Malay Martial Arts

Silat Malaysia - The History and Development of Malay Martial Arts
By Cikgu Nizam

Ever since Silat Malaysia has been recognized worldwide, it has been regarded as a Malaysian martial arts form. Silat is deeply entrenched in the traditions and culture of Malaysian civilization. Though, Silat has left its footprints in civilizations of many other Asian countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and Philippines, but its association and involvement with Malaysian population and culture is remarkable and hence so highly acknowledged. In Malaysia, around 20% of the total number of schools existent offers training in Silat.


Originally, in Malaysian culture Silat was promoted more among the royal families and dynasties. Silat training was the mark of their superiority and authority over the others. People, who used to achieve great heights in learning this martial art form, were highly reputed and were also awarded merits by the King. In that era, mastering Silat was the mark of crowned heads and sovereigns. Among the weapons, which were used during Silat training in the ancient times, rattan shield or breastplates were the most common weapons to mention.

Today, Silat Malaysia is a very well known martial art form, throughout the world. The secrets of this success are based on the system that laid down in the silat syllabus. The Silat Malaysia system for silat exponent consists of seven different levels that can be identified and ranked using belt system starting from white, blue, brown, yellow, green, red and ending with black belt. Every silat topics will be majoring to 7 different topics such as:

Bunga (the pillars of silat attacking and defensive positions)
Jurus (the art of attack and defense either using weapon or bare hand )
Belebat (the techniques of receiving strikes and how to counter it back )
Tapak (the step pattern in silat movements)
Buah Pukul (the fast action of self-defense)
 Tempur Seni (the art of combat)
Tempur Bela Diri (the speed and power movements of self defense combat)
Every silat exponent will learn different style of attacking and defensive skill such as Elakkan (avoiding technique movements), Tangkisan (blocking techniques), Tangkapan (catching techniques), Potong (counter-strike), Amuk (rampage with due diligent) and weaponry system such as sickle, sword, cudgel, kris or a short wavy dagger, rope, walking stick made of hardwood, dagger with straight cutting edge and trisula. The practical self defense, unarmed self defense and self defense knife system also will be given in each silat level.

This will make every silat exponent ready to receive any strike either one on one or in group strikes as every level of the syllabus will explain how to handle every fighting situation just like in the war. As the silat curriculum is based from the art of war of Malay civilization from thousands of years ago, it is important to know that Silat Malaysia teach their students that prevention is better than cure. It is better to avoid a fight rather get involved in it. It is prohibited to harm or kill others except in desperate situation where there is no other choice to defend yourself. Fighting is the last choice when there is no other solution to defend them from being killed.



This article was submitted by Cikgu Nizam, an expert and world leading silat and self defense online. Did you find these tips on Silat Malaysia article useful? Find out more about Silat by going to Self Defense Fighting and get a FREE report there.

Gayung Malaysia

Seni Gayung Fatani Malaysia - What Do You Need to Know About Silat Melayu?
By Cikgu Nizam

Malaysia has an original version of silat known as Silat Melayu. The Malay Peninsula traditional art of Silat has been practiced in the Malay society especially in villages. This martial art had its origin from the Malay art of war that had strengthened the Malay Champa Empire, Kedah Tua, Silat Bunga, Seri Patani, Silat Melayu Asli, Silat Kedah, Silat Seni Gayung Fatani and there are also other forms of school without specific that only use the word bersilat or bergayung.


Seni Gayung Fatani (Grandmaster Anuar Abdul Wahab, succeeded by Grandmaster Aminuddin Anuar) is most successful self defense among groups that mastering the Silat Melayu. This school maintains the original practice of Silat Melayu covering the art, self-defense, sports, silat baku music, culture and Islamic spiritualism. This school is an independent founding member of Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan Malaysia (PESAKA Malaysia). It has branches all over the country and international branches overseas including among others Austria, France, New Caledonia, German, Thailand, Switzerland, Spain, Wales and many others.

Seni Gayung Fatani was the overall champion in the Kejuaraan Silat Kebangsaan (National Silat Championship) in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1995. This association participated in the presentation involving 11 types of the world's best self defense in 15 German cities (2004). This school became the champion for two years successively for Best Performance Group in art of self defense which was participated by 40 other countries from 14 types of the world's best art of self defense under the International Martial Arts Games Committee (IMGC) organized by International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) in Pyongyang, North Korea, 2004. Seni Gayung Fatani also was a champion in the competition that organized by Kung Fu/ Wushu in Perugia, Italy, 2005.

Seni Gayung Fatani had groomed a number of athletes in Silat Seni, Silat Olahraga, Wasit Juri, Coaches and Team Manager who were successful in the International Pencak Silat Championship. This martial art has successfully improved the teachings of silat traditionally from the arena to modern Silat Curriculum.

Throughout the main training centre Pusat Cemerlang Silat (PCS), this school has developing numbers of international coaches from all around the world. PCS has played an instrumental role in creating athletes for Silat Seni, Silat Melayu and Silat Olahraga. In addition to that, this training centre holds martial art training, motivational and leadership courses on national and international levels. PCS has also paved the way in the creation of many martial art instructors and assistant instructors who aid instructors in each school in Malaysia. Besides this, PCS also holds lessons in muzik silat baku or gendang baku which is traditional silat music. Among the instruments used are the gendang anak and gendang ibu, the serunai (roughly translates to pipe or flute) and the gong.

Using the systematic syllabus that recognized by the Malaysian government (2002), this school plays an important roles to develop and spread Silat Melayu all around the world. The syllabus has been acknowledged as a Malaysian heritage martial art and its curriculum has become the basis for the Malaysian Seni Silat Curriculum practised all over Malaysia today. The comprehensive curriculum used ensures clear and concise execution and teaching.

In its curriculum, Seni Gayung Fatani teaches self defense, art of war, techniques, combat and also trains exponents for Silat Olahraga. Thus, one does not only learn how to fend off attackers but how to face an attacker who knows how to fight back. Fitness is also stressed for each exponent. A healthy body helps the exponent become stronger and achieve better results. Training is also provided for those interested in competing in Silat Olahraga, the competitive fighting sport of silat. Many techniques learnt are applied here which gives the student a better understanding of these techniques and their applications as well as conditioning the athlete's mind and body to combative situations.



This article was submitted by Cikgu Nizam, an expert and world leading Silat and self defense coach online. Did you find these tips on Seni Gayung Fatani is useful? Find out more about silat by going to Silat For Beginners and get a FREE report at http://www.SilatForBeginners.com.

Indonesian Martial Arts and Pencak Silat

Indonesian Martial Arts and Pencak Silat
By Peter Keith Jackson

The indigenous styles of martial arts invented and used in Indonesia are mutually identified as pencak silat. Pencak silat is a fighting style which focuses on self-defense against a lot of opponents. The name brings together two Indonesian words for martial arts: "Pencak" (from central and east Java) makes reference towards the performance aspect or the delivery of moves, whereas "silat" (used within Sumatra) relates to the principle associated with self-defense. Fundamentally, pencak silat is a reference to both prominent areas of the Indonesian fighting style.



The origin and also development of martial arts in Indonesia weren't documented on paper. Details on the historical past of pencak silat is based on archaeological findings, oral customs, in addition to mythological stories.

According to legend, silat was first taught methodically inside Srivijaya by a particular woman. Several regions have different variants of the tale, but all are in agreement that it was a woman, Rama Sukana, that started the early silat, which inturn identifies the elegant portions of the martial art.

Within one account, Rama Sukana was said to have applied the fighting motions associated with birds and tigers in protecting herself from drunken men. She was able to simulate the animals' moves after watching a tiger and a sizeable bird fight. (Other versions say that the animal fight she saw had been between a monkey and a tiger.) Based on the animals' postures and movements, she designed a elegant fighting approach and taught it to her partner, Rama Isruna. The self-defense style of Rama Sukana was then passed on through their family lineage.

After the clash concerning Indonesia and The Netherlands come to an end in 1949, Indo people of combined Indonesian and European descent who acquired knowledge of pencak silat brought the art to European countries.

Pencak silat has become recognised and tutored not just in Indonesia, but also in western locations such as The Netherlands, France, UK, Spain, Australia, and USA.

The key points regarding the creation and use of pencak silat are self-defense and also self-control. The aim should be to preserve one's own life rather than to cause damage.

To perfect a self-defense fighting style, pupils train with other practitioners. An elementary training session will involve a newcomer student practicing using three additional students. More advanced training, however, needs a pupil to train guarding themselves against even more enemies, commonly five to seven. This kind of training is recommended for students to realize that to do well in dealing with more than one attacker, they must often be ready to face one opponent while not reducing an opportunity for defense against someone else.

Being a martial art that includes survival as its ultimate aim, pencak silat focuses on economical yet potent techniques. Among the list of methods made use of by pencak silat practitioners are striking, kicking, and grappling relating to empty-hand fighting. Pencak silat individuals can employ the striking and kicking moves primarily to wear out their foes before moving to grappling moves. They will target pressure areas in order to immobilize attackers or to get away from any lock. Individuals will be taught to employ every part of his or her body as methods pertaining to hitting, locking, and also busting joints.

The stances fluctuate in accordance with localized variations, but they are usually strange and meant to distract the enemy. Dependent upon the stance of a practitioner, he or she can carry out a series of defensive or aggressive methods.

One other group of approaches concerns the carrying of weapons. In this particular section of the schooling, learners learn not just to use genuine weapons, but additionally to use things in their immediate surroundings as tools, including, belts, pencils, and combs, to carry out the equivalent empty-hand techniques.



A well-known bladed weapon utilized in pencak silat is called the kris. It is a dagger that typically features a wavy blade. Traditionally, a kris was developed to be particularly deadly by way of immersing it in venom whilst forging it. An alternative bladed weapon is the pedang, an Indian long sword. Including the kris, the pedang was wielded mostly by kings and nobles. Much like the kris is a long sword known as the sundang, typically featuring a wavy blade. A well-known curved weapon is the kerambit, a compact weapon that appears like a cat's claw. It has been especially well-liked by females because it could be quite easily fixed inside their hair.

Reliable lengthy weapons would be the batang, a staff or pole which might be made of bamboo, wood, or steel, as well as the lembing, a spear that is widely used along with a perisai or a rattan shield.

The samping or sarong is very good for protection against an attacker's slicing weapons. It can be implemented for snagging, locking, and choking as well.



To gain a greater understanding of Indonesian martial arts and pencak silat, please go to http://www.squidoo.com/indonesian-martial-arts-and-pencak-silat.