ABOUT SILAT

Silat or Seni Silat, Gayong, Bergayung, Gayung, is a collective term used to denote the native martial arts practiced in South
East Asia. It is a combative technique of survival and fighting. Silat evolved in the civilizations of Malaysia and Indonesia for
centuries and is considered there a part of tradition and social culture. During colonial times, practitioners of the martial art
used it as a form of liberation from foreign rulers.
Silat has matured a lot over the years. Many new techniques and styles have been incorporated into Silat. It has also spread
all over the world from its place of origin in South East Asia. Many people are now trying out Silat for the first time because
of the many benefits that it has to offer. At the same time, many people have become experts in it and they are helping to
spread the knowledge about Silat.

There are many health and mental benefits of learning Silat. The student of Silat will not only end up with a fitter body but will
also have a more focused and agile mind after his Silat training.

How is Silat different from other martial arts?

Silat is distinctive from other Asian martial techniques like karate and kung fu. Its cultural aspect separates it from its more
famous counterparts. Combat is not everything in Silat. If it is combined with traditional musical instruments like kendang,
the martial technique metamorphoses into a folk dance. For example, in Indonesias West Sumatra province, in the
Minangkabau area, Silat is one of the oldest traditions in the region and is integral to the performance of Minangkabau folk
dance.

A journey through Malaysian tradition reveals a type of Silat known as silat pulut where it is considered a dance form and
accompanied by traditional musical instruments. In this case, it can also be considered a performance art.

A variety of Silat-pencak-is also practiced in Indonesias West Java province. The art is generally attended by music in the
form of the local Sundanese suling instrument.

The many varieties of Silat all have the same overarching theme, which is the personal development of the person and the
strengthening of his mind. The different varieties have been standardized for the purpose of export to other parts of the
world.

History of Silat
Silat began to be practiced all over the Malay Archipelago from the Seventh Century AD onwards. There is no historical
documentation over its origins. With the advent of Islam in the region in the fourteenth century, the religion was taught along
with Silat. Thus the martial art form also came to be regarded as a form of spiritual training.

The martial art form was soon adopted by the ruling class and Silat became the martial art of choice among successive
Malaysian sultans, prime minister and warriors. It was particularly prominent at the time of Srivijaya, Majapahit and Malacca
Sultanates. Silat, at this time, came to be taught across Sulawesi, Borneo, Bali, Malay Peninsula and the entire Malay
peninsula. Malaysians consider the legendary character, Hang Tuah as the father of Silat. The post colonization phase saw
Silat being evolved into a formal martial art. It is now included as a sport game and is an event during Southeast Asian
Games.

Why should you learn Silat?

Silat focuses on both the internal and external development of a person. Practicing this martial art will impose discipline,
patriotism, citizenship and morals. A student of Silat learns how to defend herself or himself.

The student learns all the moves that form a part of Silat. Gradually he learns how to apply them and how to use them in self
defense. After many years of practice, he becomes a master and can use his skills quite effectively in combat.

Learning Silat takes place via a number of stages where students are first taught the basics like correct langkah or right
steps. Then a student is taught the attacking techniques and other forms of self-preservation. A Silat practitioner uses a
variety of weapons like machete, walking stick and knife,

Jurus is a collection of movements that includes blocks, strikes and maneuvers.

Bunga or flower movements teach fluidity of movement and grace. It is essential in Silat.
Tempur means a battle between two Silat practitioners.

http://go2karate.com/about-silat/

The benefits of martial arts : Silat

Posted on April 28, 2012

Health is the most important pleasure that we have. Without a good health, we will never get the
energy to do the activities that we like. There is a barrier that will not allow us to be active in life. Its kind of
sad to just sit around and see others doing activity that they like. There are much more activities that give
benefits to us, not just to give us a good health but also as tools to protect us from bad people. No matter
how others are there to protect you, there must be at least a skill for you to protect yourself from bad things.
Silat is one of the beneficial activities that suitable for everyone. It play an important role in life and
culture as in past, it have been used by Malay warriors to defend their motherland. The benefits will be such
as below:

a)

Moulding our character

b)

Defending ourselves

c)

One kind of exercise

d)

Having a healthy and fit body

e)

Preserving the Malays Heritage

f)

Teaches you discipline

Silat is sometimes called gayung or gayong in the northern Malay Peninsula. This is because most of
the people in Malay Peninsula practices this type of silat. Silat practitioners begin and end each of their
routine and practice session by saluting their teacher, partner or any spectators as a show of respect. The
vast majority of silat use the Hindu-Buddhist namaste in which the palms are pressed together at chest level.
Thehorse stance (kekuda) is the most essential posture, common to many Asian martial arts. The practice
area is called a gelanggang. They were traditionally located outdoors. Silat attire varies according to style
and locality. The standard full dress of todays silat practitioners usually consists of the following:

The tengkolok and tanjak are headkerchiefs with different ways of tying them depending on status
and region.

The baju Melayu, meaning Malay clothes is the male shirt but is also worn by female silat
exponents.

The samping is a waist cloth.

The bengkung is a cloth belt or sash which secures the samping. Some schools colour the bengkung
to signify rank, a practice adopted from the belt system of Japanese Martial arts.
There are various forms and styles of Silat but the most practiced one includes joint manipulation,
animal-based techniques, bladed weapons, and combination of others. the main purpose is not to strengthen
a part but to determine the body and mind ready to accept any challenge. can also be conducted in person,
two or a group.

https://iheartlife2012.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/silat/

Silat has many valuable benefits

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015
AK MD KHAIRUDDIN PG HARUN
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
PENCAK Silat, a traditional Malay martial art, helps teach youth self-discipline, said the lead actress from Bruneis first feature
film, Yasmine.
But Liyana Yus, who took centrestage in a martial arts performance yesterday, stressed that silat has a variety of other valuable
benefits, not just for youth, but also for adults.
There are students taking part in the pencak silat performance. The objective is to draw as many youth as possible and bring them
closer so to preserve our Malay traditional martial art, she said on the sidelines of the Brunei-Muara District annual meet-and-greet
in conjunction with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei
Darussalams 69th birthday celebration.
[Related story: People display their love of HM]
[Related story: Residents shower HM with birthday gifts]
[Related video: HM 69th birthday celebrations in Brunei-Muara ]
We are trying to bring back the glory days of pencak silat through a stage performance in front of royal family members, she
added.
On hand for the performance were His Majesty; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior
Minister at the Prime Minister's Office; HRH Prince Jefri Bolkiah; and HRH Prince Abdul Malik.
Liyana said youths would be able to express themselves in social settings through pencak silat and practice a healthy lifestyle when
they become adults.
Hj Hairul Faizal Hj Jais, who took part in the event and is also a member of local martial arts organisation Persatuan Perguruan
Silat Gerak 41, said 60 students and 10 qualified martial artists participated in yesterdays performance at the Taman Sultan Omar
Ali Saifuddien (SOAS) in the capital.
It was nerve wracking even for the 38-year-old pencak silat veteran, who works for the Ministry of Defence (MinDef), in showcasing
the Bunga Ramai and Bunga Solo artistic forms of pencak silat with the performers.
It was the first time I performed onstage at a royal event. Everyone was nervous. But we did well because of all the meaningful
hours of training before the actual event, said Hj Hairul Faizal, who was one of the 10 qualified martial artists dressed in black.
Through a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and the parents of the students, the stage
performance introduced the young participants to the real meaning of pencak silat so that the cultural heritage would be preserved.
Its a way to expose young people to Bruneis traditional martial art so that it wont be forgotten by the new generation, said Hj
Hairul Faizal.
He said the 60 youths who performed the Bunga Ramai form of pencak silat had been practicing it since the beginning of the
Ramadhan fasting month while the 10 adult members practiced the Bunga Solo form for two weeks.

Meanwhile, the team leader of the Youths Pencak Silat Scheme under the Department of Youth and Sports, Hj Md Khairul Bahrin,
said the stage performance of pencak silat was a move to inculcate discipline, respect and proper conduct among the youth.
Hj Md Khairul joined the scheme in 2000 and became the head of the scheme in 2011.
He said he was proud of the opportunity to perform pencak silat onstage for the royal family members.
Ive taught more than 200 youths in the span of four years since becoming head of the pencak silat scheme. After todays
performance, Im really delighted to perform with the youths, said the 31-year-old.
The Brunei Times

http://bt.com.bn/news-national/2015/08/24/%E2%80%98silat-has-manyvaluable-benefits%E2%80%99