A short introduction

Indonesia and Pencak Silat
Indonesia, a country with more than 13000 islands, has different kinds of races, which probably came here due to the migration movement (2500-100 b. Chr.) and were for largest part inhabitants from the main land.

The parts both geografical and ethnical shows the exactness of the Indonesian saying 'Unity in Diversity' which is shown in its weapon.
The population of 180 million counts at least 10 different important ethnical groups with their own religion, language and customs, although the Bahasa Indonesia is spoken by almost everyone.
Some scientists believe that the roots of the pencak silat in the Chinese martial art, in which the style is emphazised by the movements of animals. However there is no doubt that the current pencak silat styles also have Chinese influences, because of the much better means of telecommunication. But the exchange of techniques by warlords at that time was very poor. The secret of both the Chinese and Indonesian martial arts were kept under strict secracy. It is more likely that Indonesia drew the idea of the on animals based martial arts from the same source as China did. Nevertheless the assumed strange influences, the pencak silat showed charactaristical Indonesian traits.

A modern Indonesian dictionary defines pencak as 'a system for self defence' and silat as 'to parry'. There can be found more appropiate translations of those words at the experts. The best one is the one which says about pencak:'set skilled movements in certain variations and combinations' and silat as 'fighing' with the practice of pencak.

Many guru's, who were active and indeed truly worked at the evolution of the pencak silat, descents from the Minangkabau people from West-Sumatera. In the pencak silat, the see a pusaka (holy ancestral heirloom).

Because the pencak silat revived in Sumatra, which underwent the by the Moslims sooner than on Java, people also assumed that the pencak silat was a Moslim art. However, this is not true Anti-Islamic people from Bali also created a leading style, just like the Christians on Java and Celebes.

The many different styles of pencak silat all have their own characteristical movements. Those techniques appear to be adjusted to the local conditions like the weather and the relief. The Kumango from Sumatra has a vertical positions because of many beaches and sandy areas, while the Harimau from the Minangkabau from West-Sumatra has a more deep position; this because of the many rains that will cause a muddy, slippery surface, vertical positions are made impossible in this circumstances. The Patai, a style from the highlands of Bukittingi characterize its flexible and cat-like jumping techniques. One should be able to jump from stone to stone and rock to rock constantly to get above the opponent. The Setia Hati, the Setia Hati Terate and the Tapak Suci from Middle-Java are styles which were created as resistant-movements during the Dutch colonial time, maintain their specific querillatechniques nl. to change a high position into a low one in order to evade bullets from the enemy and to launch a counter attack with throwing weapons. These exponants are subjected to a strong physical ability and flexibility.

By most Islamitical styles an oath is taken on the Koran, that all student must be bloodbrothers. The trainings often begin with just one oil-light lit to let the student get used to the darkness. In a later stage, the student will be able to fight in complete darkness.

The system
The trainings differ from system to system, but the text shown below will give you some examples.

Olah Raga
They form the suppleness of the muscles and joint through an intensive body gymnastics.

Jurusan
They form the basics of the pencak silat. With this anatomical weapons are being taught which are used in both attack and defense.

Langkahan
Combat walk against an imaginary opponent, in which various attack and defense techniques are being used, catagorical.

Sambut
Sparring techniques against one or more opponents.

Kembangan
This is the formal etiquette, which is being used before a person will train with another. The position, awareness and de distance with regard to the opponent are strictly kept to directions

Rahasia
With this the student learns the mental en anatomical areas of the body.

Senjata
Advanced students are being taught to use a weapon, which caracterize the style in question.

Breakingtests
Natural materials such as coconuts, bamboo trunks and wooden board are being used for breakingtests.

Kebatinan
This is the last stage, nl. the spiritual training. This stage is can only be achieved by the very best student. The student learn how to analyse and evaluate every situation and to find a solution for every problem.

What about the future
Underground activities arose when the pencak silat was prohibited by the Dutch. It was stimulated again as an effective self defense method by the Japanese occupiers in the W.W.II. Different organisations were formed to integrate the different styles to create a national pencak silat. This is a very complex task and it still is the question whether the pencak silat let's itself fit into an administrative and technical organisation. Both the I.P.S.I (Ikatan Pencak Silat Indonesia) and the P.P.S.I (Persatuan Pencak Silat Indonesia) ever tried(still do) to unify all national styles. But local pride seems to be bigger than te need of a national pencak silat. However, part of this endeavour has been succesfully completed under the name of pencak silat P dan K, Pencak Silat Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, which was set up by bapak Djoemali in Yogyakarta. This style of pencak silat is being taught in almost every secundary schools en universities.

The real pencak silat is an method of combat and is never meant as a sport. Yet, some people, organisations have tried to commit the pencak silat with certain rules and directions with which can be used to organize matches. But real masters disapprove such attempts.