate truth.

I'm coming to the realization that those I've chosen to surround myself with (old friends) aren't what I remember them as.

I realize now that "the old alliances are dead." (King Theoden). I no longer fit into the old social circle I used to believe I belonged to, and subsequently dedicated myself to.

There comes many times in a person's life that they start to see the truth that's been surrounding them. "Let the truth have its day." (Alfred Pennyworth).

I've elected to retreat into myself and evolve, much like the caterpillar makes a cocoon and emerges a butterfly. This seems that it should be done no less than every 3 years. Bando bases itself on the 3-6-9 principle, and is thus engrained in the psyche of all humans.

Look at how we choose to believe something. A person can show us one, then two examples, and we're still skeptical of the facts laid before us. But when proof #3 appears, we're all in. Watch a few movies/TV shows and you'll see what I mean.

The whole point of this rant is that I've realized where I am, and taken time to see what surrounds me. I am no longer one of the old friends. I'm an outcast. I don't fit into the mold. Like a smaller square peg fitting into a larger round hole. It fits, but it isn't quite right.

This doesn't mean there's anything wrong with me (or you). It means that I've changed, and where I once went no longer takes me as I am. And so, I must move on.

There is no animosity here, nor should there be. We changed. We grew. And We no longer fit. It's time for me to take the path that's been laid out for me. And I don't give a damn if you like it or not.

The Bando Viper System in a Nutshell

The Viper system of Bando is one of the nine survival systems that have been passed down through the generations to us through Grand Master Dr. Maung Gyi. It is not a sport or for play, but a serious martial system. Like the other Bando Animal systems it has a unique underlying philosophy, along with its’ own principles and practices—which have been derived from the survival characteristics of the animal Vipers.  

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, 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, Joint and Liver strikes of this martial system. But Viper venom also contains neurotoxins that attack the nervous system and are the impetus for the Viper systems nerve strikes.

Copied directly from www.americanbandoassociation.com/animal-systems/viper

Recognizing Evil

A few months ago, our group encountered someone we thought could help get the Bando system some publicity. The reality of the situation was quite far from that.

We had a woman who worked at a radio station offer to bring us on to chat with us over a seminar that we're putting together. Free publicity? Hell yeah. Helping victims of abuse? Even better. But this issue hit a little too close to home with our new "friend" at the radio show, and we found out quickly she was still violently bitter towards the man who had abused her. And this venom was now coming about to attempt to infect anything around her.

In our final meeting with this woman, I let the other two do the talking, and I sat and paid attention. I watched her body language, listened to the inflections and intonation of her voice, picked apart the words she used, and when I did speak, I made sure that I didn't let her run me over. Her intent the entire time was to control not only the situation, but our instructor so that she could essentially control us. We all picked up on it, but I got to the point that I was going to snap, and stood up from the table and left, then kept an eye out for my Brothers as they went to leave.

Sometimes it's difficult to recognize evil. Sometimes, they aren't as transparent as this woman. Sometimes, you encounter someone that is so well-versed at manipulating people, they may not ever even realize that they're doing it. So which is more dangerous?

A man who consciously manipulates people for a specific goal?
Or a man who manipulates everyone around him and has no clue he's doing it?

I'm not going to debate which is worse, it's just a thought to chew on. I am saying that when you recognize someone is manipulating you, it boils down to one thing: Control. All I can say is take back your power and stop letting them control you. Realization is the first step, strength is the next.

Wolves, Sheep and Sheepdogs

Who are the wolves?
The criminals and the terrorists in our world are the wolves. They prey upon the sheep. The wolves commit nightmarish crimes for reasons which are perfectly justified in their twisted minds. These wolves do not kill, rape and torture to survive. They do these things because they are truly evil. 
The wolves in our society will commit horrible crimes against the sheep every single day and night. We all know this. If we are not prepared to confront these predators then we are simply plodding through life, hoping that the wolf will select another. Our citizenry has largely become a flock of sheep who cower when the wolf comes, secretly relieved when some other sheep is selected by the wolf.
We lock our doors and we watch our children because of wolves. We form neighborhood watch groups and pay taxes to support a police department because we know that wolves are real. We put up with airport security procedures and police check points because we have seen the carnage caused by wolves. We support an Army to fight wolves all around the world. We educate our children regarding the danger of wolves and how to avoid them. Our lives are affected by the threat of wolves every single day. 
The economic cost of incarcerating wolves is staggering. The wars we are waging against wolves have drained our nation's blood and treasure. Wolves are the things of which nightmares are made. There are such things as monsters. We see them on the news every evening and some of us will see them up close and having done so, we may never be the same. 

Who are the sheep?
Most people are sheep. They accept no responsibility for the safety and protection of themselves, their families or their flock. When sheep live their lives hoping that they will not be taken by the wolf and yet knowing that the wolf is going to take someone, the sheep are in effect hoping that the wolf will take their neighbor. Is hoping that the wolf will take someone else a strategy? Is it moral? Is it Christian? Is it American? How did Americans come to this deplorable state of deciding to be sheep? Sheep foolishly pretend that someone else will always be there to protect them. Many Americans complain constantly about the "Nanny State," where the government attempts to provide everything for everyone, while taking our freedoms in the process. Yet these same people expect the government to provide them with personal protection which is not even physically possible.
Most sheep which are attacked by the wolf go to their graves or the hospital, wishing for help and thinking, "this is not fair, I do not deserve this." Deserve has nothing to do with it. Fairness has nothing to do with it. Fairness is a childish notion. If life were fair, babies would not be born with horrible illnesses. Adults need to get over the idea that life is going to be fair and that the wolf will choose another sheep. Sheep often believe that they will not be chosen by the wolf because, "I am a good sheep and I will be spared." To this type of thinking we can only say, grow up! Bad things happen to good people every day. 

Who are the Sheepdogs?
Finally, there are the sheepdogs. They guard the flock. They are the protectors of our society. They are the soldiers, the police officers and the armed citizens who have accepted the responsibility for protecting themselves and others by the use of deadly force if necessary.
The sheep are not always comfortable with the sheepdog because the sheepdog looks a lot like the wolf. The sheepdog is armed. He has fangs (guns). This frightens the sheep. The sheepdogs run toward danger. The sheep find this confusing because they only run away from danger. Often the sheep do not like the sheepdog until the wolf comes. Then the sheep try to hide behind the sheepdog, begging for his protection.
Sheepdogs do not live life hoping that the wolf will select someone else. Sheepdogs are prepared to stop the wolf and have accepted their responsibility for confronting evil in our society. If the wolf attacks the sheepdog then there will likely be one less wolf. On occasion the best prepared sheepdog will lose, but he will go down fighting, killed on the spot doing his duty. He will not be drug off and tortured to death. There are things worse than death and those who surrender to the wolf often learn what those things are. 
When the sheepdog hears of yet another horrible crime committed by the wolf he does feel relief because the wolf chose another for his victim. He does not hide his head and try to pretend that such a fate could never befall his family. Instead he is reminded to remain alert and reevaluate his own preparations to contend with such an occurrence.
One difference between real sheep and human sheep is the fact that real sheep are born sheep. Human sheep have decided to be sheep and can change into sheepdogs if they elect to do so. Human sheep can change from cowering victims to sheepdogs by being armed, well trained and mentally prepared to use force in the defense of life. Sheepdogs can make their families expectation of protection a reality. Sheepdogs are living up to the ideals of being an American.
Do not assume that you are a sheepdog because you own a gun. Owning a firearm that you could not reach in the first two to three seconds of a crime does not qualify you as a sheepdog. Owning a firearm with which you have had little relevant defensive training does not make you a sheepdog. A sheep who has not cultivated the Combat Mindset required to react properly and quickly when facing the wolf is not a sheepdog. A true sheepdog is armed and has the skill and the combat mindset to fend off a wolf attack, the outcome of which will normally be decided in the first few seconds.

This was copied from a shared post on Facebook.

The Bando Python System in a Nutshell

Copied directly from the American Bando Association website.

Bando Animal Systems in Burma have been around for hundreds of years.  To survive this long, these Eastern Systems had to have a strong philosophical structure and deep seated mythological base from their culture.

In the 1930’s, in the city of Maymyo in Burma, several military organizations and Special Forces Gurkha units formed the International Bando Association in an effort to preserve the Bando Martial System.

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:  1) Philosophy,  2) Principles,  3) 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 tie too use animals as a reflection of ourselves.  The purpose of training Bando is to honor the great animals that we give the mythic interpretations to.  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. The python is governed by its own laws of limitations.  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 are 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 (grabbing the limbs, arms and legs);  2) to develop constriction or asphyxiation (to the body, neck and mouth);  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.

The Bando Cobra System in a Nutshell

Copied directly from the American Bando Association website.

Fangs. Accuracy. Venomous.  Neurotoxins.  Death. The King Cobra can be as much as 18 feet in length and lift itself off the ground erectly one-third its length, hiss and attack with a bite of venom that can easily kill a man.  In Bando, cobras will offer quick strikes, evasive steps and parrying (as opposed to blocking) to very refined targets. The small weapons of finger knuckles, finger tips, elbow tips, and toes are delivered in a whip-like manner to vital targets such as the eyes, throat, groin and nerve centers. Quickness, timing and accuracy are a must to have a strike be properly executed without damaging the "fangs".  Cobra kicks primarly use the tip of the big toe, instep, and heel to make contact.  

The cobra uses a long range fighting strategy with a series of parries and holds before the pressure point is stuck and the opponent passes out. Bando cobras use deception through stepping and feinting, circular hand motions which allow him a counter attack against an opponent and his weapon. If you are quick, agile, of slender build, have good, small muscle coordination, sharp reflexes, are perceptive and patient, you may be a Band Cobra, waiting.

Circles and Ornery Deception

"Theatricality and deception. Powerful agents, to the uninitiated."

This is one of my favorite quotes from Batman Begins and The Dark Knight Rises. I am a HUGE Batman fan, have been since I was three years old when Mom took me to see Batman starring Michael Keaton. Those words ring true in Bando.

On a personal level, I'd rather be up close to engage someone. Yes, this makes me more vulnerable to knives, or even your seasoned brawler. But it also adds a level of personal interaction to combat. Sure, I can pick you off at 700 yards with my Mosin Nagant. But where is the passion in pulling a trigger? Let me make this abundantly clear: I have no interest in ever using Bando or any of my firearms against another human being. But, I will not hold back should anyone ever decide to steal my life from me. My son and my family deserve my time. I have great things to share with the world. I have the duty to pull other men from the pits of fear and doubt, the mire of uncertainty, and the darkness of a troubled past. Sayaji Osborne has done that for me, and it would be insulting not to desire and ACT to do the same for those who deserve it.

Tonight, we covered basics because we had a newcomer in our midst. But, as I see it, Sayaji Osborne shared some deeper techniques with the three of us in order to show our new Initiate some of the greater aspects of Bando so he can see why he should stick around. These two are as follows:

A parry that moves into a grab/break that either immobilizes the attacker.
A parry that sets up for a slew of attacks to almost immediately take down the attacker.

After a short conversation with our newcomer, I saw we both have three very serious common interests:

A love of shiny, pointy things that can cause grievous injury.
A love of martial arts and their preservation.
An understanding of the lack of respect and courage of the general masses.

The staggering friendliness, helpfulness, generousness, and overall commitment and desire to learn was breathtaking. I am thankful to be associated with someone like that, whether or not we come from the same discipline or even if he sticks around. Though he may not see things as I do (should he read this), I saw a common ground between us. So, I shall cover each of these three things so that concepts may be grasped as the way I see them.

"A love of shiny, pointy things that can cause grievous injury."
To anyone who knows me intimately, I have a massive collection of sticks and knives. This is what initially drew me into the Bando system. The idea of weaponized combat has always fascinated me. You can't just ask your average mentor to teach you in the art of swordplay anymore. We are too dependent on guns, no matter how powerful, which leaves me with one final sentiment to close this part of the article: A gun runs out of ammo. A knife doesn't.

"A love of martial arts and their preservation."
Martial arts have developed over thousands of years. From farmers just trying to defend their crops from raiders to police and military having to engage in combat with criminals with no regard to human life. These movements and techniques have developed over time from hard fought trial and error, likely with many lives lost and their comrades trying to come up with ideas on how to not lose another friend to senseless violence. This is not a beautiful painting or sculpture in a museum. These are movements, that tell a story and teach the ignorant and weak how to defend themselves against the wicked. Martial arts need to be preserved and passed on to the next generation. Not just as an ability to defend oneself against an attacker, but as an honor to the fallen that are the reason it was put together in the first place.

"An understanding of the lack of respect and courage of the general masses."
I often see a meme on the internet that states, "If I had spoken to my parents in the way that children today speak to their parents, I wouldn't be alive to write this." Americans have become soft and complacent. Most fools think that the police will save them from every ill that comes their way. Guess what? The police aren't everywhere. Even Superman has to fly to a crime or disaster. All of us need SOME combat training. Why? Because there are those without decency that will take from you whatever they can, just because you allow them to. Yes, I said allow. You have the option to learn some form of self defense. Why don't you? Is it arrogance? Laziness? A perceived lack of time? Whatever selfish and foolish reason you give is the reason that when an attacker comes your way, you will be forced to give up whatever they want, whether it be your possessions or your life. Chew on that when you try to take guns away from good men like me, who carry them because people like you are incapable of defending yourself against the heinous and immoral denizens of our world.

The aspect of respect is a difficult one to grasp. Those who seek to defile your life do not care about you. They don't care that you have a 4.0 GPA, or that you work for a Fortune 500 company. They don't care about your children, your spouse, your loved ones, your home or your possessions. Their only concern is that you have what they want.
The other side to this is between different styles of martial arts. The sheer disrespect between different schools is baffling. Many parents send their children to a martial arts school to teach them discipline and respect. The problem is that many teachers do not show this to other schools. So how can they show it, and better yet, teach it to your children? The fact is that they can't. Many martial arts schools are simply about MONEY. "I sell self confidence to children." Really? I trained in Karate when I was little and it didn't give me a damn bit of self confidence. I learned nothing useful to use against my childhood bully, and even if I had, I was told not to use it (or even fight back) against that scum sucking bastard. Had I been told, "Beat that bully's ass within an inch of his life because that's the only language he understands," I wouldn't still hold a grudge against him to this day, and my childhood would have been far brighter because I wouldn't have had some arrogant prick pushing me around every time I left my home. I would have had someone who had tormented me, and then became terrified of me because I was actually told to, and then kicked the shit out of him. Violent people only understand violence.

This does not mean violence is the only answer to every problem. Violence is the only answer when you are dealing with a violent person and diplomacy has failed. My destruction of my bully would have allowed me to walk in peace.
"Peace means having a bigger stick than the other guy."

So, back to the title of the article:
Circles and Ornery Deception.

Deception and misdirection are enough to destroy an opponent. To move and act in such a way to cause confusion is to open your attacker up for decimating blows. This does not mean to try to "set up" attacks while you get your ass handed to you. This means to have an arsenal that not only confuses and evades your enemy, but without wasted movements. A parry turns into a cover/block that turns into a strike. Or all three at once. It depends on what targets are available, and what strikes are coming your way. Not all systems teach this, and far more have no concept of this.

The "Circles" part refers to a very strong concept of Bando, which is circular motion. The basic scientific explanation of circular movement is very simple:
A circle allows continual movement without wasting energy.

Combining multiple movements (parrying, blocking, evasion, striking) into a circle allows you to continue your offensive and defensive maneuvers without losing energy or momentum. When striking an object with a sledgehammer, there is a particular method that involves striking at the side of the object (if possible) and bringing the hammer to your side and swinging it back up in a circle to above your head and then back down at the target. This does not waste energy, and allows the momentum to continue as you proceed in striking your mark, thus allowing you to work longer as you do not have to exert yourself as much in order to achieve your end goal.

These simplified concepts are the basics of Bando, which leads to a quote shared with me from Sayaji Osborne, that is taken from every aspect of life and applied here:
"The Master's Art Lies in Simplicity."

The Bando Scorpion System in a Nutshell

This was copied and pasted from the American Bando Association website: www.americanbandoassociation.com

Patience, stealth, and precision are combined by the scorpion 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.  The Scorpion System is characterized by seizing and holding techniques that simulate the hunting patterns of actual scorpions.  Striking methods within this style are designed to produce a "poinsonous" 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 scorpions fighting instincts and temperment.  Some martial artists might attempt to compare the scorpion syle 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 syles 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.  Even the head and chin are used by scorpion stylists to gain control in a fight.

Three types of targets are definited 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 sylist 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 imporove flexibility of the wrists and to invrease 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, usuing 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 practicioners who follow the scorpion.