Malay and Indonesian weapons such as the kris. Modern bersilat, however,
exists in two forms: silat pulut,a dancelike performance that may have de-
rived from kuntao, and silat buah,a combat form not publicly displayed,
which was probably influenced by Menangkabu pentjak silat, according to
the small body of scholarship devoted to the art.Myanmar (Burma)
The primary combative arts of this area, beyond certain modifications re-
quired to enable practitioners to survive practice sessions, have retained
their martial character rather than having been converted to sports or mar-
tial “ways” for achieving self-improvement. The systems are not discrete,
but actually are elements of thaing (generic for “defense” or “all-out fight-
ing”) rather than separate disciplines. Grappling and striking, even tech-
niques disallowed in other martial arts (e.g., biting and eye-gouging), are
incorporated into thaing.
Bandômay be loosely translated as “way of steel discipline” (Dunlap
2000). The term commonly is used to refer to unarmed fighting arts. There
are nine primary styles of bandô, each associated with a major ethnic
group: Burmese, Chin, Chinese, Indian, Kachin (or Jinghpaw), Karen,
Mon, Shan, and Talaing.
The styles are composed of animal systems or forms. Generally twelve
animals are incorporated into the style, but there are exceptions, such as
the Kachin system, which uses sixteen. Each system incorporates both
striking and grappling developed in imitation of the characteristics of the
animal that inspired the system. The tactics of each animal may be used
separately or fused, as called for in a given situation.
The animism that is an important element of many of Burma’s reli-
gious systems (especially that of the Kachin) has been given as an explana-
tion for the organization of combat techniques around animal characteris-
tics. Given the long influence of both Indian and Chinese cultures on
Burma, however, and the presence in both of animal forms of martial arts,
there are alternative explanations.
Banshayrefers to traditional Burmese systems of weapons use. The
training embodies both unarmed techniques against weapons and the
means of wielding weapons in combat. The most common weapons are
stick, sword, and spear. The sources of banshay are said to be both India
and China. Among the Shan, weapon systems appear as “fight dances”;
one type uses a pair of Burmese swords and the other a stick with flaming
ends. The latter is sometimes practiced in pairs. History records that in
about 1549, Burmese soldiers practiced sword dances in their encampment
while laying siege to the Thai forces at Ayuthia. The nature and purpose of
the dances were not recorded, however.544 Southeast Asia