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  • Silat
  • Origin : - Indonesia and Malaysia

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  • Pencak Silat is the Indonesian and Malaysian set of Martial Arts, all with different styles and schools (over 400 of them).
    Some of them use different spellings, depending upon their lineage - Dutch-Indonesian Silat is typically "Pentjak Silat" and "pure" Indonesian styles "Pencak Silat."
    The Indonesian spelling is used here, not to exclude some Silat styles, but for uniformity.
  • Since Silat is an umbrella term covering many styles, it is not possible to give a single history.
    Some of the arts are very old (1000 years?), and some were developed less than 50 years ago.
    Also, as with other arts, the history of Silat is somewhat unclear.
    There is a mixture of indigenous techniques along with techniques borrowed from Chinese arts and Indian arts such as Kalaripayit
  • Descriptions :
    Pencak Silat depends heavily on an indigenous weapons and animal-styles heritage.
    In the (distant) past, it was predominately a weapons system; empty hand techniques are derived from the weapons forms.
    It is still often said that there is no silat without the knife.
  • Techniques are quite varied, although kicks are not emphasized much.
    Foot work is sophisticated and the development of stability is of major importance.
    The foot and and hand techniques are so subtle and intricate that they are often taught separately, then integrated after the student has mastered them individually.
    There is a good balance between offensive and defensive techniques.
    Different styles of Silat use different terminology to describe a practicioner's ability - "guru" is frequently used to refer to a proficient instructor, "kang" for senior students, and "pendekar" someone who has developed a high level of skill and possibly spiritual development. However, the usage varies from style to style, and possibly even from school to school.
  • Training :
    As an example, Pencak Silat Mande Muda has a complex and rather rigorous system of training, which includes classical empty hand and weapons forms, practical empty hand, weapons, and improvised weapons techniques, stretches, physical conditioning, and breath control.
    Although the forms are often performed with musical accompaniment, much like a dance, they are nevertheless extremely valuable both as conditioning methods and as encyclopedias of technique.
  • Sub-Styles :
    Mande Muda, Serak (also spelled Sera and Serah)
    Cimande (Tjimande)
    Cikalong (Tjikalong)
    Harimau
    Mustika Kwitang
    Gerakan Suci
    Perisai Diri
    many others
  • Contributors : Jeffrey Chapman - Russ Rader - Tim Rivera
  • Disclaimer and Copyright Notice Some answers given may reflect personal biases of the author and the martial arts FAQ listing's contributors. The answers contained herein pertain to discussions on the rec.martial-arts group, and are by no means exhaustive. The martial arts FAQ list owes its existence to the contributors on the net, and as such it belongs to the readers of rec.martial-arts. Copies may be made freely, as long as they are distributed at no charge, and the disclaimer and the copyright notice are included. -- Matthew Weigel Research Systems Programmer mcweigel+@cs.cmu.edu