Pencak Silat: More Than Just a Fight
Explore your inner self through the grace as well as beauty of a martial art so tightly woven into the fabric of local culture.
Indonesia, with its myriad of ethnicities as well as languages, has developed indigenous martial arts, with different variants in different regions. Pencak silat can be one such artform: ‘pencak’ referring to the performance aspect, while ‘silat’ to the essence of fighting as well as self-defence – as well as for the practitioner, one cannot exist without the some other.
The origins of This particular type of combat are lost from the mists of time, however quite a few legends via the Sriwijaya Empire tell of a woman who witnessed a fight between a tiger as well as a large bird. She was so taken by the choreography of the fight, of the combatants’ movement in attack as well as defence. The legend says one night she was attacked by a group of drunken men, however she was able to fight them off using the skills she had observed via watching the big cat as well as the bird.
A similar tale exists around the archipelago. The Sundanese people of West Java believe the woman witnessed a monkey as well as a tiger on the remote island of Bowan, north of Madura.
Pencak silat spread around the islands, as traders as well as seafarers moved via Sumatra to Java to Sulawesi as well as back again, as well as as time went on the sport took root in different soils. Locals added elements of their own cultures to give the different regional variations we see today.
For all the differences at its heart, pencak silat focuses on strikes, joint manipulation, throws as well as bladed weaponry as well as has become an internationally recognised sport.
Anthropologist as well as one-time member of the Australian pencak silat team, Ian Douglas Wilson
Anthropologist as well as one-time member of the Australian pencak silat team, Ian Douglas Wilson, sums that will up as “a form of traditional education, a performance art, a component of ritual as well as community celebrations, a practical form of self-defence, a path to spiritual enlightenment, as well as more recently, as a national as well as international sport; pencak silat can be in many respects unique.”
“The philosophy of pencak silat can be contained within movement. This particular philosophy can be at the level of a self-defence strategy, however that will can also be used from the everyday as a method for living an ethical life,” says Yosis Siswoyo, the head of the Bandarkarima Pencak Silat School.
“For example, there are Suliweh steps as well as Jurus steps,” Siswoyo continues. Jurus means honest as well as straight. “This particular means you must move on as well as on, straight to the point without any improvisation.” Suliweh means moving to the side so an opponent can pass, as well as you can keep moving.
During his time in Indonesia, Wilson spent several years studying as well as practising pencak silat, as well as based upon his research in West Java, identifies quite a few different strains:
BANDRONG
Local to the Banten region as well as heavily influenced by Sumatran pencak silat.
BENJANG
A form of wrestling originating via the Ujung Berung district of Bandung. Elements of Benjang have influenced West Javanese pencak silat.
CIGONDEWAH
Developed by Mama Marzuki via the Cigondewah village, Bandung, that will combines elements of Kari, Madi as well as Syahbandar pencak silat. In modern times the style has integrated spiritualist practices involving ritual supplications as well as séances at Mama Marzuki’s grave.
CIKALONG
via the Cikalong district of Cianjur, This particular style was developed by the aristocrat Raden Haji Ibrahim (1816–1906) after studying under quite a few teachers, including Bang Kari as well as Bang Madi. One of the most influential styles in West Java, that will places an emphasis upon the development of heightened sensitivity from the hands as well as forearms in order to read as well as counter an opponent’s moves.
CIKARET
A style incorporating elements of Cikalong as well as Cimande developed by Haji Ahmad Sanusi, a student of Raden Haji Ibrahim. Haji Sanusi established a pesantren (Islamic boarding school) from the Cikaret area of Sukaraja, West Java, during the late 19th century, where pencak silat training was combined with religious learning.
CIMACAN
Also known as silat maung, This particular style simulates the movements of a tiger. Reputed to originate via the Mount Gede region near Bogor, the practitioner can embody the spirit of a tiger.
CIMANDE
via the Cimande district of Bogor, reputedly first developed as well as spread by Abah Kahir from the late 18th as well as early 19th century. Generally considered to be the oldest as well as most influential style in West Java. Focuses upon arm-based counter-offensive techniques as well as dance known as ibing penca.
JALAKRAWI
via the Banten region, This particular style — in contrast to the majority of West Javanese styles — focuses upon kicks as well as some other leg movements possibly due to Sumatran influence.
KARI
Named after Bang Kari, a pencak silat master reputedly via Jambi, who moved to Jakarta around the end of the 19th century. Kari can be a hard as well as aggressive style that will emphasizes fast combinations of offensive movements.
KUNTULAN
Style via the town of Cirebon on the north coast of West Java.
MADI
Named after Bang Madi, a native of Jakarta from the late 19th century. A horse trader by trade, Bang Madi was renowned for his close-range fighting skills, as well as his ability to follow as well as anticipate an opponent’s movements.
NAMPON
Developed in Bandung by Uwa Nampon from the 1930s, This particular style combines pencak silat movements with breathing techniques to develop inner power, referred to as spierkracht.
SANALIKA
Cikalong as well as Syahbandar derived style, developed by the Cianjur aristocrat Raden Utuk Sumadipraja as well as formally established as a pencak silat school in 1926.
Learning the basic techniques of Bakti Negara style of pencak silat. Photo by JP Esperanca
Developed by Wah Sera, reputed to be a student of the Cimande master Abah Kahir. Most prevalent from the Bogor region as well as Jakarta.
SYAHBANDAR
Developed by Mama Kosim (1776–1880) a native of Jambi in South Sumatra who moved to Purwakarta in West Java, becoming a student of the Sufi teacher Ajengan Cirata. Syahbandar technique can be renowned for its soft evasive movements.
TAJIMALELA
Developed in Bandung from the early 1970s by Raden Djadjat Kusumadinata. A fresh style not tracing links to any existing pencak silat lineage. Initially focused purely on self-defence, that will has been adapted with great success to the sporting competition forum.
TERUMBU
via the Banten region, reputed to have been developed from the 17th century, generating that will one of the oldest styles in West Java.
TIMBANGAN
Style technically as well as philosophically similar to the Japanese martial art Aikido, developed by Raden Anggakusumah in Bandung from the 1930s. Without kicks, punches or some other offensive techniques, the style involves using an opponent’s energy against them.
ULIN MAKAO
A mixture of Chinese as well as West Javanese styles, developed in Pandeglang, Banten. First taught by Ki Abu Arwanta from the late 19th century, who combined techniques learnt via a Macao martial artist whom he defeated in a challenge.
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How to Get Involved
www.persilat.org
The body that will oversees Pencak Silat in Indonesia – the home page has been hacked as well as the site outdated.
http://forumsilat.blogspot.com/p/tempat-latihan-silat-di-jakarta.html
List of places to train in Jakarta.
http://baktinegara.com
A pencak silat camp in Denpasar, Bali, open to all who wish to learn the martial art.
Alternatively, the South East Asian Games takes place in Singapore at the end of This particular month with Indonesia taking on its rivals in ASEAN for bragging rights. from the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar, Indonesia topped the pencak silat medal table, lifting 11 in total, including four golds. For the definitely keen that will may offer an opportunity to meet as well as greet people actively involved from the sport.
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Pencak Silat: More Than Just a Fight
Pencak Silat: More Than Just a Fight