Mary Mester is an instructor and practitioner of the Martial Art System called Bando.  Mary began studying the Martial Arts in 1979 while taking a Thai Boxing class at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho.  When returning to Connecticut she sought out a local school to continue learning the martial arts.  This pursuit led her to a Japanese System call Kyokushin -Kai where she trained for a little over a year.  During her training at that school her younger sister was simultaneously taking a Bando class and invited her to observe the teachings of the Bando Grandmaster Maung Gyi.  It was at that time she realized her true path should be with Bando.  Mary has remained a loyal and dedicated practitioner of Bando since that time.

         Mary has received numerous gold medals competing nationally against both male and female top performers in every division; empty hand, weapon hand, free-style sparring and kickboxing.  She was awarded the most Outstanding Female Martial Artist award for 6 consecutive years, was the first woman inducted into the Bando Hall of Fame, and in 1997 received the National award for the Most Outstanding Kick-boxer.  o date she is the only practitioner, male or female, to take both outstanding awards in the same year.  In 2006, Grandmaster Gyi gave Mary the honor of carrying on the Bando Eagle system as Chief Instructor.  Mary has taken numerous classes in other styles of martial arts including Kyokushin Karate, Thai Boxing, Tai Chi, Qigong, and Brazilian Ju-Jitsu.

         Besides teaching and training on a regular basis, Mary is the American Bando Association’s Vice-President and permanent Board of Director.  In 2004, she began teaching Personal Self Defense to non-practicing martial artists.  Mary’s motivation stemmed from witnessing the destruction of her older sister after being drugged and raped by two men during a stay at Cape Cod.  Women, girls, boys and men, need to know basic skills of awareness, violence prevention and basic self defense to increase their success of survival if attacked.  

         Outside of the Martial Arts, Mary is a mother of two, holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design degree from North Carolina State University, is a practicing Residential Architect, and a Founder and Board member of Communication Advocacy Network which strives to improve the lives of Deaf people in Connecticut.  She is passionate about the study of nutrition, fitness and health, is bi-lingual and currently studying the system of Feng Shui.