Multiple opponent real life silat fight - Pakehraja anecdotes 1

[pakehraja]

Salam semua,

I hope the title is catchy enough for people to read this post. I know this issue has been considered a myth by many. But I would like to relate a true story, a story of a dear famliy member. I am sorry to dissapoint you I didn't witness it with my own eyes, but its a lifestory of a person I come to be interested in. It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not. But I intend to start writing about the life story of this persona who has awed me throughout my life. Now he has passed away recently. I was thinking of writing a book about him and his many adventures, so that the story lives on, but I suppose this forum will also serve the purpose. I also apologize for not disclosing the actual name and place, in the spirit of respecting those who have passed away, and also to protect the identity of people involved in this story.

The thing is, I never heard these stories from him, but from the people of my districts throughout my childhood, the people who had either seen him in action, being 'acted' upon by him or a co-actor on many of his adventures. He hardly talked about his adventures to any of us his family, for, he had secured the reputation of on the wrong side of society. And also, serious fighters never like to discuss their experience, for fear of reprisal, unnecessary challenges, or the hand of law.

My uncle, I came to know had learned silat since he was 10 or 11 years old. That was normal for the malays in those era. However, the baffling thing was, whenever I introduced myself, people would refer to my uncle, Oh , you must be the nephew of .........?
"Yes, why?" I would ask
"You know, your unlce is this and this, he did this and this". Some are awed, some feared, other despised him.

Anyway one day I confonted my grandpa about this (this was in the early 80s). I wanted to know why people keep talking about my uncle saying this and that. At first he was reluctant, and then he started telling the lifestory of my uncle. Many stories of my uncle that my grandpa had to bear the responsibility for, and one of the story is what I am about to tell you now. A note, the wording is not exactly the same, (the story was narrated in Malay). But the spirit of the story I believe does not betray the originality.

My grandfather narrated:
"This happened when your uncle was still in his teens. (i.e. in the late 1950s). One night, A man from a nearby village came knocking on my door. I asked the reason for the sound of urgency. He said "Your son, he is about to get, into trouble".
"whats wrong?" I asked, thinking oh no, not again.
"He is about to scuffle with many people"
"How many?"
"Many, as many as the young man available in kampung ........ (the name of a village)"
"Where?"
"Padang Kerbau" (Buffalo field- A famous clearing in my district, so called for being the favorite spots for buffaloes in the area)"

It appears, due to some trouble he brewed in that village, the villagers had issued a challenge for him to face them. Probably he thought maybe only two or three fighters he had to face. So he had gone to meet the challenge accompanied by just one other friend, 'orang kampung', meaning another (my)village fellow.
But it seems that on the other side, the whole village had turned up to fight him, and this worried my grandfather. (I didnt know and didnt ask what uncle had done that had invoked the wrath of a whole village-author)
So my grandpa donned his own silat attire (Now grandpa is a practitioner of a special form of silat, non physical but inner form of fighting- and later I found out from my uncle, that he feared grandpa for this)
My grandpa drove to this field (about 3 km from my house). And he continued.
"When I arrived, I was surprised to find 'berpuluh' orang di padang tu' (tens of people on that field (probably thirty or forty). I could not find the two of them. I feared the worst. But, it appears when my car arrived, he and the friend had fled to the nearby jungle "(and they stayed there for days- out of fear of my grandad-author).
Grandpa continued " But what was more disturbing, was the carnage they left behind. A number of people were lying unconcious, many other suffer injuries. some of them had to be taken to hospitals (between 6-10 people, I cant remember -author). Ada yang patah tangan, ada yang patah kaki (some with broken arms, some with broken legs) blood and other damages. I had to fork out a considerable amount of money to compensate for these people he had hurt. Luckily no one died. Oh your uncle, he had caused enough misery for our family that I dont know how else to make him see good sense"

Remember this happened many years ago, when the arms of law was not so strong back then. Now its up for people to debate on good and evil, but I leave that to other discussions. I am no fan of bad people, or evil acts, I do not condone his bad actions, but the lesson of life can be on many level..... that is clear. One must also remember that most of those people he had fought in this episode were also silat practitioners, such is the nature of life in those days, you would not be considered as 'anak melayu' (a malay son) if you dont know silat. So its difficult to imagine how can the outcome is such.

I also hope, people would have better idea the nature of silat, its myth, its fact etc. The realm of this art is far beyond what scientific mind can comprehend. Thats the end of this episode. I was very young when I heard this story from my grandad, but the imagery was so vivid that the story stuck in my mind for years.

For some of you readers, this might be just another fiction concocted by some creative mind. It doesnt matter, you don't have to believe. But I have the privilege of sitting there listening to my grandpa, and have no slightest doubt he was narrating a true event, an episode of his life as well...

Until then. Salam hormat..
PAkehraja

[amirul_tekpi79]

Peace to all,

Thank you for sharing this episode with us and thanks again in advance for the episodes to come.

[dark-angle]

Very interesting story! Since your uncle was frightened of your grandpas Silat skill I would say that your grandpa must have had amazing abilities, maybe you can tell us a little more about your grandpa, he sounds like an intresting guy.

[pakehraja]

Originally Posted by dark-angle

Very interesting story! Since your uncle was frightened of your grandpas Silat skill I would say that your grandpa must have had amazing abilities, maybe you can tell us a little more about your grandpa, he sounds like an intresting guy.

Hi dark angle,
My grandpa too has passed away. I had the same issue with my grandpa, he seldom talked about himself. But remarks from other people indicating he was somebody. Some elder people in my district appear to know his story, they seemed to hold him in great esteem. I had this vague information that his reputation was built during the fight against certain faction during the end of WW2, years before I was born. Once peace reigned, nice people like him would not have much adventure, and I notice he made an effort to stay low. He did not appear to have anything special. My uncle was more famous because he was the 'naughty' type.

I could also notice his resentment when I expressed my desire to learn silat, he said "Focus on your study, thats more important" Probably he had enough of my uncle's behaviour that he did not wish us to follow the same path. So there goes my life experience with silat.

Once my little brother blatantly asked my uncle " Uncle, can you take on grandpa?"
My uncle chuckled and said " Heh, dia jauuuh...." Meaning "he's faaar ..." indicating granpa's ability is far beyond him. No contest.

Anyway granpa did tell me a little bit about his silat training, but I think its not suitable for open discussion. Weird stuff indeed. (...hmmm...a Jedi comes to mind )

Until then
Salam hormat
Pakehraja

[Ular Sawa]

Thanks for the stories. It's good stuff. I for one would like to hear more.

[dtrip]

I have one objection, you say the story is real, but then "I dont know much
about this or that", or "my grandpa didnt speak much", or "some people said", etc.

You understand you are talking about an impossible feat, right ?

I suppose that if this incident was true, it would be widely known.

Also, if your uncle had the heart and body to defeat 30 people,
then why not become the heavyweight boxing champion of the world ?
(in fact the heavyweight <anything> champion of the world).

Its nice story but if you want us (well at last me) to believe it, you
better back it up more efficiently.

[akitaka]

you are talking about an impossible feat

It depends on the situation, the people involved, and overall will power. Since none of us were there, we can't say anything. As hard as it is to imagine one person clocking more than a dozen people, in physics, it's very much possible.

And I don't recall people glorifying what's been recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records; yeah, it's been publicised, but that doesn't mean everyone knows the record holders by name, nor recall any incident that they or their buddies partook in. Besides, this was decades ago, and in a Malaysian village; TV is just....not.

Anyways the story was very good, and your uncle still seems like a swell dude...though antagonistic to your grandfather.

[Sgt_Major]

cool story. I dont doubt it for a second. I look forward to reading more

[pakehraja]

Originally Posted by dtrip

I have one objection, you say the story is real, but then "I dont know much
about this or that", or "my grandpa didnt speak much", or "some people said", etc.You understand you are talking about an impossible feat, right ? I suppose that if this incident was true, it would be widely known. Also, if your uncle had the heart and body to defeat 30 people, then why not become the heavyweight boxing champion of the world ? (in fact the heavyweight <anything> champion of the world).

Hi dtrip,

Very well, then you dont have to take this story seriously. If anything, just enjoy it for the sheer fanstasy of it.

Part of the reason I am not quoting much evidence is first, I only tell the information available to me, I am try not to add things which I did not hear. Secondly, I present the vague version for discretion. Remember I run the risk of revealing real life story that might have real consequences for those who are still alive. Blood feud for one. (In fact I already felt I am telling enough, I have my worry). Enough said.

On the issue of becoming a world heavywright champion. I don't think these people would ever dream of exposing themselves in such way. Their way of life is such its all about the question of life and death. For people like my uncle, I would say their life is doomed to be under constant fear, always watching their back. Believe me it was not a happy life. And then there is constant worry with the law.

Originally Posted by dtrip

Its nice story but if you want us (well at last me) to believe it, you better back it up more efficiently.

Well dtrip, I told you in the beginning, its not my intention to make anybody believe me. Well I hope you would still continue reading. Enjoy the ride...

Peace
Pakehraja