MALAY FIGHTING ARTS

Silat Kumango

2011-11-15T00:54:00.001-08:00

One of the locking technique in silat cekak is ‘pasung kemanga’. The name came from silat kumango.

According to the researcher there are ten major silat styles in West Sumatra and this include Kumango silat.

Kumango silat is one of the original forms which typify Sumatran fighting. Kumango silat of the Bukit Tinggi-Batusangkar area is well known.

Silat Kumango is one of the oldest martial arts in Minangkabau. The origin of this silat is the province of Kumango sub district of Tanah Datar Sumatra Barat.

The first name appeared to introduced the new Kumango silat in this area was Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Khalidi after returning from Malay Peninsula to Kumango during 18th century.

He taught Silat Kumango combined with the philosophy of Islam.

It is composed of characteristically Minangkabau footwork which puts the operator close in on the enemy so that seizure can be followed by striking and throwing attacks. Soft, flexible action typifies the Kumango tactics.
Silat Kumango

Kali in Philippines

2011-09-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

Kali is considered the oldest form of fighting in the Philippines and utilizes sticks, blades and empty hand combat.

About 200 BC, the Malays migrated to the Philippines, and brought with them the long knife, thus enriching the Filipino arsenal.

As a martial art it was known as Kali, and ancient Malayan word which implies a large, bladed weapon longer than knife.

Kali is a highly practical art that stresses weapons training and focuses on the hands rather than kicking techniques.

The term came from tjakalele, a form of native fencing in Indonesia which was practiced primarily for self-defense by the pre-Spanish Filipinos.

Many historians said that the Hindu meaning for the Kali, is a devouring destructive goddess which is bloodthirsty. They believe that Philippine islanders, from the century through the 16th century, are believed to have worshipped the goddess of violence and death, Kali.

The ninth-century Tang dynasty brought goods to the Philippines from East Asia and Malay Peninsula. These countries’ combat methods of kuntao and silat had a great influence on the development of Kali, which is the mother art of the Philippines.

A third migration of Malays to the Philippines taken place during 14th century. And these immigrants were the ancestors of the Moro Filipinos of Mindanao and Sulu. They spread their cultural-religious belief as well as the Kali system, which utilized bladed weapons of a varying length.

In Kali the students learns the 12 basic angles of attack, or the eight basic attack. In palace of formal set patterns, he should learn a subtle rhythm of attack and defense, usually referred to simply as the flow.

Above all, the student should experience weapons first, before worrying about empty-hand combat.
Kali in Philippines

Silat Cikalong

2011-08-25T08:37:00.000-07:00

Silat Cikalong was popularized by Raden Haji Ibrahim during the mid nineteenth century. The style is stem from the vicinity of Cianjur.

In addition to master silat cimande in his village, Haji Ibrahim also mastered 17 forms of other silat styles.

However he was a not person who always satisfied with what he have. He always wanted to add knowledge of silat.

He went to Betawi and learned silat from other grand masters: Bang Mahkrup, Bang Kari an Bang Madi.

Later he founded Cikalong, Haji Ibrahim also known as Raden Jayaperbata (1816-1906) , is said to received the style in a moment of divine inspiration after spending time in retreat in a cave in Cikalong in the regency of Cianjur. He constructed a new styles by combining together the basic elements from what each of his teacher had taught him.

Silat Cikalong is one of the major silat styles of pencak silat in West Java. Their style is not related to any animals style.

Currently Cikalong influenced many masters and spread through Central and East Java, Singapore and Malaysia.
Silat Cikalong

Tomoi Siam

2011-06-25T01:30:00.001-07:00

Malay called tomoi siam, internationally known as Muay Thai. Tomoi Siam is the national sport of the Thailand.

It also known as Thai Kickboxing is a full contact martial art sport allowing the use of punches, kicks, knee strikes, and elbow strikes.

Blocking is a critical element in tomoi siam and compounds the level of conditioning a successful practitioner must possess.

Low and mid body roundhouse kick are normally blocked with the upper portion of a raised hand. High body strikes are blocked with forearm/ glove, elbow/shin.

This martial art also called The Science of Eight Limbs as hands, feet, knees and elbows are all used.

Current tomoi siam was modernized into its form in the early twentieth century, with the introduction of gloves, timed rounds, weight classes, rationalized rules and a scoring system.
Tomoi Siam

Gelanggang Silat

2011-05-06T20:08:00.000-07:00

Gelanggang is a place allocated for Malay martial arts or silat training and practice.

Traditionally, a fence around an open space outside surrounds the gelanggang. There are certain silat group that not allow any outsiders to see their silat training. This group are very secretive about their arts.

Before start training, normally the artist have to pray. They have to read do’a from Quran. This mandatory ceremony is called the ‘buka gelanggang.’

Depend on the silat, some have to pray Fatihah nine or three times, selawat, and surah Qul. They pray for the safety of all members, living and deceased.

The training then start with simple exercise and stretching. Silat is practiced as a carefully controlled exercise, it may be done solo or with a training partner.
Gelanggang Silat

Seni Silat Melayu Keris Lok 9

2011-03-22T06:04:00.001-07:00

Silat Lok 9 specialize in teaching the keris. Tuan Guru of Seni Silat Melayu Keris Lok 9 is Master Azlan Ghanie.

This silat was taught to him from his father, and has been passed down though his family from his great grandfather.

Silat Keris Lok 9 is an traditional old system that the roots can be traced back to the ancient Malacca sultanate.

The class started with traditional exercises which called ‘senaman tua’. It will take about 1 hour or 90 minutes to finish it.

The practitioners of Silat Lok 9 learn by application or through a gradual process of trial and error.

The syllabus of this silat includes sets of armed and unarmed movements (called jurus or tari) and the ‘buah’ or application technique.
Seni Silat Melayu Keris Lok 9

Silat Pauh

2010-09-04T01:50:00.000-07:00

One of the famous pencak silat in Padang area Sumatera country is silat pauh. The silat pauh is Kecamatan Pauh origin.

Characteristics of this silat pauh include a pattern of stepping movements in advancing retreating or turning which follows an imaginary square figure on the ground.

Readiness for combat is signified by thigh slapping.

Upon actual engagement the free hand us usually to protect the groin.

Vital points along the enemy’s center line are the major areas of assault. Those areas are measured by using the span distance between the outstretched thumb and forefinger as a guide.

Silat Pauh is one of the oldest styles in the area of Minangkabau. Others are Silat Tuo, Silat Kumango, Silat Stralak and silat Lintau.
Silat Pauh

Silat gayong

2010-07-24T06:21:00.000-07:00

Silat gayong
The roots of gayong name are found in the Malay word silat, normally associated with a series of movements of which two opponents demonstrate how to fence and defend themselves without the use of weapons in an extremely graceful manner.

It was introduced to the Malacca court in the 15th century. There the are flourished as a form of entertainment for privileged classes and eventually gained among the rural classes where it remained in practice until the days prior to the Japanese occupation in World War II.

Most of the instructors of silat gayong lived in rural and agrarian cultures in those early days when a course in rudimentary silat usually lasted three months. Village youths were assigned to local instructors for period ranging from six months to a year and the art suffer because of the various styles that gave silat gayung a varied non-uniform format.

The first experiments with a uniform syllabus began on Sodong Island, off Singapore, in 1942, during the height of the Japanese Occupation. It was conducted by Mahaguru Dato’ Meor Abdul Rahman bin Uda Mohamed Hashim.

Silat gayong deals mainly with locks, holds and throws. It s a very physical art and can be quite painful to practice.

A student’s progress is rated by the award of a bengkong (belt) of varying colors. After six months of basic training, the beginner can aspire to wear his first belt (white) and later graduate to green, red, yellow and finally black.
Silat gayong

Silat Kalimah

2010-06-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

Silat Kalimah
Silat Kalimah is a style of silat from Malaysia. It is one of the oldest known silat arts in Malaysia. It is said to trace back to 1118 AD when Sheikh Abdullah or Sheikh Tajreed supposedly taught what would become Silat Kalimah to the family of Maharaja Merong Mahawangsa of the 9th ruler of Kedah.

The art is said to have kept secrets within the royal family for centuries before it was finally revealed to commoners during the reign of Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin III (1854-1879).

It was at this time that the sultan taught the art to his right hand warrior and admiral Panglima Ismail who in turn taught it to Panglima Hadi, which was handed down to Panglima Tok Rashid.

The latter then taught the art to a certain Yahya Said (Mahaguru of Kalimah) from Perak in 1923.

In this silat there are four basics ‘tepisan and pukulan’ methods:
Kaedah of Doa
Kaedah of Qiam
Kaedah of Ruku’
Kaedah Takbir

And there are 27 ‘buah penangkap’.

Randai of Minangkabau

2010-05-15T01:03:00.001-07:00

Randai of Minangkabau
The randai is a traditional dance and theoretical form of the Minangkabau people. It incorporates dance movements, singing, instrumental music, story and acting.

Today randai is identified with Minangkabau communities throughout Indonesia and Malaysia.

This theatrical form developed through a number of successive influences and in several stages.

The world ‘randai’ implies a circle or circle like formation around a particular location.

It was derived from the action of a group of people surrounding a particular area as if searching grounds for something while moving in toward the center of the circle.

The randai dance is analogous to such movement and group formation. Other sources of the randai were oral storytelling and the silat.

Oral storytelling was the forerunner of randai. It was the most popular form of entertainment among the Minangkabaus, and through it Minangkabau folklore was handed down orally from one generation to the next.

Storytelling was and still is a professional art and only performed by professional called penglipur lara.

The young boys were familiar with the stories songs and the poetic art of the storyteller. Often these stories were used to boosts their morale for their future travelling mission.

In the meantime, they would be thought the art of self defense – silat by the older members who stayed at the family prayer house and by the returned travelers who were still bachelors.

As a means of encouraging and maintaining their interest in the pencak silat, tunes from the oral storytelling tradition were sung as an accompaniment for the the silat practices.

A variety of dances involving the martial arts gesture were also taught to the young men at the family prayer house, and specific songs from the oral storytelling tradition accompanied these dances.
Randai of Minangkabau

Kuntau

2010-04-22T06:20:00.001-07:00

Kuntau
Though kuntau is found all over Indonesia and Malaysia, it is not directly connected with pencak silat or silat.

It is the product of Chinese communities in Indonesia contains Chinese fighting methods brought to those areas by Chinese settlers centuries ago.

Kuntau may have influenced pencak silat at some time, though that influence is likely to have been small because of the secrecy of its training.

Perhaps the reverse is true, that is, that both pencak silat and silat have by virtue of their relatively open display to the public, produced some influence upon kuntau.

Even the twentieth century kuntau is taught with the most stringent secrecy. It is most popular in Java, Sumatra, the Celebes, Borneo, Singapore and large city of Malaysia.

Some Indonesians and Malays study it, but they are exception and it is taught to Chinese by Chinese masters.

Movement in kuntau is largely derived from animal actions. It involves a blend of “light” and “hard”.

Basically a defensive system stressing circular movement, it plays down linear movement and offensive application, but does not altogether avoid them.

Some methods stress the open hand or the closed hands, other the feet, and some have been able to achieve a balanced use of the two.
Kuntau

Silat Serak

2010-04-02T21:09:00.000-07:00

Silat Serak
The Indonesian martial art of pencak silat serak is one of the most fascinating yet under appreciation fighting systems ever created.

It was purportedly developed by a member of their exclusive Badui tribe of West Java during the late 18th century.

The Badui are a small tribe of Sunda speaking people who lived in the mountain forest territory of west Java, Indonesia.

Originally known by his Badui names Aliya Hasan and Grat Zapah, he’s more commonly referred to as “Pak Serak.”

Unlike most founders of martial arts who are credited with possessing great physical prowess, Pak Serak was physically challenged.

Standing a mere 5 feet tall, he suffered from two birth defects: an underdeveloped arm that was considerably shorter than normal and clubfoot.

Despite his disabilities, he actively pursued the study of pencak silat and combined a knowledge of several styles with his own perspective to give birth to the serak system.

He later passed his art down to Mas Djut, who adapted its technique for use by people who were physically challenged.
Silat Serak

World Largest Archipelago

2010-03-06T02:03:00.000-08:00

World Largest Archipelago
The world largest archipelago stretches like a huge scimitar from Malaysia to New Guinea, encompassing more than 13,000 islands and more importantly for martial artists more than 700 fighting systems.

Among these, silat or pencak silat is perhaps the deadliest.

Archeological evidence reveals that by the sixth century A.D formalized combat arts were being practiced in Sumatra and the Malay peninsula.

Two kingdoms – the Srivijaya in Sumatera and the Majapahit in Java – made good use of these fighting skills and were able to extend their rule across much of what is now Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

The Dutch arrived in the 17th century and controlled the spice trade up until the early 20th century, although both the English and Portuguese attempted unsuccessfully, to gain a tasting foothold in Indonesia.

During this period of Dutch rule, pencak silat was practiced secretly until the country gained is independence in 1949.

Wars, foreign trade and immigration across this region since the sixth century have left an indelible effect in present-day pencak silat.

The system incorporates Hindu, Arabian and Chinese weapons and fighting methods, Indian grappling techniques, Siamese costumes and Nepalese music.

Thousands of people cross the Malay peninsula still practice the style and make it part of their daily routines.
World Largest Archipelago

Silat Mustika Kwitang

2010-02-22T18:17:00.000-08:00

Silat Mustika Kwitang
Silat Mustika Kwitang, or more commonly Kwitang silat, is a practical system featuring powerful attacks and dynamic evasionary measures.

The founder of the system is unknown. But its named was after the Kwitang district in Jakarta.

Kwitang silat uses a curved arm fist to strike into the target; the elbow is never fully extended so as to avoid a joint locking counter attack by the enemy.

Peculiar to this system only is the fact that the force of the closed foes is concentrated into the last two knuckles (little and ring fingers) by positioning it in a cocked or slightly curved position.

Normally the fist is delivered on a slightly rising vector into the enemy’s midsection. Some open hand action is used, but more likely than not the opened hand is clenched tightly as a fist just as impact is made with the target.
Silat Mustika Kwitang

Silat in general

2010-01-27T20:24:00.000-08:00

Silat in general
Roughly speaking, silat means “skill for fighting.” There are hundreds of different styles of silat, most of which are found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, southern Thailand and the southern Philippines.

Common to all of these styles is a combat oriented ideology and the use of weaponry.

In Indonesia, there exist hundred of styles of pencak silat, as well as many systems of kuntau, a form of Chinese boxing which bears many similarities to silat and is found primarily within the Chinese communities in Indonesia.

There are also many systems which blend pencak silat and kuntau.

Malaysia is home to a style known as bersilat, which can be divided into two forms:

Silat pulut, a dance like series of movements intended for public display.
Silat buah, a realistic combat method never publically display.

Bersilat is also found in the southern Philippines as well as langkah silat, kuntau silat and kali silat.
Silat in general

The Art of Silat

2010-01-14T06:31:00.000-08:00

The Art of Silat
Silat is an ancient Malaysia art of self-defense, dating back to the early part of the fifteenth century.

Today this art is generally referred to simply as silat. It consists of many diverse forms which are also wide spread throughout Indonesia.

The art developed in the agricultural areas, where most of its instructors lived and work.

It was introduced to Malaysia by the legendary hero and acknowledge father of silat, Hang Tuah of Malacca.

Hang Tuah is said to have gone into the Mountains for several years in search of a Mahaguru (a grandmaster) to teach him the skills of this once most secret martial art.

The knowledge he acquired through his vigorous training thought him how to face an enemy and defeat him.

It was such a secret martial art in the old days, which in many villages the inhabitants could live their whole lives without ever realizing that a guru or master of silat lived and trained among them.
The Art of Silat

Silat Sendeng

2009-12-09T17:07:00.000-08:00

Silat Sendeng
Sendeng is an adjective meaning: asking, crooked, awry, twisted to one side, amiss.

Sendeng refers to the tactic of “slanting,” a style of silat movement that turns the body sideways on to the opponent an serves to simultaneously extend the reach of the persilat and to minimize the exposed are available for the opponent to strike.

Slanting also refers to the slanting entry into and through the opponent’s “spatial envelope,” traversing “personal distance” into the “intimate zone.”

Technique from silat sendeng, or techniques related to the concept of slanting, are found in many styles of silat from Malaysia and Indonesia.

Silat Sendeng Malaysia founded by Allahyarham Long Mamat and expanded by Allahyarham Haji Hamid bin Haji Hamzah, named this silat by Seni Silat Sendeng Muar. First center under Allahyarham Haji Hamid is born at Sungai Mati, Muar, Johor Darul Takzim. After Allahyarham Haji Hamid past away on 19 May 1990, his younger brother, Allahyarham Haji Ismail bin Haji Hamzah was choosen to lead Seni Silat Sendeng and replaced as ‘Guru Utama’.

Silat sendeng is a combination of Pukulan Sendeng and Kuntau Telok Mas.
Silat Sendeng

Ijazah for Silat

2009-10-30T16:55:00.000-07:00

Ijazah for Silat
Authority, control, power and status are refracted through creativity and authenticity, through ijazah and movement.

Ijazah in silat is the permission to transmit establishes silat styles or techniques.

Some silat styles are secret or reserved (amanah) and may only be transmitted within the bounds of kinship ties, unlike more open styles that can be publicly disseminated to the community from gelanggang.

Gerak as a form of “sympathetic magic” is a mimetic ability to simply watch a silat player or silat teacher for a short period of time and then be able to summon forth the movements of the style into one’s own body.

Movements, states of movements and whole styles of silat emerge through gerak, themselves then subject to the “mimeis and alterity” of gerak, consequently re-invoking issue of ijazah.
Ijazah for Silat

Silat cekak

2009-10-01T07:22:00.000-07:00

Silat cekak
Silat cekak was originally developed in the Kedah Court to counter the Thai fighting style known as the tomoi.

It is not a style of silat which is ceremonious in nature used for performances at traditional Malay weddings such as Silat Pulut or Silat pengantin.

As such Silat cekak does not have any musical accompaniment such as the traditional Malay drum or Gendang and does not perform graceful dance-like movements for public amusement such a Silat pengantin.

Now one of the most popular silat styles in Malaysia, it was first registered as an association in Kedah in 1904, and for Malaysia generally in 1965.

Cekak means to “claw” or seize the opponent.

It is renowned for its series of buah which have been influential in the development of more recent silat styles in Peninsular Malaysia, including silat gayong.

Silat cekak also known as papan sekeping, is an Islamic martial art that originates in Peninsular Malaysia.

Silat cekak began with the famous Panglima Ismail of Kedah who invented the silat and taught the technique to another warrior of the Kedah court, Panglima Tok Rashid.

The latter then taught the art to a certain Yahya Said from Perak, on the condition that he agreed to return the silat to the Kedah Malays.

Yahya Said himself never made it to Kedah but kept the knowledge of the art for forty years until it was finally taught to Kedah Malay from the district of Sik, Guru Hanafi.

Silat cekak is different from other martial arts in that it doesn’t employ any evasive or side-stepping moves. Instead, the practitioner advances forward in order to defeat the enemy making an effective style for fighting in tight quarters such as as in a boat or inside an airplane.

A prominent feature of silat cekak is is straight postured stances meant to teach calmness, patience and courage.
Silat cekak

Minangkabau Silat

2009-09-09T20:53:00.000-07:00

Minangkabau Silat
Minangkabau is well known for its pencak silat (martial arts). It is customary for Minang youth to spend a lot f their time practicing pencak silat.

Pencak silat is an ancient martial art form likely originating in western Sumatera in the seventh century.

Historically boys had to master silat before permitted to venture to other lands.

They use legs more than the hands and when they attack it is very swift and violent.

The Harimau silat is the most aggressive and dangerous style of Minang martial art, which originated in Painana district of West Sumatra.

Harimau means tiger, and the steps imitate a tiger stalking and killing its prey.

With their bodies as close to the ground as possible the two fighters circle around menacingly, springing at each other from time to time.

The Minangkabau combine martial arts with dance. They created a dance called randai which is a unique drama performed at weddings, harvest festivals and other celebrations.

The randai combines the movements of pencak silat with literature, sport, song, and drama.
Minangkabau Silat

Silat Bakti Negara

2009-08-22T03:10:00.000-07:00

Silat Bakti Negara
Bakti Negara system is popularly referred to as pencak Bali (sometimes even kuntao Bali). It is firmly rooted in the old Hindu Beliefs and philosophies of Indonesia.

The words bakti and negara mean devotion and country respectively.

Skill in this style of pencak silat is indicated by colored belts. In order of decreasing seniority those colors are violet, yellow, brown, blue and red.

Each has two classes. Only two violet belts, both belonging to master teachers, exist for this system.

Since the costume for Bakti Negara is black, these belt colors contrast vividly and produce a pleasing effect.

Championships determined by a sportive phase of Bakti Negara are not the prime purpose of the system.

But because some need was felt to identify the active exponents in terms of competitive skill, a sporting outlet was created.

Combatants engage in empty hand tactics and points are scored along specific lines which permits a high degree of action without unnecessary chance of injury.

Bakti Negara was officially created on 31 January 1955 in Banjar Kaliungu Kaja of Denpasar, Bali by four freedom-fighters who were veterans in Indonesia's struggle for independence from the Dutch.

They were Anak Agung Rai Tokir, I Bagus Made Rai Keplag, Anak Agung Meranggi and Sri Empu Dwi Tantra. The task of leading and managing Bakti Negara was given to Ida Bagus Oka Dewangkara.

The system is a synthesis of older pencak silat ideas out of Java, combined, however, with modern foreign influences, such as Japanese jujutsu, aikido and karate-do, as well as Western boxing tactics.

Some Kodokan judo techniques are being studied but are not yet completed as standardized for adoptation.
Silat Bakti Negara

Silat in General

2009-07-26T19:52:00.000-07:00

Silat in General
This Southeast Asian martial system is known variously as silat (Indonesia, the Philippines), silek (Indonesia), and bersilat (Malaysia).

The term silat is generally agreed to mean “combat” or “fighting” and is commonly coupled with a modifier such as ber (Malay; to do) or pencak/pentjak ( Indonesian; translated as “regulated, skillful body movements”).

The system is based in indigenous Indonesia combat arts, with primary influence from India and China.

Silat employs striking with both hands and feet, throws and locks.

A variety of weapons are integrated along with unarmed techniques in silat curricula.

Techniques are launched from very low stances, deep crouches or even creeping positions. These stances are regarded as “signature” of silat.

Most sources contend that silat originated on the Indonesian island of Sumatra located just across the Strait of Malacca from the Malaysian peninsula.

The art originated in Sumatra during the period of the Minangkabau Empire. The art developed and proliferated from the seventh to the sixteenth centuries, becoming a network of systematized arts by about the fourteenth century.

The art was exported to Malaysia to the Malaccan court and undoubtedly influenced bersilat, which enters recorded history in about the fourteenth century.
Silat in General

Silat – in Moro Land

2009-07-06T02:12:00.001-07:00

Silat – in Moro Land
In Tawi-tawi silat has since been introduced to the natives of Jolo and Mindanao and has been practiced in combat sport by the Moros.

The art is never played, it is fought and it is not a martial art where the combatants walk away without some shedding of blood.

Moro tradition observes the secrecy of instruction.

Silat lessons are considered top secret by both leader and students and not everybody can witness the exercises and play.

The combat art is practiced in the home, all windows and doors are barred and no outsiders are allowed.

Usually an expert in this combat art only exhibits this knowledge of the art by body maneuvers like pivoting, parrying, hitting, turning at four corners, leaping, evading, swinging the bladed weapon for hit and parry.

Silat, when executed by Muslim players, gives the rendition of coordinated movements with modification of various techniques.

It is sometimes combined with the rustic and graceful striking movements of the Arnis.
Silat – in Moro Land

Kuntau Bangkui - Martial Art of Headhunters

2009-06-27T03:10:00.000-07:00

Kuntau Bangkui - Martial Art of Headhunters
Deep in the heart of the Borneo Jungles Kuntau Bangkui is being put to use. An utmost unknown martial art, Kuntau Bangkui could be called the Martial Art of Headhunters.

Practiced in the Dayak head-hunter area in the Central Borneo this martial art is a matter of developed instincts for self defense and survival.

The Dayak head-hunter is perhaps the past of the primordial, an image of the past.

He is a man pitted against nature without compromise, he is a man who must sculpture his own life with is body, the basic component of self-defense tools.

And what a tool his body makes. Here everything comes into play, the movement of the hands, the shoulders, the fists, the palms of the hands, the finger, the feet, legs and the knees.

Here the sides of the feet and soles are used in a systematic schedule of retreat and pursuit. This is Kuntau Bangkui.
Kuntau Bangkui - Martial Art of Headhunters

Kelantan Silat

2009-05-27T18:41:00.000-07:00

Kelantan Silat
Silat is generally called ‘the Malay art of self defense’, but isn’t unique to the peninsula.

A Kelantan silat performance is accompanied by a small ensemble of long drums, Indian oboes and gongs, which generate a loose set of cross rhythms.

Two Malay men in baggy dark costumes, topped by a draped head cloth, face each other in the sandpit where this dance-exercise is usually held, though for weddings and other entertainment it can be performed on a mat indoors.

The initial passes are dignified, almost slow but as the music intensifiers, the flowing movements change.

The combatants grip each other other and the first to throw his opponent to the ground is the winner.

The music rises to a crescendo as the silat intensifiers, the serunai screeching atonally while the drums and gongs quicken their loose rhythm.

In a very different of assemble, six to twelve men play pentatonically tuned wooden xylophones.

The rhythmic melody they hammer out in unison is fast and jolly and all the players end each piece at precisely the same time, raising their beater overhead as they do so.
Kelantan Silat