What Is Unique About Your Silat?

[Saiful Azraq]

Salam hormat,

This is probably an explosive issue, but seeing as the forum members have been pretty civil these last few threads, I thought I'd try. What do you think/ assume/ know is unique about your particular style/system? It can be technical or spiritual, but please, nothing as inane as the name of teacher or training venue (of course it's unique!).

A good thing I hope to come out of this is we get to know each others' style a little better and a bad thing with silver lining is that we find out whether what he have is truly unique or otherwise (amongst ourselves at least).

Let me start off with what I think is unique about the styles I studied.

Silat Cekak Hanafi
-blue uniform
-uses a Lading in reverse grip

Silat Melayu Keris Lok 9
-Tapak 9, a relatively static method of training balance and is the core for all footwork in our style.

Silat Kuntau Tekpi
-couldn't think of any

Silat Sendeng
-couldn't think of any

Silat Kalimah
-locks, strikes and throws based off salat, the Muslim prayer.

Hmmmm.... any takers? Taker? You taking?

Salam persilatan,

[Rebo Paing]

Salam taklim, Silat Sekar Wana is my own silat distilled from my father's influence, R. Suyono Pryosusilo, the influence of my other respected teacher Prof. Li Pei Dong and practical experience. It is now my family silat ... Most silat teach technique/application first ... sometimes through jurus ... and the pesilat gradually understands how to move following that ... We learn how to move first in relation to body structure, tonus and gravity, then gradually unfold technique/application from that. I call the process lelaku (the way we follow) and it is the foundation to our gerak nurani (inspired movement - movement from the light of the eye).

Cheers.

[Kertas]

Hmm.. this is inteesting Terima Kasih Saiful...

i dont know how much my input would contribute to this thread but i hope it would be useful :)
in Pukulan melaka, we have only one jurus. the jurus is only taught at the end of the first level, wich acts as an index (in most silats is the case) to the movement and technique learnt in each level.

the jurus then evolves at the end of each other level, in the sense that additions are made to the original jurus.

Application is taught before jurus. what i like of this method is that more emphasis and time is dedicated to the practicality of the art instead of 20 or 30 jurus's.

we have less than 10 hand to hand techniques, and less than 10 defensive technique in kicking. its very easy method to learn. This flows into Seni and weaponry as well.

i have learnt some Kaedah of Silat kalimah, and very interesting to learn the Takbir Technique hehe (Saiful will know what i mean).

when i think of other unique qualities of our silat, then i'll post again.

Salam Persilatan

[Gajah Silat]

This:)

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-7345719198942922560&q=jak+othman&ei=0CJYSLSGDZCEjgKwt4T6Dg&hl=en

[Rebo Paing]

Hi Pakde Martin, (no offense) which part of "This" exactly are you referring to? :D

[Gajah Silat]

No offense taken Krisno, I'm a pakde a few times over anyway:)

Glad to see you haven't completely moved on yet.

I stumbled on this video yesterday. Youtube and the like have squillions of clips of silat, but this is only the second one of Guru Jak doing Harimau Berantai I have ever found. Then I see my teacher sneak in at the end of the clip and realise it's one of his videos:)

Just thought some of you guys might like to see it.

As for uniqueness, I think it has to be the nut wrenching or Guru Jak's trademark hairdo.

[Rebo Paing]

As for uniqueness, I think it has to be the nut wrenching or Guru Jak's trademark hairdo.

I thought it was a move depicting the slashing of femoral artery ... but a flick in the nuts is preferable :D.

What's wrong with the hairdo? It looks just like mine used to ... although now I'm nearly Pak Botak lol!

Cheers!

[Gajah Silat]

Of course Om Krisno,

With pisau it is a slash across the eyes, slit down the stomach via the crown jewels and cut to the femoral. Getting caught in the nuts practising that with an aluminium trainer......ouch my biji!

Umm, starting to get a bit botak in the dahi area myself but abu2(?) is more of a problem for me.:cry:

[Saiful Azraq]

Salam hormat,

Ahhhh... guru Jak. I don't mind saying that I have had the privilege of having his buttocks sandwich my head into the mat.

(We were practising Harimau Berantai drills in a free seminar at my university where all the martial arts clubs turned up when I accidentally flowed from one of his drills into a Silat Cekak buah. He goes, "Hey! That's interesting! Now everybody watch, I'll show you how we can make that hurt more. You boy, punch me...")

I used to hang out at his studio in Taman Setapak Indah until he moved it to Ampang (and now to Sunway). Sad to say, the trademark bouf is gone, but the curls still bunch at the end. His speed remains constant, if not improving. I sometimes wonder just how much faster he would become after a detox.

What's unique about Pencak Silat Harimau Berantai?
-Jak Othman's smile
-Jak Othman's voice
-Jak Othman's laugh
-T-Shirt and Batik (at least unique in Malaysia)
-Jak Othman's students' Malaysian/ world records
-Jak Othman's legs in Muay Thai shorts.

With respect of course... :)

Salam persilatan,

[Saiful Azraq]

Salam hormat Pak Krisno,

Most silat teach technique/application first ... sometimes through jurus ... and the pesilat gradually understands how to move following that ... We learn how to move first in relation to body structure, tonus and gravity, then gradually unfold technique/application from that. I call the process lelaku (the way we follow) and it is the foundation to our gerak nurani (inspired movement - movement from the light of the eye)

I have an article here http://silat-melayu.blogspot.com/2008/01/buah-born-or-barakah-nurture-nature-and.html that might be relevant to what you mean. Would you mind telling me if what is written in this article as Expression Method describes your process of Lelaku?

Could you also describe Gerak Nurani more for me? Terima kasih.

Salam persilatan daripada adikmu,

[Kertas]

We only use human styles. And we use it to fight the animals within us. Is than unique?hehe..

[Rebo Paing]

I have an article here http://silat-melayu.blogspot.com/2008/01/buah-born-or-barakah-nurture-nature-and.html that might be relevant to what

you mean. Would you mind telling me if what is written in this article as Expression Method describes your process of Lelaku?

Could you also describe Gerak Nurani more for me? Terima kasih.

Dimas Saiful, you are a very good writer, there is no doubt. The article is right on the spot, very scientific!
As you know silat is a survival response that grows from a perceived need. I see the need for my children who are growing up in a culture that is foreign to me in many ways, and my driving concern is that they will not properly understand their Jawanese heritage, therefore I have a duty to the spirit of my ancestors and family.

The aim of our training is 5 fold:
1. To live according to our family principles of humanity and compassion, that all life is from a single source and will return to that source.
2. To develop maintain and sustain a healthy, clean mind and body infrastructure.
3. To develop risk assessment techniques applied to any potential situation using the OODA loop process as 2nd nature.
4. To develop a deep level of body-mind intelligence & intuition whereby the physiological and psychological reaction is appropriate to the situation when it is time to act ... and this at its purest level is what we call gerak nurani, or inspired movement.
5. To develop a quiet confidence in our own abilities, with humility and sobriety.

I come from a village background, my people have been rice farmers for generations as well as being warriors during the colonial era against the Dutch till my time. I changed the pattern and now live in Australia away from my ancestral home, so the way of training that I have at my disposal is necessarily different in this era and place.
To attempt to answer your question, lelaku is a combination of Impression Method (IM), Expression Method (EM) and Activation Method (AM). With regard to AM, the searcher will eventually reach the place whereby they 'self-activate' in response to necessity, completely physiologically and psychologically. I think all people reach that point at some time in their lives, the crunch time where one is required to act ... no other way out!

To address our stated training aims, I focus on the development of :
1. Our understanding of Kejawen philosophy, which forms the framework (EM, AM)
2. Responsiveness to surrounds (tanggap sasmita). (EM, AM)
3. Rasa - the requirement for being able to follow (tutut), stick (nempel), borrow (nyilih) and contribute (nyumbang). (IM, EM & AM)
4. Body knowledge of empty (kosong), full (isi) & fulcrum/balance (titimbangan) through dynamic relaxation of musculo-skeletal system. (IM, EM & AM)
5. Understanding stress management when facing aggression. (EM & AM)

The lelaku is the actual mind and body activity itself incorporating :
1. Simple but effective latihan with roots in neigong (body core strength building), qigong (for feeling and tonus) and some specific yoga (body core strength building). (IM then gradually EM)
2. Standing exercise (zhan-zhuang or latihan ngadeg) (IM then gradually EM)
3. Circle walking (nglankah) (IM then gradually EM)
4. Partnered sensitivity and balance exercise that I call nyimplung (describes the sound made when swimming in river making rythmic sounds with cupped hands just under the surface of water), which is arm and palm sticking and/or bouncing. (IM then gradually EM)
5. Two man and multiple sparring, wrestling (gelut) & stick fighting (palu) ... our system tries to avoid drawing blood. (EM)
6. We now do kembangan (EM & AM)
7. Gerak badan, hobby, sport etc ... incorporating what is available. Judo (my eldest), Running, football, soccer, bal-tangan (hand-ball) & skate-boarding, piano, history, art ... heheh ... all helps centering & body core development as well as diversity of scene. (IM then gradually EM/AM)

Note : All AM is self realisation or epiphany.
I hope I have answered your question satisfactorily :) ... a post on gerak nurani to follow,

Salam my friend.
Krisno

[Rebo Paing]

to continue ... on the subject of gerak nurani ... to explain, gerak is movement, nurani indicates that which originates in inspiration on an instinctive level, but the word is a joining of two Arabic words (if I'm not mistaken) which means light (nur) of the eye (aini).
I have posted in the past on how we use certain mythical characters from the Jawanese wayang pantheon & mythology as a visualisation tool in the gerak badan portion of our silat.
For example Hyang Antaboga, the serpent (naga) deity is used to describe the components of the arms during expression of technique of a sinuous (ngulet and ngiter), joining/following (nutut), sticking (nempel) and extending (sodok) nature ... whereas Garuda is used to provide the imagery for splitting (sigar), sweeping (babat), chopping (bacok) and driving (gebrak). Hanoman is used as an example to visualise indomitable spirit, stepping and alacrity of movement, Singa Barong is used to visualise unstoppable power etc. These are just tools with no other significance other than they serve to be a method to align psychology with physiology ... a practiser can also have a favourite identifier and make all expressions fit that identifier etc.
We use 17 specific parts of the body as weapon and express energy in 8 separately identifiable ways, some of which I've described above.
The is a series of laku or jurus pendek if you like that describes possibilities of using the 17 body parts in different contexts drawn from the 8 ... but they are there as an initial template.
Laku is our action, how we bear ourselves in any situation in every moment ... it is meditation upon what is in the present. When we focus on the requirement of "now" there is no room for any other emotion ... thus we can act in accordance with the requirement.
The process of ngukir (from mengukir which means to carve) is the process whereby the practiser/searcher explores different exptrapolations and possibilities of usage/technique or application ... and this is where natural preferences and abilities (high, low, ground, powerful, lincah dan sebagainya) start to become noticeable.

As I am Jawanese from a rice planting culture. I organise the journey of a practiser of my silat using the traditional rice planting project management tool (ilmu padi) that describes the rice planting process from beginning (cok bakal, making the first offering i.e. stating intent or making purpose known) to harvest (panen), with all the points in between such as susruk wangan, gawe pinian, alisan/pupuk galangan, ider-ider, ngluku, nggaru, nggrabaki, angkler, nyebar, nanat, ngrabuk , matun and panen.

The practice is inseparable from daily life, how we talk, eat, communicate etc ... it is all part of the silat, ensuring that our action in every aspect is continuously honed until we begin to uncover aspect of our original nature ... any action that comes from that is gerak nurani ... inspired movement from Gusti, nature, the Tao, from the source.

All of this from beginning to end is basically the process of lelaku - the way we follow, from a nuts and bolts perspective.

Wassalam.

[Rebo Paing]

... a bit of addendum ...
Our philosophical approach is kantong bolong meaning hole in the pocket (so the pocket is empty), lose the preconceived ideas, attachment and ego etc ... we aim for greget (with feeling/meaning/fullness etc), sawiji (unity and integration) & sengkuh nora mingkuh (unshakeable) ... that describes the character of good lelaku ... because lelaku actually can also transcend concepts of good and bad ... it just means the way we follow to get to enlightenment or some other place :).

[Saiful Azraq]

Salam hormat,

Kertas
"We only use human styles. And we use it to fight the animals within us. Is than unique?"

It could be unique, but most traditional styles in Malaysia claim the same thing. Most pukulan styles are already non-animal influenced (if they ever were) like Sendeng, Buah Pukul Mersing, Hulubalang Melaka, etc

However, the only overt claim to being a 'human' style ever made in Malaysia is by the Silat Cekak schools. Its founder, Allahyarham Ustaz Hanafi Haji Ahmad sought to distance his school from other schools.

Among other rationale that he came up with, was that other schools like Silat Gayong, Silat Helang Putih and Silat Harimau were based on animal movement, whereas Silat Cekak is based on human movement, which is salat.

Most of these rationale were quite well accepted and contributed to an increase in their memberships in the 1970s through the 2000s.

Walang Kadung
Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog, Pak Krisno. I have some questions and interesting comments on what you wrote.

"3. To develop risk assessment techniques applied to any potential situation using the OODA loop process as 2nd nature."

What is OODA?

"I come from a village background, my people have been rice farmers for generations as well as being warriors during the colonial era against the Dutch till my time."

I guess your ancestors, being the hardier ones, won. My ancestors got thrown out of Acheh and exiled to Ceylon.

"4. Body knowledge of empty (kosong), full (isi) & fulcrum/balance (titimbangan) through dynamic relaxation of musculo-skeletal system. (IM, EM & AM)"

I wish to know more about this, if you may. In return, I share the 7 Petua of Gerak Silat, which in my mind (and those masters I consulted), are the maxims of movement that guide pesilat in their lives.

1. Ruang (space/ emptiness/ void) - Hampa Gerak
2. Titik (dot/ static/ unmotion) - Diam Gerak
3. Alif (linear energy) - Punca Gerak
4. Lam Alif (recursive energy) - Asas Gerak
5. Jantan Betina (male/female) - Aras Gerak
6. Mata Angin (compass points) - Arah Gerak
7. Jengkal (measurement) - Ukur Gerak

"I have posted in the past on how we use certain mythical characters from the Jawanese wayang pantheon & mythology as a visualisation tool in the gerak badan portion of our silat."

This is still true for quite a few styles in Malaysia, but they are seen as controversial for keeping to what are seen as Hindu practises. For example, there is a style in Pulau Pinang right now called Silat Tua, originally taught in Fatani by religious school headmaster (!) that uses imagery of figures from the Mahabharata in their training. (See http://silat-melayu.blogspot.com/2000/01/silat-tua-malay-dance-of-life.html)

These figures represent different attitudes that need to be instilled within the pesilat being trained. If the pesilat has problems with posture and core development, the master will prescribe meditating on Rama (and all of the fighting templates and techniques of Rama), the archer.

If the pesilat has problems with supplemess, the Sri Devi is prescribed while if there are issues with energy and spontanaeity, Hanuman is prescribed.

It's been an enjoyable discussion thus far. Hope it continues.

Salam persilatan!

[Rebo Paing]

What is OODA?
begin quote from http://www.valuebasedmanagement.net/methods_boyd_ooda_loop.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The OODA loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act) is an information strategy concept for information warfare developed by Colonel John Boyd (1927-1997). Although the OODA model was clearly created for military purposes, elements of the same theory can also be applied to business strategy. Boyd developed the theory based on his earlier experience as a fighter pilot and work on energy maneuverability. He initially used it to explain victory in air-to-air combat, but in the last years of his career he expanded his OODA loop theory into a grand strategy that would defeat an enemy strategically by “psychological” paralysis.

Boyd emphasized that strategy should always revolve around changing the enemy’s behavior, not annihilating his forces. The parallel between Boyd’s ideas and Sun Tzu’s masterpiece, “The Art of War,” are obvious. Both Boyd and Sun Tzu advocate the ideas of harmony, deception, swiftness and fluidity of action, surprise, shock, and attacking the enemy’s strategy.

Colonel Boyd viewed the enemy (and ourselves) as a system that is acting through a decision making process based on observations of the world around it. The enemy will observe unfolding circumstances and gather outside information in order to orient the system to perceived threats. Boyd states that the orientation phase of the loop is the most important step, because if the enemy perceives the wrong threats, or misunderstands what is happening in the environment around him, then he will orient his thinking (and forces) in wrong directions and ultimately make incorrect decisions. Boyd said that this cycle of decision-making could operate at different speeds for the enemy and your own organization. The goal should be to to complete your OODA loop process at a faster tempo than the enemy’s, and to take action to lengthen the enemy’s loop. One tries to conduct many more loops “inside” the enemies OODA loop, causing the enemy to be unable to react to anything that is happening to him.

Colonel Boyd stated that the the enemy’s OODA loop can be lengthened through a variety of means. Boyd’s aim is to generate “non-cooperate” centers of gravity for the enemy through ambiguity, deception, novel circumstances, fast transient maneuvers, and the use of Sun-Tzu’s idea of Cheng and Ch’i. By isolating the enemy’s centers of gravity and developing mistrust and cohesion within the system (making them “non-cooperative”), friction will be greatly increased, paralysis in the system will set in, and the enemy will ultimately collapse. By attacking the thought process of the enemy / competitor, his morale and decision process can be shattered.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
end quote.

I guess your ancestors, being the hardier ones, won. My ancestors got thrown out of Acheh and exiled to Ceylon.
Banished to Srilangka? What period? I'd be really interested in hearing the history of your ancestors from Aceh if you are willing to share.

We lost :D :D (the edit .. snipped irrelevencies)
Body knowledge of empty (kosong), full (isi) & fulcrum/balance (titimbangan) through dynamic relaxation of musculo-skeletal system. (IM, EM & AM)
I wish to know more about this, if you may. In return, I share the 7 Petua of Gerak Silat, which in my mind (and those masters I consulted), are the maxims of movement that guide pesilat in their lives.
Sure, no problem.
The 7 petuah is very true ... in laymen terms we have: before creation/movement/10,000 things there is the void, differentiation and will leading to the germ of movement, covering 6 axis of freedom, within it's limits, has binary opposites in terms of character, has direction and a quotient for energy. However my approach is less pedagogic ... I will have to reply re kosong, isi dan titimbangan at a later post because the computer is needed by my wife right now.

Sampai nengok di ruang forum ini lagi, salam.
Krisno

[Kertas]

Salam and hello to all.. SHEW! What an interesting discussion. My fiancé who studied Setia Hati Terate asked me in the week, "why are you talking silat? When are you going to practice?" hehe.. I guess one main ingredient a pesilat must have is consistency hey. Brother Saiful, thank you for enlightening me about the animal and human style thing in Malaysia. Following the discussion,its nice to know that Encik Walang K still holds on to his family heritage. Many concepts you speak of is taught in Sufism. When you speak of coming from and returning to a single source, the 1st step to attain the Gerak Nurani would be to recognise that source and surrender your devotion, your sacrifice, your life and death for that source. This is the begining of the journey (suluk). There is however a more developed gerak,which is from the light of the intelligence. The Nur Ayni and Nur Aqli are different, and when that is established, the journey will be established. To give an example, the light of the eye is only physically experienced, and physical sight is marked by several kinds of defects. It sees others but not itself. It does not see what is very far, nor what is very near, nor what is behind a veil. It sees only the exterior of things,not their interior.it makes many mistakes in its seeing,for what is large appears to its vision small;what is far,near;what is at rest,at motion;what is in motion,at rest. This was taught by Alghazali. Consult Mishkat Al-Anwar :) . It seems the javanese philosophical teachings aimed at bringing man to his Fitrah (original pure state) although i am confused with using deities such as Naga like you have mentioned. Whichever philosophy we hold to, we must strive to be the Representative of the Ultimate source of Light on this earth. We too adhere to the Ilmu Padi philosophy,in fact the rice stalk forms part of the emblem of our school. This is just an opinion based on my humble understanding. Interesting to learn about the OODA loop. In the recent movie, it was quoted "martial arts is based on deception". Interesting discussion indeed, keep it up terama kasie!

[Saiful Azraq]

Salam hormat all,

Pak Krisno, I definitely await your elucidation on kosong, isi and titimbangan with eagerness. As for my ancestry, I notice you snipped yours :) My mother's paternity is from Hadramaut in Yaman, which came to Acheh and were conferred the titles of Teuku. They apparently served in the courts as administrators and warriors.

I have no dates (though I suspect my brethren in Sri Lanka have details) of when the Dutch exiled them. I knew very little about this history growing up, and have not seen or inherited anything of cultural value from my grandfather, except this: http://silat-melayu.blogspot.com/2007/12/could-anyone-identify-these-weapons.html

(The family is now present in Acheh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Canada).

To Kertas, my salams to you as well. Thank you for your contributions to the discussion.

Now, I'd really like to know from others on the forum: What makes your silat unique?

Salam persilatan,

[Raden-Rahmat]

salam pesilat
in debating on he issue, i found that many silats share techniques and but methodology sometimes differs...its not unique tho. the we have those who have prowess on different foundations (soil, muddy ground, dry etc)...
but in my opinion amongst others that i will have to ponder deeper into would my CIKGU DIRECTLY.
in my obsevances, for his age he has lightfeet and invisible hands!!! that unique enough??? btw he is now approximately 57...

[Raden-Rahmat]

in south africa, we have had a number of malays exported from ceylon. the dutch concentrated us here...many of Javanese origin, Sumatra, Banten, Cirebon and The Maluku islands...from Madura as well as the Mataram kingdom. Many are key figures within kingdoms and either rulers or advisors to the ruler. it was dutch policy to cripple leadership and banish them. as is the case with our brother from Aceh, Nadzrin. sad to hear but at least we share common grounds now. in silat and in politics...in relation to our colonial history. We called our ppl the Orang Caten...said to mean Orang Kayaan...well thats always a slight linguistic jumble cos of the javanese dialectic influence...bahasa melayu doesnt quite match up to old javanese...

not forgetting Walang Kadung...btw i like the sound of it...our ppl used such words in cape town, south africa, even today but we dont know meanings...like if i said he had an accident...or mishap whatever...id say "balang"....maybe malang is related id never know. u guys can tell. im from the anak terlupa remember. getting back....i said getting back...i meant that we too have warrior blood but we lost our skill and knowledge altogether...especially the panglima...a plot was setup against them and they led a rebellion in the late 1800's and they were ambushed and persecuted without any remorse...but cape town's ppl were kept in the dark about this...u know...its media who controls information...they were doing this for longs...but thats my input on the ceylon issue

[Rebo Paing]

Rahayu Dimas Mohammad, before I begin, I acknowledge that different aliran might have a different interpretation and understanding of what the concepts of kosong, isi and timbangan are. The following is how I understand and practice it.
Kosong literally means empty or no substance, isi means that there is substance and titimbangan means the point or fulcrum of balance or leverage. The centre of mass in the human body exists approximately 2 to 5 centimetres bellow the navel and inside the body cavity, and forms the fulcrum as a first point of reference. In some respects, kosong and isi on a mechanical level perform like the scales on either side of the fulcrum. We already embody these concepts as we walk, play, sit and go about our daily business. Silat is all about efficient balance management while manoeuvring to disrupting the opponent's balance (I'm only talking about the physical aspect here, not the psychological). For a pesilat the concept of kosimbang rests upon the body intelligence we have about our own body's fulcrum of balance, it's titik timbangan and the influence of gravity (daya tarik bumi) within this relationship. It begins with the awareness of gravity.
As we know, gravity pulls everything down to the earth surface. Our musculo-skeletal system works continuously to keep the body structure in response to the pull of gravity. It's in the interest of any movement art to minimise the physical effort involved in opposing gravity. Less effort generally means less energy expenditure, which has the circular benefit, less muscular strain in maintaining integrated structure. Latihan ngadeg or standing practice (zhang-zhuan) is the best way to begin to explore timbangan or body balance to a refined level.
Best way to illustrate kosong is to get a friend to punch (like a boxer) your open palm as hard as they can. You will relax and move your palm (the target) like a shock absorber to accommodate the incoming energy ... most people will do this automatically and the person doing the punch will feel that their punch feels ineffective ... kurang mantep. In taiji this is described as Yin accommodating Yang. If you held your hand rigid however, the kinetic energy would transfer through your body and you would really feel it. Another example is standing and move balance slowly from one leg to another observing the sliding scale of effort to support the body on one leg in relation to the "emptying" of the other.Because kosong and isi are directional, mastery requires sensitivity to adjust while moving at speed, which is why the interplay hinges on the fulcrum of balance of our bodies within 6 degrees of freedom in space.

... to be continued

Den Rahmat, walang in Jawanese means cricket ... walang kadung is praying mantis. Anak terlupa kembali masuk keluarga. The Internet makes it easier you know, to reinforce your heritage as I imagine that the culture becomes richer because of experience through the decades away from the origin. In the end it is one world and we are one humanity.

Wassalam,
KP

[Rebo Paing]

... so to finish off kosimbang is about controlling the balance of ratio and substance, of ourselves and the objects within our circumference of influence. It is the management of energy and mass.
It is true that in the physiological development of silat there are no secrets. The body core needs to be strong and resilient. The legs and arms need to be strong and resilient. Understand the meaning of dynamic relaxation. There must be good reflex and a perfection of timing. The organs need to be healthy. You need to be able to experience and manage pain. The neurology needs to be healthy and the mind needs to be calm, measured and focused.
Different cultures and different time periods have various ways to achieve these outcomes, some with better results than others.
The biggest hurdle for a pesilat is to view their process with honesty and to trust their body intuition, because in my personal experience so much (but not all!) that is peddled as ilmu is nothing less than snake oil. Understand the role of superstition within the cultural context with compassion and intuition. There is no need for ridicule, but there is the opportunity for personal understanding based on empirical evidence and clear thinking ... where we each draw the line is dependant on our own choices and conclusions.
Baik2 kalau kita mampu mendengar bisikan dari jaman leluhur, tetapi jangan lupa untuk menterjemahkan dan mengungkap menurut pemahaman kenyataan jaman kita sendiri - It is good if we are able to hear the whispering from the times of our ancestors, but don't forget to translate and express according to the reality of our own times.

Salam,
KP

[Kertas]

Slamat datang evryone.. I can definitely see more similarities than uniqueness in our silat coming from this discussion. Maybe the question should be, what is unique in silat compared to other martial arts? This would probably be a different discussion. Like i said, im finding more similarities than differences,though slight difference in interpretation. One technique i learnt about rasa, soft, hard, balance and timing in setia hati is like this.. Stand face to face with ur partner and facing both your palms to him while he does the same. Now you grasp each others hands so that your palms are together. Then u turn your bodies in a full circle without losing grip of each others hands. The 1st one to return to the starting position must breath out with force simultaneously jerking his hands forward to try and throw the other off balance. If you are the unlucky one, you have to be relaxed,in the same time control balance and get to the starting position before the other partners turns into the other direction. I dont know if you guys get what i mean Lol.. Maybe trying it would make you understand. Happy trying :)

[Saiful Azraq]

Salam hormat Pak Krisno,

Thank you for that enlightening explanation on kosong, isi and titimbangan. This is the core of what guides silat. Someone in whose mind these petua play, is destined to discover silat in himself.

In return for your favour, I shall describe the 7 Petua Gerak as best I can.

The 7 Petua are mental maxims that are meditated upon and applied in any situation where there is a relativity and relationship. Gerak, or movement is intrinsic and happens at the micro and macro level, seen and unseen, fine and overt.

They are assumed to be universal principles and describes a traditional theory of the generation, intensification, overload, direction, collision and dissipation of energy. It exists and can be applied in many dimensions including physics, biology, chemistry, sociology, psychology, etc.

In silat, I have narrowed the scope to kinetic energy and physical contact in combat to avoid straying too far in discussions.

1. Ruang (Hampa Gerak - lack of motion) is emptiness, emptying, void, space and means a lack of energy. Dissipation leads to Ruang.

2. Titik (Diam Gerak - domicile of motion) is a static point, where energy dissipates to a stop and hovers before being redirected into another direction. Titik is the objective of a lock (kuncian), the midway of a throw (buangan) and the beginning of a strike (pukulan). It is the moment the glottis locks in the breath to keep the mind sharp.

3. Alif (Punca Gerak - source of motion) is the initial explosive release of energy as it speeds away from the Titik in a straight line (as progressive Titiks) and dissipates into another Titik. It is the Lingam of Indian arts.

4. Lam Alif (Asas Gerak - foundation of motion) is the generator of energy, moving in continuous spirals before being released in an Alif. It is bound by centrifugal and centripedal force. It is not a perfect circle, for man is not perfect, only Allah is.

Energy has a initial point and 'end'ing point, thus a perpetual circle would not describe the energy well, but keeps trying to form a perfect circle. Lam Alif is seen in the orbits of the planets, the rotation of the wrists, the spring on the foot, the gelek of the hips. It is the Yoni of Indian arts.

5. Jantan Betina (Aras Gerak - levels of motion) is relativity, not opposites. Fast is slower than faster. Hard is softer than harder. It is not balance, for man cannot be in balance. It is equilibrium, because it constantly seeks balance. One will always lead and the other follows, one will always be heavy while the other lighter, one outside the other inside.

Jantan (male) is the fist, the elbow, the knees, the shoulders, the back of the head. It is the lead hand and the lead leg. Betina (female) is the palm, armpits, the groin, the jugular, the soles of the feet.

6. Mata Angin (Arah Gerak - directions of motion) is an aim, an objective, knowing where you come from and where you're going. It's agility, the ability to move quickly from one to another by moving through the Titik.

7. Jengkal (Ukur Gerak - measure of motion) is knowing when and how much to push, to rush, to move. It is the final sprint in the race, the last rush to the Titik in a lock, the sudden sweep in a buangan, the jet of breath as you launch a punch.

And yet, when you look at these 7 Petua together, it's difficult to decide, which comes first, because in reality, there are one and the same. Indivisible.

Salam persilatan,

[Kertas]

Salam Hormat Encik Walang and Encik Saiful.. I would like to ask whether the explanations you both have demonstrated are confined to your silatology (if i may say so) of your homelands? Malaysia or Indonesia?

[Saiful Azraq]

Salam hormat Tuan Kertas,

I believe that in essence, what Pak Krisno and I wrote about is exactly the same thing, only the terminology, pedagogy and framing is different. What I described originated from Silat Melayu Keris Lok 9. However, the concept of Alif and Lam Alif is famous within most traditional Silat in the peninsula and Sumatera.

(Just to show that it's not unique, Alif and Lam Alif correspond perfectly to the concept of Lingam and Yoni in Kalaripayat.) The Jengkal is the concept of a measurement and is embedded in Melayu culture in the words Jangkau (reach), Jangka (expect), Jentik/ Jengkal (snap hit), Jengket (tip toe), etc.

Many Silat masters I spoke to agree to the presence of these Petua within their arts. Some call it Sifir (calculation), some call it Kaedah (method). Others don't even use it, but recognise its relevance.

It is held to be secret in silat, and several masters called up the SENI BELADIRI magazine when several of these petua (which can be diagrammed) were published in its pages a few years ago.

Resurgence in interest in silat as an art deeper than just dancing and fancy dress has been slow, but people generally marvel at the compactness of these Petua in summarising and explaining away, not only silat but Melayu culture and behaviour.

Salam persilatan,

[Rebo Paing]

Rahayu DiMas Mohammad,
You have a deep understanding of silat wisdom, with a wonderful skill at communicating for a western audience.
As for myself, I thank you for sharing your very insightful and valuable elucidation of the 7 Petuah.
I also thank you for Silat Melayu: The Blog (http://silat-melayu.blogspot.com/), as it is without a doubt a high value resource for people to understand more about silat from a Melayu (including Nusantara) cultural perspective. I too am learning more that directly impacts my own practice, because knowledge gained will always impact on personal habit.
I urge anyone who is interested in Silat to browse through your pages. With friendship in Silat,

Jabat erat,
Krisno

Bang Kertas, my limited perspective is a combination of what I have grown up with and what I have learned till now.

[Saiful Azraq]

:topic:

Salam hormat Pak Krisno,

From the deepest corners of my soul, I thank you for your kind words. I humbly invite you to grace my blog with an article of your own, if you would.

Salam persilatan daripada adikmu,

[Kertas]

Whaow.. The Crouching Walang and the Hidden Saif - has formed an alliance

[Rebo Paing]

Wah bang Kertas! Watching too many movies :D.

Rahayu DiMas Mohammad, thank you for your kind offer. I am most honoured, though I am most surely not a writer of the required calibre :).

Wassalam,
Krisno

[Raden-Rahmat]

salam and hormat ofcors. there you go, ive just solved your communion.
as for the axis and petua and all...I remember Haji Mokhtar...my Cikgu referring to them as Kaedah as i saw in the syllabus. basically these things arent as technical in our Silat but im well sure that it is of lesser technical importance and much more practical...as is all else in Silat in the ...end??? not actually...in the beginning rather id say...

[Rebo Paing]

I remember Haji Mokhtar...my Cikgu referring to them as Kaedah as i saw in the syllabus.

Rahayu Den-Rahmat,
petua, petuah, kaedah, nasihat, moral advice, fatwa etc. all basically convey the same idea. The underlying idea is that it is sage advice that can be applied into our lives as moral human beings, and it comes from one who is alim, wise and spiritually moral.

Wassalam,
Krisno

[Raden-Rahmat]

ill just say that we concur in various forms lol. sometimes i feel i must meet up with you guys...not only will it be a good training experience but i will have met ppl with the same background...also in various degrees of difference but in essence, like this topic, we have more similarity than uniqueness...though id say the appearance when displayed will show the difference