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Pencak Silat

Filed under: , by: Donny

Pencak Silat (or Silat) is Indonesian traditional martial art. This type of martial art was rooted from Malay cultures. Pencak Silat is widely known in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, and wherever that Malay descendants are exist, such as in Southern Thailand and Southern Philippines.

History

Consisting of about thirteen thousands islands, Indonesia remains one of the richest centers of ethnic and cultural diversity today. Though little is accurately known of its ancient history, the impact of both cultural and combative influences from other countries such as China and India has been widely documented. The migrations between peoples of these many islands have been frequent and of long duration, and the combative and mystical elements that continued to evolve over time developed into highly sophisticated martial arts.

There are three major combative forms that presently found in Indonesia. They are Pencak Silat, Kuntao, and a variety of "endemic" forms. It is generally conceded that Pencak Silat is the best known self defense discipline and the one that has the strongest association with spiritual practices. There are many theories abound concerning its origins. However, a commonly held view suggests that it first developed in the Minangkabau Kingdom on the west central coast of Sumatra (now the Province of West Sumatra). While probably a relatively crude form during its formative development in the eleventh century, by the fourteenth century it had become a highly refined and sophisticated technical art that belonged exclusively to the kings of Majapahit and their court officials. Over time, the practice of this combative art was open to the other social classes. Combative influences derived from Indian, Chinese, and Arabic sources as well as travel among the various islands led to rapid diversification of varying styles currently exceeding over 150 in number.

Etymology

The term pencak generally connotes skillful body movements in variation for self defense. Silat refers to the fighting application of pencak. While these two components can be demonstrated separately, neither can be said to exist authentically without the other.

Systems

One of the most eclectic martial arts, Pencak Silat styles make used of both armed and unarmed techniques, employing fast, deceptive movements, blending with an opponent's force, and directing it along specific channels where it may be controlled. Weaponry includes numerous blade, staff, stick, and projective instruments, as well as unarmed techniques that includes hand strikes, kicks, grappling, and methods of falling. Technical characteristics of the respective style are determined by physical abilities and cultural mannerism of the people of a particular area, and major characteristics can be generally localized to specific regions. For example, foot and leg tactics in Sumatra; hand and arm tactics in West Java, Borneo, and Celebes; grappling tactics in East Java, Bali, and Sumatra; and a synthesis of foot and hand tactics in Central Java, East Java, Madura, and Bali.

Most systems begin with physical training, learning various movements, and applying various techniques to avoid physical injury at the hands of an assailant. Having mastered this preliminary foundation, the practitioner may proceed to develop his inner power. The effort to develop the inner power can be expressed in various ways.

Aspects

There are four main aspects in Pencak Silat:
  • Mental and Spiritual Aspect
  • Art and Culture Aspect
  • Martial Art Aspect
  • Sport Aspect

Capability Levels

Briefly, the Pencak Silat practitioners (or called pesilat) are divided into some levels according to their capability. Those levels are:
  • Pemula (novice)
  • Menengah (intermediate)
  • Pelatih (coach)
  • Pendekar (fighter, skilled duelist)

Organizations

The International Pencak Silat Federation is also called PERSILAT (Persekutuan Pencak Silat Antara Bangsa). This organization is founded by Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam. The member of PERSILAT now have reached 33 countries throughout the world. The other organizations of Pencak Silat, for example are:
  • IPSI (Ikatan Pencak Silat Indonesia) - Indonesia
  • PESAKA Malaysia (Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan Malaysia) - Malaysia
  • PERSISI (Persekutuan Silat Singapura) - Singapore
  • EPSF (European Pencak Silat Federation)

Styles and Forms

Today, there are many styles and forms of Pencak Silat. About two of three are founded and created in Indonesia.

Indonesia:
  • Perisai Diri
  • Merpati Putih
  • Tapak Suci Putera Muhammadiyah
  • Elang Putih
  • Silek Tuo (or Silat Tua)
  • Silek Harimau (or Silat Harimau)
  • Silat Cingkrik
  • Silat Cimande
  • Silat Cikalong
  • Silat Serak
  • etc.

Malaysia:
  • Gayung Malaysia
  • Silat Cekak
  • Silat Lincah
  • etc.

Southern Thailand:
  • Gayung Fatani

Philippines:
  • Maphilindo Silat (founded by Dan Inosanto)

East Timor:
  • Kmanek Oan Rai Klaran (KORK)

Europe:
  • Perisai Diri
  • Gerak Ilham

United States:
  • Silat Serak
  • Soempat Silat
  • ODF Silat
  • Tongkat Silat
  • Bukti Negara
  • Pukulan Cimande Pusaka
  • Persatuan Pencak Silat Inti Ombak


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Arnis and Eskrima

Filed under: , , by: Donny

Arnis and Eskrima (or Escrima) are Filipino traditional martial arts. Both of the fighting systems, in general, are use knife, sword, spear, or stick as the weapon.

History

Filipino combat skills were derived from many sources. It is generally thought that an early pygmy tribe (called the Negritos) were the first settlers to arrive from Central Asia. Three separate Malay migration followed, beginning around 200 BC, the last continuing until the middle of the fifteenth century AD. During this period, the second group of people who called Brahins, came from India to Sumatra, creating the famous empire of Sriwijaya. The third migration involved the takeover of the Sriwijaya Empire by the Majapahit Empire, originally formed in Java. Other than the use of bladed weapon brought by the Malay migrations, martial skills from China entered the islands country following earlier Indian influences. The invasion of the islands by Spaniards in the early part of the sixteenth century eventually forced the highly developed martial arts of Kali underground. However, the initial defeat of Magellan at the hands of Lapulapu on Mactan Island served to illustrate the skill of the natives in the use of the blade and hardwood stick as viable weapons.

The martial arts of Kali (derives from kalis, Tagalog, sword/sabre) came to signify various system of self defense that made use of bladed weapons. Dating back prior to the arrival of Portuguese and Spanish explorers in the early sixteenth century, Kali also referred to a stick, empty hand, or multi-weaponed art that had been used effectively as a system of self defense by the islanders for centuries.

When the Spaniards returned after their initial defeat, they brought firearms as well as additional reinforcements. Adopting the strategy of conquering specific regions of the islands and then using the natives to conquer their neighbors in adjoining areas, the Spanish victory was assured. Though Filipino martial arts were outlawed, in 1637 the Spaniards introduced komedya (derived from comedia, Spanish), a socio-religious play that dramatized the religious victory of the Spaniards over the natives. The mock combat portrayed in these plays served to secretly preserve the martial movements and techniques as well as transform aspects of the martial arts that were later outlawed in 1764. These modifications later became known as Arnis and Eskrima. Under American rule in the 1990s, the arts resurfaced and were use to fight the Japanese in World War II. A number of practitioners remained on the islands while others migrated to the United States.

Systems

Though its beginning are rooted in weapons combat, especially blade, dagger, or stick, the Filipino martial arts are complete self defense disciplines, making use of a variety of weapons and empty hand techniques. There are over a hundred styles or systems of Filipino martial arts. They are often divided into three main groups, which are northern systems, central systems, and southern systems. In general, the northern systems are based on the long stick and long blade, are designed to be used at a long range, and seldom have an empty hand component. The central systems are based on the principles of sword and dagger, use the stick from training and fighting, are designed to be employed at medium range, and have a sophisticated empty hand art to be used against armed opponents. And finally, the southern systems use the blade for training and combat, possess an empty hand component, and are used at medium or close range.

Arnis is the term that refers to those systems generally based on sword and dagger (espada y daga). While Eskrima often pertains to those systems based on the use of the single stick (solo baston) or double stick (doble baston). Both terms now are largely interchangeable an generally maintain all three components. Terminology is often fluid and imprecise among various practitioners of even the same system.

Famous Practitioners

The Filipino martial arts now are globally known thanks to the kindness of some Hollywood action movies. The arts are also known because of the struggle of the famous international martial arts experts who also the practitioners of Arnis and/or Eskrima like Dan Inosanto, Cacoy Canete, Elmer Ybanez, Tony Diego, Teofilo Velez, Richard Bustillo, Ryan Gialogo, Edgar Sulite, Leo Gaje, Armando P. Angeles, Leo Giron, Mike Inay, Ernesto Presas, Remy Presas, and Angel Cabales.

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