Banshay: The Lost Art of Myanmar's Warrior Blades & Staff Fighting (Rediscovered): From Battlefield

This book explores the centuries-old Burmese martial art of Banshay, focusing on its blade and staff fighting techniques while examining how they developed within Myanmar's warrior traditions. Through detailed explanations of weapons, forms, and training methods, it reveals how this combat system was shaped by the land, culture, and history of its people, showing both its practical applications and deeper cultural significance beyond fighting. Moving beyond technical instruction, the work investigates Banshay's current state - how modern practitioners preserve, adapt, and sometimes struggle to maintain the art in contemporary society. It presents voices from aging masters to urban students, analyzes preservation challenges, and considers how traditional martial arts find relevance in a world that has outgrown their original purpose while still needing their physical and philosophical lessons.