Min-zin

The Min-zin or system of work on oneself is a Burmese discipline, whose origin is lost in the mists of time, belongs to the system of the energy practices of the Thaing , in particular with the group known as “internal formats”. Min-zin uses a method “activates” i.e. dynamic (moving), contrary to the “passive” method which one finds in certain processes of Bando-yoga and Pongyi-thaing where the same result is required through the simple meditation. It uses techniques with an aim of developing and of control of energy through respiratory processes. It more precisely indicates a whole of methods intended to control, direct, develop and regularize the flow of energy in reserve in the body. It leads to therapeutic aspects of the movement and breathing (practical of health). It is concretized by slow exercises practiced in solo, composed of movements intended for the development of energy known as “interns”, for respiratory control and the mental concentration. Certain specialists define it as a “martial gymnastics” and a “meditation moving”, or technical process allowing the development and the internal energy management with direct effects on health. It is a synthesis of movements of health, personal hygiene and especially of physical and mental development. This form of gymnastics which is before very martial and also lends itself to a practice with an aim of physical maintenance and makes it possible to lead to philosophical aspects more difficult to seize by the means of hard” and dynamic forms known as “. It can be practiced as a principal discipline and is an excellent tool for introduction of meeting (heating) and also of end of meeting (sedation). In this martial practice, one finds technical elements of Thaing and certain animal forms.

Origin of the expression

The term “Min-zin” is difficult to translate by a simple sentence. It is made of terms borrowed from several languages. It was used between IIIe century in IXe century in the Kingdom of Pyû. “Min” wants to say “sovereign”, “king” or “conqueror”. “Zin” wants to say “model”, “form” or “system”. This expression is a short cut to facilitate the pronunciation and to use a simple word in order to mean: “system of self-discipline to defend themselves against the various fears and to control them”. Three classes of fear are indexed: physics, mental and spiritual. At the origin of Min-zin, we find various types of yogas. It is possible that Min-zin was influenced by the practices Indian, Tibetans and Chinese. Their intention was to act on the mental one (concentration, control of the emotions, intuition and knowledge), the body one (physical shape, prevention of the diseases, cure) and the spiritual one (meditation, wisdom and devotion). An important concept in Min-zin is “autodéveloppement” which means to raise its physical, mental and spiritual health and consequently, to protect themselves from the diseases and to reduce the affections (physical and mental). Min-zin can adapt to very to each one, by the means of its methods… It can allow: To control the destroying emotions, to seek with psychic balance, to maintain the wellbeing physical and health,

Object

The objective of Min-zin is the research of personal balance and the calm interior to leave exercises meditation and exercises of development energy known as vital. These exercises go permettrent of living a long time in good health. As for Bando, the practice of Min-zin has as an aim of protection but initially safeguarding of health. Min-zin is not focused on the athletic performance, quite to the contrary it stresses the personal development, the wellbeing and health. It can be used with therapeutic goal and it is tool par excellence making it possible to answer three major concern of Thaing: personal achievement, search of interior peace and harmony. The old ones say: “practical the internal formats and you will remain alert, quite bearing you will enjoy the life until his term”. Concretely, Min-zin has as an main objective control and the body and mental development, by the means of physical exercises and respiratory. More precisely, it is a question of controlling energy known as “interns” thanks to movements carefully and with a slackened and full breathing. Frame of mind and attitude sought by the practitioners concentrating on their energy known as “vital” and consisting in controlling and developing the flood of “internal energy”. This energy could, if necessary, make effective the action by projecting it towards “outside”. It makes it possible to relieve of many body pains and to obtain a general wellbeing. The sought-after goal is body control by the means of flexible exercises, movements rounded and natural attitudes and high, for what work in station upright. The exercises are centered on the breathing calm, natural, balanced which brings the rest of the spirit, the control of internal energy and the “vital breath”. Side benefits, it rests the nervous system, prevents the diseases of the digestive system, strengthens the cardiorespiratory system, avoids the development of diseases of the vascular system (athérosclérose), etc Min-zin strongly stresses the mental aspects of the drive.

Philosophy

Min-zin also has a martial function. It is a whole attitude, at the same time physical and mental, which makes it possible to be reassured on its capacities to fight, some will even say “to gain without having to fight so much” energy thus deployed can discourage an opponent.

Methods and exercises of Min-zin

These processes of work on energy occur in the old practices of the monks well before the birth of Christ. Beyond, of the physical interests (health), they also hold of the philosophical and religious designs, in particular about the place of the man in the universe… These physical and spiritual virtues in addition are supposed to confer to the practitioner the unit of the body and the spirit. One finds various forms of practice in Min-zin: Exercises upright, sitted or lying, exercises static and dynamic, “internal” methods of Bando, in particular on the animal forms, Ways of driving to stimulate body parts and certain vital zones. Exercises of muscular relaxation static and dynamic Exercises relating to the various manners of breathing… procedures to concentrate energy and to direct it. The exercises are distributed in sequences (patterns) more or less long, from three to thirty movements. For example, in a therapeutic objective the exercises groups are in connection with the physical or emotional problem to treat. The exercises are focused on three fields: 1 physical control (on the three levels of the spinal column and the movement of the hands), 2 mental control (concentration, visualization and meditation), 3 respiratory control (exercises of inspiration, expiry and apnea).

Work methods respiratory

It consists in carrying out, hands opened, of the traditional sequences of body exercises with muscular actions of control in relation to actions of concentration on the respiratory act. The exercises rest on the coordination of movements in relation to a respiratory work and of mental concentration. These respiratory principles are found in many practice of Thaing, in particular for the Bando-yoga and the work of some Aka of animal forms. Three respiratory modes coexist:

- 1 To use breathing: work on “soft breathing”, consistent action of concentration on the respiratory act during the exercises and postures. The sought-after goal is a breathing calm, natural, balanced, which brings the rest of the spirit. This respiratory mode can act like a therapy in the event of disease.

- 2 To control and use the breath: work on “forced breathing” (airstream), the goal is to channel the air in a gestural work where gesture, breathing and deployment of energy do only one. This second mode with the advantage of working intensely on muscular control (method of muscular reinforcement known as static of isotonic” or “isometric” type “) and breathing known as abdominal.

- 3 To retain, concentrate and direct the breath: The retention before the expiry lasts a long moment taking into account the degree of control of the practitioner.

Technical contents

They are in the beginning applicable martial techniques in combat, including/understanding various gestural sequences. The various currently practiced sequences are indexed per series of movement of combat (matrices or patterns). There exist three principal forms of practices. The first formulation relates to gestural sequences centered on respiratory work. The second met in agreement respiratory work with that of certain animal forms ( Aka ). The third relates to a muscular work of reinforcement accompanied by energy respiratory techniques. Actually, the aspect more the current consists in carrying out technical sequences predetermined containing slow movements by excluding the fast and powerful techniques.

Internal bonds

See too

Ba Than (Gyi), Manual off the Bando disciplines , National Bando Association, Burma, 1946-68
Maung Gyi, Bando, philosophy, principles and practice , STI edition, 2000
Maung Gyi, Burmese bando boxing , ED. R.Maxwell, Understanding Baltimore, 1978
Gift F.Draeger and Robert W.Smith, Asian Fighting arts , E. Kodansha, Tokyo, 1969
Zoran Rebac, Traditional burmese boxing , ED. Paladin Near, Boulder, 2003

External bonds

Fédération (French) of Bando Boxes Burmese - a mine of information on an effective discipline multimillénaire and hyper
Fédération of North America de Bando (the USA)

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