Kembangan DVD advice

[Bobster]

Hi everybody, I hope you are all doing well and training hard. Or soft. Your choice, really.

I was thinking that Americans could really do with some advice & instruction on the background, purpose & uses of Kembangan, the Indonesian "Flower Dance", particularly novice Pesilats & those investigating what Silat is all about. There are plenty of videos that show various traditional Kembangan, I have a few on my site from my teacher, Pak Bambang Suwanda & the late Pendekar Herman Suwanda. But I don't see much that goes into the idea BEHIND the Kembangan, and the structural use of the movements, as well as the overall approach to training it.

For instance, one thing that seperates Kembangan from other variations of martial arts "forms" (i.e. Japanese Kata or Chinese Kuen) is the emphasis on BALANCE in FLUID MOBILITY. Most other forms have a kind of step-sink-root instance kind of approach, and the rhythm is very staccato, with little or no room for personal expression and many styles frown on music while training. Kembangan is just the opposite, usually performed at MUCH higher rates of speed, and often with a live Gamelan band (American Silat, Gamelan band not included. Please see your Guru for alternative rhythm methods, except in PA, SC, and TX). Just this point alone brings you closer to pulling off the combat moves at actual combat speed, with confidence in your balance and position thrown in to boot. This confidence encourages you to relax in the flow, instead of the stance-oriented "clamping down" you can find in traditional Kata.

Let me take a moment here to say that I don't mean this as a slur to other traditional arts, or to Kata. Far from it, I see the value & purpose behind thier logic in forms as well. What I am speaking of is the polar difference in the APPROACH to forms, not the tired old "We're better than you because...". There is depth to Kata that can take a lifetime to discover. However, there are also many sources for reference you can turn to that can help you on the journey. The Indo-Malay arts are still very much the "baby" of American martial imports, and precious little is written on them.

Something else that is rarely mentioned is this "fluidity" in motion trains your mind to think/flow several moves ahead, according to the speed of the music and practitioner. There is seldom a pause in the Kembangan, and advanced practitioners move like a young James Brown when the trumpet section just kicked in. Again, the combat application becomes very apparent here, teaching you to relax & accept the flow of your opponent, so you can change or defeat it on your own terms.

So, I am considering making a DVD series about Kembangan, with instructions for beginner, intermediate and advanced students, both weapons and empty hands. I'll see if Pak Bambang will do some advanced forms, and also get some Pendekar from different regions of Indonesia to demonstrate as well, giving the viewer different points of view to this unique art.

I am WAY open to suggestions from my Pesilat brothers (and sisters!) Feel free to suggest ideas for this project, or any advice you may have.

Take care,

Bobbe Edmonds

[Sgt_Major]

Sounds interesting to say the least! I'd definately include weapons, body washing etc, as it will help the novices to see what is ahead, what they will be able to achieve with practice and dedication.

good idea, Id like to see it when your finished

[Bobster]

Thanks for the suggestion Silat Pupil. By the way, since my posting this I have been contacted by some friends in Malaysia as well, so there will probably be a bit about the differences & similarities of Malay Silat Kembangan & Indonesian Kembangan. Sunda Kembangan (Ibing) is what I am most influenced by, since the late Pa Herman & Pa Bambang are both Sundanese. So there will also be some info on the characteristics of the Sunda style in contrast to other styles in Indonesia.

[Ular Sawa]

I agree. It sounds like an interesting idea. Let us know if you go forward with it.

[mas guru]

bobbe. im a friend of bernard chongs from the usa. im sure your in indonesia right now but get back to me when you return. ive often thought a kinda documentary of kembangan would be a cool video. count me in!
thanks,
paul
www.kalisilat.com