Pencak silat

Pencak silat

Pencak silat
Pencak silat ofSilek Minangkabauduel, one of the combatants is usingkerambit
Also known as	Pencak silat Indonesia
Focus	Self-defense
Hardness	Full-contact,semi-contact,light-contact
Country of origin	Indonesia
Famous practitioners	Iko Uwais,Yayan Ruhian,Cecep Arif Rahman
Olympic sport	No

Traditions of Pencak Silat
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
Two men performing silek lanyah (one style of pencak silat), traditionalmartial artsof theMinangkabau peopleinWest Sumatra,Indonesia.Silek lanyah is always performed in a muddy paddy field.
Country	Indonesia
Criteria	Oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, and traditional craftsmanship
Reference	1391
Region	Asia and the Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription	(14th session)
List	Representative List
Silek (inc.Silat Harimau), Mancak, Ulu Ambek/Alau Ambek, Sewah, Galuik (West Sumatera); Bepencak (Bangka); Pencé (Banten); Silat (West Java,Special Capitol Region ofJakarta,Banten,Central Java,East Java,Special Region ofYogyakarta,Bali); Penca, Amengan, Ulinan, Maénpo, Usik, Heureuy (West Java); Maen Pukulan (Special Capitol Region ofJakarta); Akeket, Okol, Penthengan (Madura,East Java); Encak, Pencakan (East Java); Pencak (Special Region ofYogyakarta,East Java,Bali); Kuntau (West Kalimantan,Central Kalimantan,South Kalimantan,East Kalimantan); Langga (Gorontalo), Amanca (South Sulawesi); Pakuttau (West Sulawesi), Mencak, Kuntuh (West Nusa Tenggara).

Sport

Highestgoverning body	International Pencak Silat Federation (IPSF)
First played	Indonesia
Characteristics
Contact	Dependent on type of Pencak silat
Team members	Individuals or Team
Mixed-sex	Yes
Type	Martial art
Venue	Fighting arena
Presence
Country or region	Worldwide, South East Asia primarily
Olympic	(Unofficial Sport)
World Championships	World Pencak Silat Championships

Pencak silat(Indonesian pronunciation:[ˈpənt͡ʃaʔˈsilat];in Western writings sometimes spelled "pentjak silat" or phonetically as "penchak silat" ) is anumbrella termfor a class of relatedIndonesian martial arts.In neighbouring countries, the term usually refers to professional competitivesilat.It is a full-body fighting form incorporating strikes, grappling, and throwing, in addition to weaponry. Every part of the body is used and subject to attack. Pencak silat was practiced not only for physical defense but also for psychological ends.There are hundreds of different pencak silat styles (aliran) and schools (perguruan) which tend to focus either on strikes, joint manipulation, weaponry, or some combination thereof.

TheInternational Pencak Silat Federation (IPSF),or PERSILAT (Persekutuan Pencak Silat Antarabangsa), is the international pencak silat governing organization and the only pencak silat organisation recognised by theOlympic Council of Asia.The organisation was established on 11 March, 1980, in Jakarta and consisted of the national organisations of Brunei Darussalam (Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan Brunei Darussalam) (PERSIB), Indonesia (Ikatan Pencak Silat Indonesia) (IPSI), Malaysia (Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan) (PESAKA), and Singapore (Persekutuan Silat Singapura) (PERSISI).

Pencak silat is included in theSoutheast Asian Gamesand other region-wide competitions. Pencak silat made its debut in the1987 Southeast Asian Gamesand2018 Asian Games,both held inIndonesia.

Pencak silat was recognized as aMasterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of HumanityfromIndonesiabyUNESCO(United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) on December 12, 2019.

Etymology

Silatis a collective word for a class of indigenousmartial artsfrom the geo-cultural area ofIndonesiaand throughout South East Asian nations with Malay historic populations, more precisely in theIndonesian Archipelago,a region known locally asNusantara.Before the establishment of Indonesia as a modern country that also includes Southern Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines. The origin of the wordsilatis uncertain. TheMalaytermsilatis linked toMinangkabauword,silek.Due toSumatranorigin of theMalay language,theSumatranorigin of the term is likely.The wordPencakcomes from theSundanesePenca,in the western part ofJava.It is believed as the origin of this martial art, which has been practiced by theSundanesefor centuries, before it was discovered in Central and East Java to be studied.

Although the wordsilatis widely known throughout much ofSoutheast Asia,the termpencak silatis used mainly inIndonesia."Pencak silat" was chosen in 1948 as a unifying term for theIndonesianfighting styles. It was a compound of the two most commonly used words for martial arts in Indonesia.Pencak wasthe term used by theSundanesein western part of Java and also in theCentral JavaandEast Java,whilesilatwas used inSumatra,Malay PeninsulaandBorneowhere the Malay diaspora also exist in these places. InMinangusage, pencak and silat are seen as being two aspects of the same practice. Pencak is the essence of training, the outward aspect of the art which a casual observer is permitted to witness as performance. Silat is the essence of combat and self-defense, the true fighting application of the techniques which are kept secret from outsiders and not divulged to students until the guru deems them ready. While other definitions exist, all agree that silat cannot exist without pencak, and pencak without silat skills is purposeless.

Some believe that pencak comes from theSanskritwordpanchameaning five, or from theChinesetermpenchaorpungchawhich implies parrying or deflecting, and striking or pressing.
Other terms may be used in particular dialects such assilek,penca,mancak,maen poormain-po.

Dutch East Indiesnewspapers of the colonial era recorded the terms for martial arts underDutchspellings. These includesilat,pencak(spelled in Dutch as "pentjak" ),penca( "pentjah" ),mancak( "mentjak" ),manca( "mentjah" ), andpukulan( "poekoelan" ).In 1881 a magazine calls mancak aBatakfencing game "with long swords, daggers or wood (mentjah) "These papers described mancak asMalay(Maleische) suggesting that the word originates inSumatra.These terms were used separately from silat in theDutch East Indies.The termspukulanormain pukulan(spelled "maen poekoelan" in Dutch) referred to the fighting systems ofJakartabut was also used generally for the martial arts of other parts ofIndonesiasuch asSumatraandLombok.Believed to be aBetawiterm, it derives from the words for play (main) and hit (pukulan).

History

Origins

Bas-relief of a battle scene atPrambananTemple depicting weapons of the time such as the sword, shield, club, bow, and akris-like dagger

The oral history of Indonesia begins with the mythical legend about the arrival ofAji Saka(lit. primordial king) from India to Java. At the request of the local people, he successfully killed the monarch Dewata Cengkar ofMedang Kamulanin battle and took his place as ruler. This story traditionally marks the rise of Java and the dawn of its Dharmic civilisation. The tale also illustrates the influence India had on Indonesian and Southeast Asian culture in general. Aji Saka is shown to be a fighter and swordsman, while his servants are also depicted as fighting with daggers. The Indian method of knife-duelling was adapted by theBatakandBugis-Makassar peoples.Ancient Indonesian art from this period also depicts warriors mounted on elephants wielding Chinese weapons such as thejianor straight double-edge sword, which is still used in Java.

The earliest evidence of pencak silat being taught in a structured manner comes from 6th-centuryinMinangkabau HighlandsofWest Sumatra.The Minangkabau had a clan-based feudal government. Military officers calledhulubalangacted as bodyguards to the king oryam tuan.Minang warriors served without pay. The plunder was divided among them according to military merit, so fighters strove to outdo each other. They were skilled horsemen with thenative ponyand also expert bladesmiths, producing arms both for their own use and for export to Aceh. Traditional Minang society was based around matrilineal custom, so pencak silat was commonly practiced by women.As pencak silat became widespread inSrivijaya,the empire was defeated by the TamilCholasofsouth Indiain the 13th century. The Tamil stick fighting art ofsilambamis still the most common Indian fighting system in Southeast Asia today.

During the 13th century,Ken Arok,a thug turned into a self made hero and ruler, took over the power fromKediri Kingdomand established theRajasa dynasty.This reflects thejago(people's champion) culture of ancient Java, where a self made cunning man skillful in martial arts, could rally supports and took over the kingdom.

Colonial era

Balinesewarriors armed withkrisin the 1880s

The lucrative spice trade eventually brought colonists from Europe, first the Portuguese followed by the Dutch and British. TheDutch East India Companybecame the dominant power and established full colonial rule in Indonesia. Local revolts and uprisings were common, but all were suppressed by the Dutch armed with guns and cannons. The Dutch brought in even more Chinese workers to Indonesia, which brought a greater variety of localkuntaosystems. But while the Europeans could effectively overtake and hold the cities, they found it impossible to control the smaller villages and roads connecting them. Indonesians took advantage of this, fighting an underground war through guerilla tactics. Local weapons were recorded as being used against the Dutch, particularly knives and edged weapons such as thegolok,parang,krisandklewang.

During the 17th century, the Bugis people ofSulawesiallied with the Dutch colonists to destroyMangkasararule over the surrounding area. While this increased Bugis power in the southwest, Dutch rule deprived seafaring merchants like the Bugis of their traditional employment. As a result, these communities increasingly turned to piracy during the 17th-18th centuries. Not only was pencak silat practiced by the pirates, but new styles were created to combat them.

During theDutch colonial eraof the 18th and 19th century, theexploitative social and economic conditionof the colony created the culture of thejagoor local people's champion regarded as thugs and bandits by the colonial administration. Parallels can be seen in thejawaraofPriangan,jagoanof Betawi, andwarokin thePonorogoregion of East Java. The most infamous band ofjagoanwas the 19th centurySi Pitungand Si Jampang, experts in Silat Betawi. Traditionally depicted as Robin Hood-like figures, they upheld justice for the common man by robbing from the rich who acquired power and status by collaborating with the colonists. Thejagowere despised by the Dutch authorities as criminals and thieves but were highly respected by the nativepribumiandlocal Chinese.

Pencak silat inSumatra,circa 1910

Modern era

Pencak silat performed by the local community atCandi Barong,Sleman,YogyakartainIndonesia

Conflict with the European rulers provided an impetus for the proliferation of new styles of pencak silat, now founded on the platform of nationalism and the desire for freedom from colonisation. The Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI) was founded in 1948 to bring all of Indonesia's pencak silat under a single administration. The world's oldest nationwide silat organisation, its basis is that all pencak silat is built on a common source, and that less functional styles must give way to the technically superior. IPSI has avoided the tendency of modern martial arts that gravitate towards sport. The resistance to sport has lessened over time, however, and sparring in particular has become less combative. While nominally an Indonesian organisation, many of the rules and regulations outlined by IPSI have become the de facto standard forsilatcompetitions worldwide. Indo-Dutch Eurasians who first began practicing pencak silat in the 20th centuryspread the art to the west in the late 20th century.

Today pencak silat is one of the extra-curricular activities taught in Indonesian schools. It is included as a combat sport in local, national and international athletic events such as theSEA Games(South-East Asia Games) and Indonesia'sNational Sports Week (Pekan Olahraga Nasional).Since 2012, the Pencak Malioboro Festival has been held annually and features demonstrations by the biggest silat schools inIndonesia.The art features prominently in the Hollywood blockbusterJohn Wick 3,with mastersYayan Ruhianand Cecep Arif Rahman appearing against Wick in the penultimate fight, and the animated seriesCode Lyoko,in which multiple episodes show protagonists Yumi Ishiyama and Ulrich Stern training in and utilizing the fighting style among other characters.

Weapons

Main article:Weapons of pencak silat

Kerambit

As with most ancient fighting arts, pencak silat historically prioritized weapons over unarmed combat. While this is usually not the case today, all pencak silat schools include weapons to some degree of importance. While pencak silat includes a wide array of weapons, the following are considered standard in all classical styles. In addition to these, many systems include a specialty or "secret" weapon taught only to advanced students.

• Toya:Staff usually made ofrattanbut sometimes wood or metal. Typically measures 5–6 feet long and 1.5-2 inches in diameter.
• Tombak/Lembing:Spear or javelin made of bamboo, steel or wood that sometimes has horsehair attached near the blade.
• Parang:Machete-like chopper, ranging from 10 to 36 inches long
• Golok:Heavy cleaver measuring 10-20 inches long. The blade is heaviest in the centre
• Pisau:Any short-bladed knife
• Kris:Double-edged dagger made by folding different types of metal together and then washing it in acid.
• Celurit:A sickle, commonly used in farming, cultivation and harvesting of crops.
• Tongkat/Galah:Short stick or cudgel
• Pedang:Sword, most often single-edged and either straight or slightly curved. Usually measures 15-35 inches overall with a blade upward of 10 inches long
• Klewang:Single-edge longsword with a protruding notch near its tip
• Chabang:Short-handled trident, literally meaning "branch"
• Selendang:A silk that can be used for strangling, grappling and whipping
• Kerambit:A small curved knife resembling a claw.

Styles and schools

Further information:Styles of silat

Over 150 styles of pencak silat are recognised inIndonesia,although the actual number of existing systems is well beyond that. Older methods are typically identified with specific ethno-cultural groups or particular regions.

Minangkabau

Minangkabau silat in WestSumatra,circa 1915

A demonstration of theMinangkabaustyle of silat.

TheMinangkabauformed the dominant sovereignty in West Sumatra and make up the majority of Sumatran pencak silat systems. These styles may be referred to assilat Minangkabau,silat Padang(lit. field silat), orsilek,the local pronunciation of silat. Very few systems in Indonesia have not been influenced by silek, and its techniques form the core of pencak silat throughout Sumatra. It developed as an extension of the original silat Melayu from Riau. Folklore traces this to five masters, namely Ninik Datuak Suri Dirajo fromPadang Panjang,Kambiang Utan ( "forest goat" ) fromCambodia,Harimau Campo ( "tiger ofChampa") fromVietnam,Kuciang Siam ( "Siamese cat") fromThailandand Anjiang Mualim ( "teacher dog" ) fromGujarat.Stealth and ambush were the preferred Minang war tactics, and they were said to be among the best assassins in the world when dispatched singly. Silek Minangkabau is characterised by its low stances and reliance on kicks and leg tactics. The low stance is said to have developed to offset the chance of falling on slippery ground, common in the rice fields of West Sumatra. The local practice of paddling rafts with the legs strengthened fighters' lower body muscles. Hand and arm movements are fast, honed through an exercise in which the exponent stands across from a partner tossing sharpened sticks or knives. The practitioner must redirect the sticks or knives and send them back at the thrower, using their hands and a minimum of movements with the rest of the body.

A duel demonstration ofsilek Minangkabauin front of aRumah Gadang.

There are currently around ten major styles of silek, a few of which like Silek Lintau are commonly practiced even in Malaysia. IPSI recognises Silek Harimau (tiger silek) as among the oldest pencak silat in existence. Silek Harimau, also known assilek kuciangor cat silek, epitomizes the Minang techniques in that it focuses on crouching and kicking from a low position paired with rapid hand attacks. Sitaralak imitates the power of a herd of stampedingelephants.Developed as a counter to silek Harimau, folklore tells that its practitioners were able to fight tigers. Sandang is the counter-system to Sitaralak, which defends against powerful attacks by misdirection. Kumango is another characteristically Minang system in its kicks and footwork. Its frequent thigh-slapping andtai chi-like redirection maneuvers indicate both Indian and Chinese influence. Silek Tuo is considered by some to be the oldest Minang system due to its name meaning "old silek", but others claim it traces to the freedom fighter Tuanku Nan Tuo after whom it was named. All the classical pencak silat weapons are used in silek but the most prominent Minang weapons are thepedang(sword),tumbak(spear),karih(dagger),klewang(longsword),sabik(sickle),payung(umbrella),kurambik(claw), and various types of knives. In cultural aspects, Minangkabaurandaidance performance often incorporating some of Minangsilekmovements.

Java

Flying kick byJavanesestyle of silat atBarong Temple,Yogyakarta.

FromSrivijaya,pencak silat quickly spread eastward into the JavaneseSailendraandMataram Kingdomswhere the fighting arts developed in three geographical regions:West Java,Central Java,andEast Java.TodayJavais home to more styles of pencak silat than any other Indonesian island, and displays the greatest diversity of techniques. Many Javanese schools such as Perisai Diri andInti Ombakhave been established internationally in Asia, Europe and America. Merpati Putih or "white dove" style was developed in thekeraton(royal courts) of 17th centuryMataramand was not taught publicly until 1963.Today it is the standard unarmed martial art of theIndonesian National Armed Forces.It includes weapons but focuses more on empty-handed self-defense and the development of internal strength developed throughbreathing techniques.Pencak silat in Java draws from traditionalkejawenand Hindu-BuddhistJavanese beliefsbut after Indonesia's independence, some schools have adapted themselves in the context of modern religion.Among the most popular modern styles is the Muslim-directedTapak Suci.An evasive long-range system, it requires constant movement as the practitioner rotates on their own axis every few seconds. Similarly the [Setia Hati] school is Christian-organised. Rooted in silek Minangkabau of thePadangarea, it relies on kicks and footwork while the hands are mainly used defensively for blocking and parrying.

Riau

Much of what constitutes classical Malay culture has its origin in theRiauArchipelago, including the earliest evidence of silat. Referred to assilat Melayu,the regional fighting systems of Riau have influenced nearly the entirety ofIndonesianpencak silat, and into neighbouringSingaporeandMalaysia.Fighting tactics dating back to theSrivijayaempire persist inPalembangtoday. Wide stances with the front foot turned slightly inward are typical, developed for fighting on Riau's muddy ground, while also preventing the knee joint from being exposed to frontal kicks. Seizing techniques which grab the arm are common. The most prominent weapons in silat Melayu are the staff (toya) and the spear. Spear forms in Riau usually begin with the blade pointed downward. Staff technique in silat Melayu of the Palembang area is said to be the best in all of Indonesian pencak silat. The weapon is made of wood and usually measures seven feet long. Fixed hand positions with very little sliding along the staff is characteristic of silat Melayu.

Sunda

Sundanese pencak silat forms and movements are also being incorporated into Sundanese dance.

Java's western region was the first area from which pencak silat spread out of Sumatra. TheSundanesepencak silat ofWest Javamay be calledsilat Sundaorsilat Bandung.In theSundanese languagethey are generically referred to aspenca(dialect form of pencak),ameng,ulinormaen po(from the wordmainmeaning "play" ). Ameng is the more respectful term, while ulin and maen po are of lower speech levels. Sunda systems are easily identified by the prefixci(spelled "tji" by the Dutch). Pronounced "chi", it comes from the Sundanese wordcaimeaning river water, alluding to the fact that they were originally developed in river-basin areas. The deep, wide stance and resulting gait attests to this, owing to the practice of carefully placing the feet from a lifted position onto wet ground. Today, systems of Sunda derivation prefixed withciare found even in the high plateaus and mountain ranges of both West and Central Java. Penca instruction was traditionally done through apprenticeship, wherein prospective students offer to work as a servant in the master's house or a labourer in the rice fields. In exchange for working during the day, the master provides the student's meals and trains during the evening. Penca is characterized by reliance on hand and arm movements for both attack and defense. Compared to other Javanese systems, Sunda styles have less frontal contact with the opponent, instead preferring to evade in a circular manner and attack from the side. In one form of training designed to practice circular evasion, victory is attained simply by touching the opponent's torso. Fasting andmantrawere traditionally used to heighten the senses for this purpose.

The oldest styles of penca were based on animals and movements of farming or tending the fields. IPSI recognisesCimacan(tiger style),Ciular(snake style), andPamonyet(monkey style) as among the oldest existing pencak silat. Cimacan is said to have been created by a Buddhist monk. The most prominent system of West Java ispenca Cimande,first taught publicly by aBaduiman named Embah Kahir in Cimande village of theSukabumiarea around 1760.Cimande among the isolationistBadui communityis said to be much older than Embah Kahir, and is believed by many masters to be the original penca of West Java tracing back toPakuan Pajajaran.Cimande is a close-quarters system, with the elbows held close to the body. Students begin by learning to fight from a seated position before they are taught footwork. Arms are traditionally conditioned through smashingcoconuts,by concentrating the force of the blow into the wrist. Cimande always assumes there is a minimum of three enemies, but advanced students may spar with up to twelve opponents. As a defensive art, Cimande has no lethal techniques. The town ofCianjur- seen as the heartland of Sunda culture - is associated with a few systems, the most prominent of them beingCikalongor bat style. Borrowing its technical base from Cimande, Cikalong was founded by Raden Jayaperbata after meditating in a cave in the Cikalong Kulon village. While Cimande may attack with either the fists or open hands, Cikalong prefers the latter. Prominent Sunda weapons include thetoya(staff),cabang(forked truncheon), long-bladedparang(machete) and heavygolok(cleaver). The advanced weapon is thepiauor throwing knife.

Betawi

Silat Betawi demonstration inJakarta

Among theBetawi peopleofGreater Jakarta,the pencak silat tradition is rooted in the culture of thejagoanorjawara,local champions seen as heroes of the common people. They went against colonial authority and were despised by the Dutch as thugs and bandits. Silat Betawi is referred to in the local dialect asmaen pukulanormain pukulan,literally meaning "strike-play". The most well-known schools areCingkrik,Kwitang,andBeksi.The acrobatic monkey-inspired Cingkrik is likely the oldest, the name implying agile movement. The art is said to trace back to a monkey style ofkuntaoattributed to Rama Isruna after his wife observed the actions of monkeys. A student of this kuntao named Ki Maing later expanded on the system after a monkey stole his walking stick.Cingkrikis highly evasive; blows are delivered as a counter after parrying or blocking, and usually target the face, throat and groin. Attacks mimic the grabbing and tearing actions of monkeys.Kwitangalso employs evasion and some open-hand strikes but its focus is on powerful punches with the fist tightly closed at the moment of impact, mainly targeting the centreline. Force is concentrated into the knuckles of the little and ring finger. Attacks are made with a curved arm; the elbow is never fully extended so as to prevent being caught in a joint lock.Beksi,meaning "defense of four directions", is credited to a man named Lie Cheng Hok. It is distinguishable from other Betawi systems by its close-distance combat style and lack of offensive leg action. Silat Betawi includes all the classical pencak silat weapons, but places particular emphasis on theparang(machete),golok(chopper),toya(staff), andpisau(knife). Kwitang practitioners are said to be the bestchabangfighters in Indonesia.

Bali

Bhakti negara (Pencak silat of Bali)

Following the invasion by Demak, many families of the Majapahit empire fled to Bali. The descendants of the Majapahit were traditionally resistant to outside influence and as a result, the people of Bali often make a distinction between "pure" Balinese pencak silat and styles introduced from outside such as Perisai Diri. The native systems - known locally as pencak - are ultimately rooted in those of Java, and preserve tactics dating back to the Majapahit empire. They are less direct than other styles, characteristically favouring deception over aggression. Hand movements are used to distract, and openings are deliberately exposed to bluff the opponent into attacking. This approach requires that exponents train their flexibility and stamina. As with Balinese warriors of the past, modern pencak practitioners in Bali often wear headbands as part of their uniform.

There are about four main systems considered purely Balinese. The most prominent of these isBakti Negara,which is firmly rooted in the oldlocal Hindu philosophyofTri Hita Karana.Another system which has gained prominence is Seruling Dewata meaning "God's flute". Purported to date back to ancient times, it recognizes the Indian Buddhist monkBodhidharmaas the first patriarch, though not its creator. Eka Sentosa Setiti (ESSTI) was the first pencak silat association officially founded in Bali. Created and practiced in the island's south, it draws heavily from southernSaolim kuntao.The primary stance is thetingposture of kuntao, also the main stance of Japaneseaikido.ESSTI keeps membership low and does not permit outsiders to view sparring matches. Finally, the Tridharma style is practiced in northern Bali. It utilizes circular hand movements and straight kicks. The ESSTI and Tridharma schools often exchange students so cross-training between the styles is common. All Balinese pencak schools traditionally keep sportive contests and performance to a minimum in order to emphasise combat effectiveness.

Bugis-Makassar

TheBugis(Ugi) andMakassar people(Mangkasara) are two related maritime groups fromSulawesi.The Bugis in particular were renowned navigators and shipbuilders, but also feared as corsairs and slave-traders. Both the Bugis and Makassarese were famous for piracy, though this was more common among the former than the latter. Silat in Sulawesi is closely tied to local animism, and weapons are believed to be imbued with a spirit of their own. Hand and arm movements are designed to be adaptable for use with a knife or with the empty hands. Attacks with the fists or open hands can be modified with a pinching action of the fingers, which has its origin in the pinch-grip of the badik. Bugis styles (silat Ugi) are based on these hand and arm movements and contain only limited kicks, almost all of the linear variety.

Generally,Southwestern Sulawesiarea silat is called "Silat Makassar" and include the "Karena Macang" style which name implies "to perform like a tiger". This Style is related with great affinity toKuntao,Tapu Silat is a highly secretive form revealed only to chosen experts in self-defense and specializes in countering rear sneak attacks which was common inMakassaras The mangrove swamps and rocky inlets along the coasts ofSulawesiserved as hiding places for pirates, so silat among theBugisandMakassarcommunity makes use of and defends against ambush. Experts in the Tapu system are reported to be supersensitive and must not be touched from the rear or while asleep as the consequent reactions produced will be disastrous to the one disturbing them.

Weapons used for all Bugis-Makassar pencak silat include all standard types normally associated with thecombative form,but theCabang,Pisau,andParang,are used with extraordinary dexterity and skill.BugisandMakassaresepencak silat forms take into consideration and give heavy emphasis to the use of their special weapon, TheBadik.Much of the arm and hand movement practiced empty handed can instantly be converted into knife thrust-and-slash actions by simply picking up such a weapon. Snap-thrust action while on the move and turning the body into a punch which is "screwed into" the target are characteristic of most styles, and, too, are adaptable to the knife. Hands closed or open as a fist, are often modified by a pinching action of the fingers which relates to theBugis(and sometimes theMakassarese) habit of holding the Badik with a pinch grip. Considerable practice is made with one forearm outer surface in a blocking role while the other one strikes a blow or delivers a knife to the target; the two motions simultaneously. Bugis pencak silat patterns contains less than 15 percent leg action, and those which are used are more linearly oriented than circular in nature; simple forward stepping movement is, of course, exempt, as it is definitely circular. TheHorse riding stanceemployed suggests Chinese influence.

Aceh

Located on Sumatra's northwest coast on the westernmost tip of the archipelago, Aceh was the first port of call for traders sailing the Indian Ocean. Local culture and weapons (particularly knives) show distinct Indian-Muslim derivation. Unlike the more typical rattan shield, the Acehnese buckler is identical to the Indiandhal (shield),made from metal and with five or seven knobs on the surface. The Acehnese are recorded by both Indonesian and European sources as being the most warlike people in all of Sumatra, and this is reflected in the highly-aggressive nature of their pencak silat. Acehnese pencak silat borrows its foundation from silat Melayu and silek Minangkabau, particularly the arm-seizing techniques of the former and the ground-sitting postures of the latter. Bladed weaponry is favoured, specifically knives and swords. The primary weapon is therencong,an L-shaped dagger used mainly for thrusting but also for slashing. Thekrisis used as well but the native rencong takes precedence.

Batak

Batak land is situated between the Minangkabau to the south and Aceh to the north, and the culture shows both Indian and Chinese influence. The wordBatakrefers to a number of ethnic groups originally from the mountains ofNorth Sumatra.The term typically refers to theToba Batakwhile others may explicitly reject that label, preferring to identify themselves by their specific group. Batak silat is known by different names in each community, namelymossak(Toba),moncak(Mandailing),ndikar(Simalungun) anddihar(Karo). Mossak is the most commonly-used due to the Toba being the most numerous. While each style is distinct, all share similar characteristics and weaponry. The Batak were historically in a near-perpetual state of warfare with their neighbours, so warriors trained daily for combat. Training was either done outdoors or in thebalai,a building in thekampungspecifically made for combat practice. Batak silat is primarily armed, employing such weapons as the spear, single-edge blade, and a short-bladed knife known as theraut.The raut is similar to thebadikboth in appearance and in its pinch-grip. The most common target is the opponent's midsection. The weapon is held loosely and used in an upward or downward hacking motion. Once the raut has pierced the enemy, the fighter pushes the knife further in with a palm strike. Unarmed techniques are derived from silek Minangkabau, as the kicks and footwork are well-suited to the mountainous Batak country.

Maluku

Pencak silat in theMaluku Islandsuses a wide variety of weaponry, some of which are indigenous to the area. The particular specialty of Moluccan silat is thecabang(forked truncheon),pisau(knife), and the wooden or metalgalah(staff). The localpedang(sword) is long-bladed and associated with female fighters. OnHaruku Island,particular emphasis is placed on one-legged stances. This tactic was developed for fighting in the ankle-deep sands of the islands, allowing the exponent to use both kicking and eye-gouging techniques simultaneously.

Bajau

TheBajauare a seafaring people ofSulawesi.Often nomadic, they were traditionally born and raised on longboats at sea although this is increasingly exceptional as the community has been forced to settle on land in recent decades. Colonial records often mistook them for pirates but - unlike the neighbouring Bugis - the Bajau lacked the organization and technology for piracy. In fact, they more often clashed with pirates than engaging in raids themselves. Their main and often only weapon was the fishing spear, which functioned as a hunting tool on land. The Bajau utilized a wide array of these harpoons as weapons, both thrown and not thrown. Their aim was impeccable, having been honed by fishing and hunting. The spear may be ofnibongwood orbamboo,single-pronged or three-pronged, barbed or unbarbed, and tipped with wood or steel. Contact with the southernPhilippinesand theSulu sultanateof Borneo allowed the Bajau to acquire other weapons through barter, specifically swords, shields, lances andparang.The most notable Bajau style of pencak silat is centered inKendari.It is characterized by cross-legged stances and rapid turning, designed to be used in cramped spaces such as boats.

Techniques

Disarming agolok

Generalizations in pencak silat technique are very difficult; styles and movements are as diverse as the Indonesian archipelago itself. Individual disciplines can be offensive as in Aceh, evasive as in Bali, or somewhere in between. They may focus on strikes (pukulan), kicks (tendangan), locks (kuncian), weapons (senjata), or even on spiritual development rather than physical fighting techniques. Most styles specialize in one or two of these, but still make use of them all to some degree. Certain characteristics tend to prevail in particular geographical regions, as follows:

• Kicks-West Sumatra,North Sumatra
• Hands/Arms-Jakarta,West Java,Sulawesi,Kalimantan
• Grappling-East Java,Sumatra
• Strikes(hands and feet) -Bali,Central Java,Madura

Stances and steps

Students begin by learning basic body stances and steps. Steps or dancing sweep fan (langkah) are ways of moving the feet from one point to another during a fight. Pencak silat has several basic steps, known aslangkah 8 penjuruor "eight directions of steps". Traditional music is often used as a signal to change body position when practicing langkah.

Langkah are taught in conjunction with preset stances, meant to provide a foundation from which to defend oneself or to launch attacks. The most basic stance is thehorse stance(kekudaorkuda-kuda), which provides stability and firm body position by strengthening the quads. Other stances may train the feet, legs, thighs, glutes and back. Other essential stances are the middle stance, the side stance, and the forward stance. The crawling tiger stance, in which the body is kept low in a ground-hugging position, is most common in Minang silek. Stances are essentially a combination of langkah, body posture, and movement. Through their correct application, the practitioner will be able to attack or defend whether standing, crouching, or sitting down, and alternate smoothly from one position to another. When the student has become familiar with stances and langkah, all are combined in forms orjurus.

Forms

Ajurusin Silat Betawi

Forms orjurusare premeditated sets of steps and movements used for practicing proper technique, training agility, and conditioning the body. Repetition of jurus also develops muscle memory so the practitioner can act and react correctly within a split-second in any given combative situation without having to think. Either armed or unarmed, jurus may be solo, one against one, one against several, or even two against more than one. Forms involving more than one practitioner are meant to be performed at the speed of an actual fight. Real weapons are used in the case of armed jurus, but are sometimes unsharpened today. Thekembang(lit. "flower" ) aspect of forms consists of fluid movements with the hands and arms resembling traditionalIndonesian dance.As with KoreanTaekkyon,these movements are preparation for defending or reversing the opponent's attack. Musical accompaniment provides a metronome to indicate the rhythm of motion. For example, the beat of a drum might signify an attack. Those not aware of the combative nature of these moves often mistake the forms for dancing rather than the formalized training of fighting techniques.

Offense

Pencak silat uses the whole body for attack. The basic strikes are the punch (pukul) and kick (tendang), with many variations in between. Strikes may be performed with the fists, open palms, shins, feet (kaki), elbows (sikut), knees (dengkulorlutut), shoulders (bahu), or the fingers (jari). Even basic attacks may vary depending on style, lineage, and regional origin.Some systems may favour punching with the clenched fist, while others might prefer slapping with the palm of the hand. Other common tactics include feints (tipuan) or deceptive blows used as distraction, sweeping (sapuan) to knock the opponent down, and the scissors takedown (guntingan) which grips the legs around the opponent.

Defense

Defense in pencak silat consists of blocking, dodging, deflecting, and countering. Blocks ortangkisanare the most basic form of defense.Because pencak silat may target any part of the body, blocks can be done with the forearms, hands, shoulders, or shins. Blocking with the elbows may even hurt the attacker. Attacks can also be used defensively, such as kneeing a kicking opponent's leg. Hard blocks, in which force is met with force, are most suitable when fighting opponents of the same strength or lower. Styles that rely on physical power favour this approach, such as Tenaga Dasar. To minimize any damage sustained by the defender when blocking in this way, body conditioning is used such as toughening the forearms by hitting them against hard surfaces. In cases where the opponent is of greater strength, evasion (elakan) or deflections (pesongan) would be used, and are actually preferred in certain styles.

International competitions

The major international competition is Pencak Silat World Championship, organised by PERSILAT.This competition takes place every 2 or 3 years period. More than 30 national teams competed in recent tournaments in Jakarta (2010), Chiang Rai (2012) and Phuket (2015).

Pencak silat arena

Pencak silat competitions in2011 Southeast Asian Games

Pencak Silat competition categories consist of:

1. Tanding (Match) category
2. Tunggal (Single) category
3. Ganda (Double) category
4. Regu (Team) category
5. Solo Creative (Single) Category

List of World Pencak Silat Championships

The championships have been referred to under different names: World Pencak Silat Championships, World Silat Championships or Pencak Silat World Championships.

Edition	Year	Host	Nations	Events
1	1982 World Pencak Silat Championships	Jakarta,Indonesia	7
2	1984 World Pencak Silat Championships	Jakarta,Indonesia	9
3	1986 World Pencak Silat Championships	Vienna,Austria	14
4	1987 World Pencak Silat Championships	Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia	18
5	1988 World Pencak Silat Championships	Singapore	18
6	1990 World Pencak Silat Championships	The Hague,Netherlands	18
7	1992 World Pencak Silat Championships	Jakarta,Indonesia	20
8	1994 World Pencak Silat Championships	Hatyai,Thailand	19
9	1997 World Pencak Silat Championships	Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia	20
10	2000 World Pencak Silat Championships	Jakarta,Indonesia	20
11	2002 World Pencak Silat Championships	Penang,Malaysia	19
12	2004 World Pencak Silat Championships	Singapore	20
13	2007 World Pencak Silat Championships	Pahang,Malaysia	26
14	2010 World Pencak Silat Championships	Jakarta,Indonesia	32	23
15	2012 World Pencak Silat Championships	Chiang Rai,Thailand	26
16	2015 World Pencak Silat Championships	Phuket,Thailand	45	24
17	2016 World Pencak Silat Championships	Bali,Indonesia	40	24
18	2018 World Pencak Silat Championships	Singapore	40	24
19	2022 World Pencak Silat Championships	Malacca,Malaysia	22	32

All-medal table

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Indonesia(INA)	71	30	32	133
2	Vietnam(VIE)	40	27	18	85
3	Malaysia(MAS)	19	15	25	59
4	Thailand(THA)	15	11	16	42
5	Singapore(SIN)	14	10	22	46
6	Netherlands(NED)	2	1	7	10
7	Austria(AUT)	1	1	1	3
8	Uzbekistan(UZB)	1	0	1	2
9	Belgium(BEL)	1	0	0	1
10	Philippines(PHI)	0	4	3	7
11	Laos(LAO)	0	1	2	3
12	United States(USA)	0	1	1	2
13	Azerbaijan(AZE)	0	1	0	1
14	India(IND)	0	0	4	4
15	Algeria(ALG)	0	0	3	3
16	Brunei(BRU)	0	0	2	2
	Great Britain(GBR)	0	0	2	2
	Iran(IRI)	0	0	2	2
	Russia(RUS)	0	0	2	2
	Suriname(SUR)	0	0	2	2
21	Egypt(EGY)	0	0	1	1
	Kyrgyzstan(KGZ)	0	0	1	1
	South Korea(KOR)	0	0	1	1
Totals (23 entries)		164	102	148	414

2018 medal table

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Singapore(SGP)	7	6	7	20
2	Vietnam(VIE)	6	3	4	13
3	Indonesia(INA)	5	5	5	15
4	Malaysia(MAS)	3	2	3	8
5	Thailand(THA)	2	5	4	11
6	Uzbekistan(UZB)	1	0	1	2
7	Philippines(PHI)	0	2	2	4
8	United States(USA)	0	1	0	1
9	Netherlands(NED)	0	0	5	5
10	India(IND)	0	0	4	4
11	Algeria(ALG)	0	0	2	2
	Laos(LAO)	0	0	2	2
13	Brunei(BRU)	0	0	1	1
	Egypt(EGY)	0	0	1	1
	Great Britain(GBR)	0	0	1	1
Totals (15 entries)		24	24	42	90

2016 medal table

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Indonesia(INA)	12	4	4	20
2	Vietnam(VIE)	5	7	6	18
3	Malaysia(MAS)	3	3	3	9
4	Singapore(SGP)	2	1	8	11
5	Suriname(SUR)	2	0	2	4
6	Thailand(THA)	1	5	6	12
7	Belgium(BEL)	1	0	0	1
8	Netherlands(NED)	0	1	2	3
9	Azerbaijan(AZE)	0	1	0	1
	Laos(LAO)	0	1	0	1
	Philippines(PHI)	0	1	0	1
12	Iran(IRI)	0	0	2	2
	Russia(RUS)	0	0	2	2
14	Algeria(ALG)	0	0	1	1
	Great Britain(GBR)	0	0	1	1
	South Korea(KOR)	0	0	1	1
	United States(USA)	0	0	1	1
Totals (17 entries)		26	24	39	89

2015 medal table

The seven-day event attracted 450 fighters from 40 nations and territories, competing in 24 weight categories in both the combat and performance events (18 combat event and 6 performance event).

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Indonesia(INA)	9	7	3	19
2	Vietnam(VIE)	7	7	5	19
3	Thailand(THA)	4	1	6	11
4	Malaysia(MAS)	3	4	13	20
5	Singapore(SIN)	1	3	7	11
6	Philippines(PHI)	0	1	1	2
7	Brunei(BRU)	0	0	1	1
Totals (7 entries)		24	23	36	83

Asian Pencak Silat Championships

Edition	Year	Host	Nations	Events
1	2011 Asian Pencak Silat Championships	Singapore,Singapore	7
2	2016 Asian Pencak Silat Championships	Singapore,Singapore	6	23
3	2017 Asian Pencak Silat Championships	Chungju,South Korea	7
4	2018 Asian Pencak Silat Championships	Srinagar,India	10
5	2019 Asian Pencak Silat Championship	Yanji,China	9
6	2022 Asian Pencak Silat Championship	Srinagar,India	11	32
7	2023 Asian Pencak SIlat Championship	Al Nasr, Dubai	15	32

2011 medal table

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Vietnam(VIE)	11	6	4	21
2	Singapore(SIN)	5	3	10	18
3	Indonesia(INA)	5	3	4	12
4	Malaysia(MAS)	1	3	4	8
5	Thailand(THA)	1	0	4	5
6	Philippines(PHI)	0	2	4	6
7	Brunei(BRU)	0	0	3	3
Totals (7 entries)		23	17	33	73

2016 medal table

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Vietnam(VIE)	13	6	4	23
2	Singapore(SIN)	8	9	6	23
3	Thailand(THA)	2	5	6	13
4	India(IND)	0	2	5	7
5	Indonesia(INA)	0	1	1	2
6	South Korea(KOR)	0	0	4	4
Totals (6 entries)		23	23	26	72

• http://apsif.com/portfolio.html

World Sports School Pencak Silat Championship

The 1st World Sports School Pencak Silat Championship 2016 Singapore

2016 medal table

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Singapore(SIN)	10	0	0	10
2	Azerbaijan(AZE)	0	5	0	5
3	India(IND)	0	4	1	5
4	Uzbekistan(UZB)	0	2	2	4
Totals (4 entries)		10	11	3	24

World 5x5 Silat Championship

The 1st World 5X 5 Extreme Skills Silat Championship 2019 Venue: KL, 11-12 Feb 2019 Host: PESAKA Malaysia. The winners came from Suriname and overall best fighter was Chi-jinn Wong Loi Sing, with a clean sweap of 38 - 21 in favor of Suriname. He took home the gold for his team

The 1st Kids & Junior 5x5 Silat Challenge 2017 Venue: KL, 11-12 Mar 2017 Host: PESAKA Malaysia Was taken by Sinada Humidha from Indonesia.

South East Asian Pencak Silat Championship

5th was held in 2015.

Other

The 5th ASIAN Beach Games Venue: Da Nang, 24 Sep - 4 Oct 2016 Host: VPSF Vietnam

The 6th TAFISA International Festival Pencak Silat Venue: Jakarta, 7–8 October 2016 Host: IPSIIndonesia

Image gallery

• 
  Pencak Silat of Sumatra (c. 1915)
• 
  Pencak Silat atFort van der Capellen(c. 1915)
• 
  Martial arts at east cost of Sumatra (c. 1930)
• 
  Martial arts at east cost of Sumatra (c. 1930)
• 
  Pencak Silat sword dancing (1939)
• 
  Pencak Silat sword dancing (1939)

See also

• List of Indonesian inventions and discoveries
• Silat
• Indonesian martial arts
• Silat Harimau
• Silat Melayu
• Bakti Negara
• Cingkrik
• Bokator
• Sikaran
• Escrima
• Muay Thai

Further reading

• Quintin Chambers andDonn F. Draeger(1979).Javanese Silat: The Fighting Art of Perisai Diri.ISBN0-87011-353-4.
• Sean Stark (2007).Pencak Silat Pertempuran: Vol. 1.Stark Publishing.ISBN978-0-615-13968-5.
• Sean Stark (2007).Pencak Silat Pertempuran: Vol. 2.Stark Publishing.ISBN978-0-615-13784-1.
• O'ong Maryono (2002).Pencak Silat in the Indonesian Archipelago.ISBN9799341604.
• Suwanda, Herman (2006).Pencak Silat Through my eyes.Los Angeles: Empire Books. p. 97.ISBN9781933901039.
• Mason, P.H. (2012) "A Barometer of Modernity: Village performances in the highlands of West Sumatra," ACCESS: Critical Perspectives on Communication, Cultural & Policy Studies, 31(2), 79–90.

External links

• International Pencak Silat Federation/ Pentjak Silat USASouthEast Asian Global Martial Arts
• Official website of IPSF/PERSILAT, the Pencak Silat World Federation