silat:check list and acid test

[husnira]

salam....

to all pesilat out there...i hope u have the very best time training and learning silat as martial arts and sports...

Is the silat you are learning is the real one or is it just another way for the dojo to get more people to sign up by teaching something that look like silat....in other words...balony silat...hoax...

in this thread i hope to share some pointers on what silat is supposed to look like and some detail that might be useful to those who maybe looking for genuine art of silat...please do share ur thoughts and hopefully it would be useful to all pesilat in the world...thanks..salam

[husnira]

TAPAK...
it could be recognise as langkah or steps ....tapak is abasic move all silat have...there is no short cut for this..no matter how good a silat claims to be...tapak is the basic for all the moves...
the reason,tapak is the basic platform of all combat related moves...it can give u the advantage against the opponent in which is called "makan langkah"...in silat not only u can defeat opponets with ur attacks...but also by the placing of your steps...remember that silat is about takedowns....all silat fatal moves are when the opponent is on the ground.the more u progress in silat the more u see that langkah or steps is the only thing u need to ground an opponent..
type of tapak...
there many but the usual ones are:
tapak 1:basic standing stance.no stance what so ever.this is the langkah that u will see when u in the kind of silat that are more practical or street wise..good for women as it is a non aggrasive stance.more on waiting for the attacks and breaking them with minimal movement of the body.
tapak 3:also non as "yoi" this is the walking stance which are affective to engage more than 1 opponents...same in muay thai...the attacks should be followed with a steps foward to the sides with opportunity to launch another attack.

[husnira]

basicly, tapak will be the first thing u will learn aside from the basic punch and kicks...this bring me to the second element in a true silat...JURUS...
JURUS
jurus is basicly combination of buah pukul..or attacks strands...jurus will give u better understanding on how a buah or 1 attack move can relate to another..as an example...combining buah pukul 1 with buah pukul 3...making a jurus...but a true silat does not need u to combine your own...it already have its one with a very good combination...dont be fooled with those silat that want u to mix your own...it destroy the institution of silat...if u can mix it your own why not make your own...a student will always be one..never in silat does a teacher give that much freedom to a student who are learning. jurus in the body of attacks that can be read by other pesilat in which silat group u are from...but this is not for the average pesilat..
from a jurus...u can be read and that means u are dead...keep jurus as your text book of silat and keep it well...if u see a silat with a jurus that is too much varians and variety..chances are the silat is fused...either mixed or confused....i will tell u more on how to make sure if the silat is one...

[husnira]

BUAH PUKUL
it is something u will hear the most in a combative silat...basicly translate into attack move....one thing about silat...the buah pukul should be dull or impractical the first time u learn it....but not all...in which you will have to learn some moves that are to many moves,punches and kick...in a single buah pukul..as an example..buah pukul 2 needs u to evade a punch,punch the enemy,kick his legs,punch him again,step on his gut,punch him again,again and again...impractical because the oppnt is not a dummy or piece of log..he will not just stand there and do nothing...but that is the secret...notice the position of the enemy after an attacks...notice the attack that u inflict in that position...its all langkah and tapak...if a silat tht u are learning does not hav this type of attack strand...the silat might be edited in which there are no creativity....remember..silat is an age old arts...it has all the secrets that u can dig...dont be fooled by some fancy instructor that learn silat in a 2 day crash course and than teach u all the things that he thinks he remembered...he thinks!
....REMEMBER THIS....my friend..if u are learning a silat that wants u to kick as high as u can...dump it and ask for ur money back...a true silat never lift the kick higher than the waist...some that i have learnt dont even kick...but that doesnt mean than i cant scissor kick two guys at once or neither cant other pesilat...but i learnt it from other martial arts...not silat...

[husnira]

silat is about honour...there are no cheap shot or attacks that is not seen by the enemy...what i mean is u must not be taught to attack an enemy when the back is turn...thats "bachol"..or coward....u are not respecting the enemy..yes that what i said...respect...acknowledge ur enemy...and u are winning half the fight already...
silat is dangerous because the weapon is deception...tricks and clever thinking but not cheap shots and unhonourable moves...silat does attacks groins but the attack is done as an answer to the enemy's mistakes....attacking without defending...not respecting...
one thing that u should look when learning a silat...when kicking...or when u are attacking...all angles are covered...as an example..when kicking..one hand will protect the groin and the lower body...especially kicking that are waist high... no matter what silat...that is mandatory...

[husnira]

PELEBAT/BELEBAT
it may sound funny but it is one of the decipline in silat that makes it more detail and full....
it is basicly exercise that u do over and over again until u can do it without reallising it... it could be any movement of the hands..the arm and wrist..movement for legs and knee...i cannot spescified any belebat because its is dependable to the style of the silat...but a belebat should be very fast and very precise to the style...almost "wing chun" like training of the hands...belebat actually will be taught as soon as the student can understand all the basic moves of that particular silat...and advancing to the next level..such as combat training..this art is crutial for all sudden attacks and ambushed position...it would be the knee jerk reaction to danger...just make sure u can handle it as sometime and too many times some friend just got a knee jerk trip to the clinic...
usually belebat have no grabbing move, just hits and multiple attacks to precise points.grabbing makes it slower and dependable to element such as palm size,enemy condition(shirt,sleeves,size)etc....hand attacks usually result to pin point punch,stab,knock to the inner side of the elbow,adams apple,space between the nose and the lip,diafrgm or any other vital point.
just make sure that belebat or pelebat u learn is something simple and not over reacting move in which to hard for u to understand the practicallity of the movement.

[husnira]

SECRETS TRAITS
this is something i'm a bit reluctant to share...but considering there are to many silat being used as a device to gain more money and influence...i think this is for the greater good...
TEACHERS/MASTERS
a master or guru in silat seldom use fists...see this with ur instructor...when they are trying teach u a move...a skill pesilat will clench half fist..with the thumb at the side not under the fingers....
a skill pesilat will wait for attacks with open palm..sometimes the thumb is sticking out...contrary to the belive that exposed thumb will break easilly.
stance...look at the stance...a skill pesilat concern about the stance or tapak or langkah..just like dancing..he want to lead...but when he's following..its usually a trap..or test...
a true silat master can know if u have martial arts in you..especially silat...just by looking at your walk,hand movements,body shifts and eyes...of the bat.95% of the time...
a true master in action/sagang/tapak 4/laga/fights will not look directly in the eyes of the opponent.that is the beauty of silat.see without looking.this is because silat are full with white and black magic..which i can xplain later..the reflection/gleem of the eye is the weapon of the masters.avoiding it means evading the weapon.
one thing about silat gurus and masters...when they ask u to attack..when teaching u a "buah pukul"..they respon to the aggresiveness of our attack...if you attack with a scale 5 out of 10...they react 5 out of 10...they can sense the aggresiveness...only the unskilled will go all out on you and do some numbers on your ribs...watch for this sign of lack of xperience.

[Tant01]

Thanks again husnira...

Good stuff!

[husnira]

salam....
SECRET TRAITS

SKILLS
still on how to really determine what is the kind of silat that you are learning or wanted to learn..skills mean how a silat master or guru use or teach the silat..
all silat have a degree of perfection...in other words..when a "bunga tari" or pattern is performed...the steps and hand movement have meaning...not just simply moving...but giving meaning to movement...the hands should be graceful but strong...the steps must have confidence..the steps is the most crutial point..hasitation in steps means weak and inexprienced...the eyes do the talking in silat...u must see the meaning of the bunga tari through the eyes...
shouting is not something silat is known about...shouting means lack of knowledge...in bunga tari, shouting means disrespect.only the music should be heard..also no high kicks in bunga tari..especially if it is performed to elders,vip and old gurus...you cannot show the bottom of your feet and kicks are replaced with knee attacks...if any of this traits and skills are not performed...that means the silat have not been the real silat you are hoping for......

[husnira]

if the performer is wearing a head gear...such as "tengkolok"..(cloth that wrap on the head)..the head gear must not fall out during the performance...lack of control and not subtle...not graceful..but sometimes even the best have their day...so relax...
KRIS...or KERIS
this is the official weapon of the silat world...but u may see some silat have swords , parang(mechete),knife,krambit and many other...but the most advanced will learn that the ultimate weapon is the most simple...the selendang (scraf)..not the lacey one..the "cindai" or the sarong that is used as mens scarf in the nusantara....we will talk about it later...but back to the kris...all silat should have official keris...that means...most of them know how to use it...look at the way the teacher is holding the kris...kris must not be clenched...not to be hold in hand as a sword should.it must be pinched....with the thumb on the base of the steel blade...btween the fore finger and the thumb...the handle is used when extra force needed for stabbing...pressed against the clenched palm.only novice will hold on to the kris tightly...and the length of the blade should be equal to the length of the fore arm of the user...if not...its not his...or hers...just a prop or a lender...

[husnira]

KNIFE AND KERAMBIT
this would be the most popular weapon almost an icon to the western world of silat..maybe becaue the deadly feature and mind blowing arts of stabs and cuts...but just to make sure it is the real thing...knife should be held conceal...meaning if the teacher holding the knife...the shine or the gleem of the knife should not be visible..usually they put the other hand on top of the knife like hiding it from the opponent's view...no flashing it around like michael jakcson "beat it" clips....if the knife is hold backward,the blade should be running to the side of the arm...or inner arm...but when stabbing..it comes out into 90 degree angle....or anything like it...this intricate movement is crutial in the art of knife in silat...the kerambit...a knife that looks like an eagel talons...crooked and pointy...sometimes the inner edge is sharp but there are also those that are blunt...actually in the old age..kerambit is the weapons for the ladies...yup...thats what i said...its a choice weapon for woman silat masters...but is is not a problem for the man to master it...kerambit is consider the assasin weapon because all the fatal blows are actually to subdued the opponent quickly and messy...why?...because it attack major blood veins..the hook makes it easier to panetrate the skin with a flick of the wrist...main and popular target point are the throat...the two veins at the side of the neck...joints...and the wrists...usually the kerambit is teach to the advance or those who masters the buah pukul or attack moves...dont be fooled to be lured to learn silat for the sake of the kerambit...u will missed so much education on tapak(steps) and buah pukul (attack move)...

[husnira]

CANE and RATTAN
this is the subtle weapon that to the masters...can be deadly...silat may not share the extreme velocity of the shaolin bo...or awesome spins of the silambam stick play of india...but it make up in subtlety...being not obvious and practical...usually the attacks are simple and straight to the point...but look for inexperience in the teacher..such as when attacking using the rattan ...the section of the rattan must face outwards..the grain must face outward ...as the flow of energy will flow to the opponent...the size of the long cane sholud be the same height of the user..the medium should be same height of the belly button...the short can varies from the 3 times the lenght of the user
span between the tips of stretched thumb and little finger to 5 times...
ok..i know thats abit boring but i got something else to say ....and it goes to all pesilat no matter you are a beginner or master or even a champ...wait for it...

[husnira]

CUSTOMS
i wont go to serious on this topic because i understand the culture barrier and difference..but i would to point out some aspect of silat in the western fusion.

u must not...i repeat...must not wear shoes when doing tari sembah,pentas,langkah or any form of silat steps in shoes..sport shoes to be exect....why...?..because silat is about nature..its about absorbing energy around u..absorbing the energy of the cosmic if i dare to say so...and also wearing shoes is a major disadvantage...silat use all limbs as weapon...even the toes will be used as grappling hooks.also in silat balance is everything...which means u use your toes to give traction.
i have seen many times...some teacher or guru master claiming to be the best but strike a silat pose with sport shoes....maybe he has athletes foot..maybe he should use that instead of silat...
I just surf the net and got some picture of the gurus and masters which proudly pose in nice sports shoes...also posing with canes or "sembat"(short rattan sticks)..with the grain flowing inward....i could put it here but that would be disrespectful...so please...its a good thing to practise and learn silat even greater to teach it..but do not get confused with the anxiety of money and fame,u neglect the true element of silat...creativity is unlimited but purity demands restrain.
salam....

[Tant01]

Karambit is a what?

KNIFE AND KERAMBIT
this would be the most popular weapon almost an icon to the western world of silat.....actually in the old age..kerambit is the weapons for the ladies...yup...thats what i said...its a choice weapon for woman silat masters...but is is not a problem for the man to master it...kerambit is consider the assasin weapon because all the fatal blows are actually to subdued the opponent quickly and messy...why?...because it attack major blood veins..the hook makes it easier to panetrate the skin with a flick of the wrist...main and popular target point are the throat...the two veins at the side of the neck...joints...and the wrists...usually the kerambit is teach to the advance or those who masters the buah pukul or attack moves...dont be fooled to be lured to learn silat for the sake of the kerambit...u will missed so much education on tapak(steps) and buah pukul (attack move)...

Hehehe.... A ladies weapon, eh? That's like saying Gracie Jiu-jitsu (Brazilian Jiu-jitsu) is GIRL JUDO!

You're right but assassin tool? ... more like "cock fighting" weapon. Lawi Ayam: ([the] spur of the chicken) AKA "tigers claw" AKA Kuku Bima ([the] claw of Bima) AKA Kuku Hanuman ([the] claw of Hanuman) Karambits are wicked, THAT'S for sure! Feel free to correct my language... I'm just a stupid American.

Best regards...

[husnira]

salam....tant01

u sure know your knife.....basicly all the one that u mention is kerambit...by the way...do you know what hanuman means?...
about the the assasin tool...and the ladies weapon...dont take to heart...wing chun also was created by a women....why i say its an assassin's weapon...look at the sheath..the cover...like a hook...the women use it to hold their hair...in a bun.....the langkah of attack is hidden in the dance move for the ladies....if u have long hair u can try it...thats why men dont put kerambit at the side like sword or keris..it is hidden in the fold of the sach or clothes...its a secret weapon...very secret...
salam....