The armed branch of Myanmar's martial heritage, developing precision, distance, footwork, timing and control with the dha, staff, spear, dagger and other weapons depending on the school.
Banshay is a martial discipline from Myanmar devoted to traditional weapons.
It is one of the main branches of Thaing, a term covering several Burmese martial traditions. While Bando focuses mainly on unarmed techniques, Naban on wrestling and Lethwei on Burmese boxing, Banshay concentrates on weapons.
Its best-known weapon is the dha, a traditional Burmese sword. Training can also include staffs of different lengths, daggers, spears and other weapons depending on the lineage.
Students work on positioning, distance, trajectories, changes of angle, coordination of footwork and upper-body movement, and precise control of the weapon.
Practice may begin with individual forms and sequences, followed by progressive partner drills. Modern training must use suitable equipment and safety measures adapted to participants' experience.
Banshay belongs to Myanmar's traditional martial heritage and is described by contemporary sources as the armed branch of Thaing, alongside Burmese unarmed and wrestling traditions.
It is difficult to identify a single founding date or founder. Its transmission forms part of a broader heritage of Burmese martial methods and weapons.
The dha is central to many present-day forms, alongside staff, dagger and spear. Weapon shapes and lengths change range, movement and strategy while sharing principles of accuracy and control.
Part of Banshay's international transmission developed alongside Bando. Organised Burmese martial arts activity in France is documented in Grenoble from 1986, with further structures established from 2008.
Since 23 September 2026, Thaing — explicitly including Bando, Banshay and Naban — and Lethwei have been incorporated into the French Karate and Associated Disciplines Federation, within its Thaing–Lethwei–Myanmar martial arts and combat sports group.
In Banshay, the weapon extends the practitioner's movement, range and intention.
Accuracy is essential. A poorly controlled trajectory, bad positioning or misjudged distance become especially significant when using a weapon.
Training progressively develops coordination between the feet, body, gaze and weapon.
Distance is central: practitioners learn their own weapon's reach and their partner's, how to enter or leave range and change angles while maintaining posture.
Technical control and safety are fundamental, particularly in partner drills. Training is intended for learning and preserving martial heritage, not uncontrolled use of real weapons.
Banshay may appeal to people interested in traditional weapons-based martial arts and precision rather than physical power alone.
It offers an opportunity to explore Southeast Asian weapons, coordination, body control, distance, footwork and Myanmar's martial heritage.
It may complement Bando or other Thaing disciplines while also being studied independently. Bando, Banshay, Naban and Lethwei are distinct but complementary practices.
Union Française de Lethwei & Bando (UFLB) — identifies Banshay separately as the traditional weapons discipline.
French Karate and Associated Disciplines Federation (FFK) — current French federation framework for Thaing and Banshay.
World Bando Thaing Lethwei Federation (WBTLF) — overview of Banshay, the dha and other weapons studied.
UNESCO ICM — Thaing — international reference on Myanmar's martial heritage and its armed branch.
