A Brief Talk with a Malaysian Silat Teacher

Happy New Year everyone! I had the occasion to speak recently with a well known (yet very low profile) practitioner/teacher of Silat Melayu in Malaysia. Here are a few Q and A's from our discussion:

I know that you have studied several systems of Silat Melayu under different teachers. How do you feel about incorporating elements of different systems into your practice?

Everything comes from outside, Silat masters here over the years literally scooped from their friends to complete their styles. I know of one particular master who does that all the time over here to such an extent, other masters claim he steals!

So how does this play into your own development as a practitioner?

My own development is my own natural cause. The particular system has its own founder who has his own set of beliefs and convictions. The only way I can truly become like the founder is not to follow his footsteps one hundred percent, but to find my own convictions. In a way my own path has allowed me to understand theirs.

Is that a deviation from the “traditional” approach?

I consider myself a traditional martial artist…a traditional pesilat. Before the 1950s, before Gayong and Cekak and Lincah and so on, there was only silat - and silat was whatever you made it to be. If you saw an old Chinese fellow doing damned good kuntau, you made sure you learned some. If you saw a farmer swinging his hoe really fierce like, you made sure you learned it. You made it your own.

Traditional silat training consisted of a 100-day crash course. After that 100 days, you were expected to become your own master, teaching yourself. There were no grades or certificates. How good you were depended on how good you were. I'm comfortable being who I am because now, nobody can touch me. My previous perguruan still acknowledge me as their member, and they can't say anything about my loyalty.

How do you yourself evaluate a particular technique or pecahan when you observe it for the first time?

I sit at the middle of everything and interpret movements not based on uniform or 'system', but of the objective and function. It's difficult to explain how I see it, but the petua firmly embedded in me- most of which I don't understand how to explain yet - but everywhere I look at people, at cats, at machinery, I see lines of energy and possible movement. Looking at a joint, a have a good idea what amount of force and leverage will take to lock it. With more experience, these petua will gain more definition.

Does this ever create friction with your Teachers?

I do respect my masters. It's the idiot students I’m always at odds with! All my masters support my journey. When I talk with them frankly and describe my experiences, the Masters, if not the students, will be supportive. Because of what I call the “Grandmaster-Grandfather syndrome”, they can't choose between grandchildren nor students so, the students fracture when the masters die. Silat Cekak Hanafi and Seni Gayong maintain that their students are not allowed to study other arts, but the masters on top always deny this exclusiveness.

What is the value of Community in Martial Arts training?

I will say this again: Silat is only good because of our community. We're not allowed to waste time and money. If you study martial arts just because it's a hobby, where's the increase in quality of life for yourself, your family and your society? If you're the only beneficiary, then you've wasted your time - nothing to give back, nothing to pass on.

For some years now there has been an effort to make Silat an Olympic sport. Some groups have developed a purely competitive branch of Silat. How do you feel about the concept of “Sport Silat” being promoted at an organizational level?

Sport silat is going nowhere - not because the techniques are not 'authentic' - but because there is no pure motive behind it. In Malaysia, Malay culture has been classified and documented and theorised and crystallized. Everybody knows what Malay culture IS and what it is NOT…and sports silat is NOT it. Which is why we're happy to live our lives in the gelanggang LEARNING silat. In certain other SE Asian countries, there is a problem with classification since there are so many clans and cultures.

The one export that will make the whole world fall in love with silat, is something the world understands, and the world at large doesn't understand a ‘dancing-fight’ style. But they do understand sports and that is the ticket to the big leagues. The next logical step is to impose SE Asian culture and values upon the MA community the same way Karate, TKD and Kung Fu did. Now PESAKA is trying to do just that.

How do the more traditional Masters feel about this?

The Masters aren't supporting sport. They say silat is for the community, not for the individual silat world champion who will spend milllions training. Don't look at Cekak, Gayong. Lincah or Gayung Fatani - they aren't recognized as traditional styles - the values are different, but THEY make up PESAKA.

On the other hand, it’s a moot point to try and convince an Indonesan otherwise of his opinion, because Indonesia created sport silat. Up until the 1970s, we still had legal no holds barred tourneys, which became illegal in the 1980s. Deaths were not rampant - but were expected. PESAKA didn’t like that.

Happy Holidays - PSA

On behalf of my students I would like to wish everyone a safe and joyous Holiday season. May you spend it peacefully in the company of those you love.

Also at this time we would like to bring your attention to an important Community program that we have initiated during this significant time of year called Blades-for-Tots. Your generous donation of dagas, kerambits, badiks, Spyderco folders, Cold Steel tantos, etc., will ensure that the younger generation of Kali enthusiasts -like the eager young man pictured above - will inherit a meaningful legacy when they begin their own Journey in the SE Asian martial arts.

Just imagine the unbounded joy of a little one waking up eagerly on Christmas morning to discover a genuine CRKT M16 or Emerson PUK lovingly placed beside the latest X-Box game in their stocking! Share the warmth. Share the blades.

Blades are currently being accepted now through June 1st, 2012 at the Bothoan Batangas Training Hall.

Some Fun With Pecahan

Senamam Tua Seminar - No Pain No Gain

My thanks to everyone who came out before, during, and after the seminar. We had a great time and learned a lot. I hope everyone is rested (and can walk). Well done!

You asked for it - Senaman Tua Seminar

By popular demand:

We will be hosting a special seminar devoted entirely to Senaman Tua and its relationship to health, martial arts, joint-strength and preservation, and overall wellness. If you have joint problems – or even if you just have joints – Senaman Tua will do wonders for your strength and flexibility.

Feel free to peruse the testimonials from my students here on this very blog. I am not exaggerating when I say:

THIS COULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT /VALUABLE LESSON IN YOUR TRAINING CAREER!

Where: Bothoan Batangas Training Hall

When: Sunday December 18^th 12:00pm – 2:00pm (or until you can’t take it anymore!)

What: I will be teaching a basic routine of upper-body, lower-body, and core exercises as I learned them from my teacher, Cikgu Omar Hakim.

Who: Open to all Detroit Maphilindo students. NOTE: members of the public welcome to attend but must pre-register. Please email me for details.

For additional background, please read below from Guru Azlan Ghanie’s book:

Introduction

Senaman Tua ("petua" the advice of the elders/tip, while "Tua" means old) is founded by guru Azlan Ghanie. The word 'Senaman' is interpreted as a physical movement or exercise whereas 'Tua' is translated as ancient since it is inherited from the people of the past.

Senaman Tua was inspired by the teachings of guru Azlan's father, Abdul Ghanie bin Abu Bakar, who originated from the royal Melayu family of Merpati Jepang from Sarawak. His family is also connected to the silat family of his mother's Bugis ancestors (Rogayah binti Jaafar, Jaafar bin Endut).

Incidentally, Endut was the person who unified all Pahang silat gurus from Pahang and had also revived silat at Gong Kapas in Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, during the 1930s and 1940s. His son, Jaafar, taught silat to the royal Melayu family in Kampung Gajah, Perak and Johor in the 1940s.

History
The exercises begin with the raising of one's spiritual and physical well being. This is why Senaman Tua begins with an upright standing posture and a smile before practising proper breathing (using the Nafas Melayu technique), and the physical exercises begin from the soles of the feet.

The concept of 'beginning from your feet' in Senaman Tua comes from the advice of his mother's friends who often stoppd by his home in Pekan, Pahang. According to Melayu culture, one has to pour cold water on one's feet first before proceeding to bathe the other parts of the body. With that, the first Senaman Tua exercise begins with the soles of your feet.

Joints and Senaman Tua Basics
Senaman Tua originates from the basics of standing, in particular, how the Melayu stand, sit, lies down and move. All of these movements tell a story like that of a complete and well-dressed warrior.

In the sitting exercise, they start with the cross-legged sitting position on the floor. from this position, one can extrapolate various different leg exercises such as folding, tiptoeing, squatting, stretching, etc.

In the concept of self-defense, sitting cross-legged will also train preparedness in defending against attacks from the 4 compass directions (front, rear, left, and right) with minimum movement.

The sitting exercise is followed by prone exercises (lying on your back).

After the prone session, Senaman Tua enthusiasts can do the hand exercises while standing. Focus is given to the joints and the strength comes from practising the 'petua'.

To the warrior, the palms are regarded as the 'fruit' or the 'furthest fruit'. The elbow is the 'inner fruit' and when the hand is straightened it is regarded as the 'branch'. The shoulder is the base of the branch.

Speed and Strength
This Melayu exercise system specialises in building speed and strength. More precisely, the exercises focus on joint strength via its various extrapolations.

One of the hand exercises strengthens the shoulders and, among is foundation for locking and takedown techniques in Silat Melayu by pushing the enemy's shoulders to the ground and livens up the body's movement in self-defense acts. It also heals injury in the shoulders, nape and waist if done correctly under the guru's supervision.

One of the hand dances can develop into strikes, traps, locks, counterlocks and other techniques. The knowledgeable martial artist will be able to unlock various locks with a minimum effort or strength.

Senaman Tua has an objective and to pursue this journey, it begins from an origin. Breathing too has an origin, i.e. concentration is focused in the navel. The same thing applies in performing Senaman eTua exercises when sitting, lying down, hand dances, standing and striding; there is a clear objective when it starts from the base.

In these gentle Melayu exercises, besides those done upon waking from sleep and the imitation of animal body movements, exercises like bathing, washingclothes by the river, boat rowing and various other movements have been adopted. the 'stretching out' movement culminates in the waist area whether the torso is raised or remains upright (focusses on the navel and waist).

In sports science this technique is called stretching and is also known in Senaman Tua as 'body relaxation', where one has to stretch out to acquire this stimulating feeling.

The ancient Melayu believed that the body will not be at ease either due to an improper diet or because of lack of exercise. It is believed that the body contains 'wind'. In sports, if you cannot perform well, it is said you are 'winded'. When you go for a massage you will definitely burp (so will the masseur) when you are releasing 'wind'.

Silat Melayu Core
The moves in Senaman Tua come from Silat Melayu where it was practiced in the ancient palace households. It was used in countering attacks from their enemies. In their fights, speed, strength and accuracy were their priorities (they still are). Quick thinking, speed in dodging, strength in attacking and accuracy to the targeted points on the enemy's body had been and still are the major requirements.

When seeking combative knowledge, the warrior's highest priority is delving into his inner self. Such knowledge imparts thus: To be missed when stabbed at and to counter when evading. It means that, when facing his enemy, he is ready to evade, deceive and attack - all simultaneously. When attacked, he evades and deceives, and he attacks without the enemy being able to counter.

Silat is also acknowledged as a study in movements which deliver attacks and counter-attacks with speed, strength and accuracy. The breathing technique of Nafas Melayu enlivens or brings alive the movements in Silat, further enhancing these unique movements.

Nafas Melayu becomes the starting from which all movements are born. This method is thought to have been acquired from the reflex actions of frightened children. It is well known in the Melayu community as 'contraction of the stomach', where frightened children ran so fast that they literally jumped over wide ditches and climbed tall trees.

This method produces unique strength. In combat, the enemy attacks from different angles and one has to evade and step out of attacks or step in to deliver attacks. It becomes the basis of speed and liquid movement. After the Nafas Melayu routine, the body is ready to move like the wind.

The sole exercise is the beginning of the physical exercise to complete the body's movement in combat or Silat with the soles coming coming alive to step, to wiggle the waist, dodge or evade and to deceive with the flower hand dance.

That's the philosophy of Melayu self-defense in Silat. As proclaimed - where there's spirit, there's soul. The spirit means living, whereas the soul is the strength in the moves. Each exercise in Senaman Tua has its own story. The story is to stride or retreat and therefore your ankle joints need to be strong. The ankles are the key instrument in carrying the body's weight.

You can build such strength to carry the body by practicing the tiptoe exercise. Concentration then is on the knee joints because the knees need to bear the body's weight and to maintain balance. Concentration is then centred towards the waist before proceeding to the hand exercises such as the wrists, elbows and shoulders.

The Melayu warriors do not increase their muscles in size for strength. Strength is obtained from strengthening of the joints in exercise.

Kuya Doug

Is it PTK?

Is it KDL?

It's The Brotherhood of the Blade!

Give Thanks

A long weekend is upon us! Especially ‘round this time of the year I like to take advantage of the short time off from the daily grind for a special period of contemplation and introspection around the theme of Thanksgiving.

Indeed we have much to be thankful for – and I hope you do as well. Acknowledge it. Do express your feelings of Gratitude (in a truly meaningful way) to your own Inner Self; to the Divine; and to the people who have supported you on your journey so far.

I give thanks to my Gurus in all the different parts the World for supporting my elevation patiently and generously. For your criticism and for your praise – and for teaching me the Art of accepting both. Mabuhay!

I give thanks to my Comrades-in-Arms Kuya Doug Marcaida and Ka Jay Saludo for sustaining with vigor the Brotherhood of the Blade. Our Brotherhood. Our Family. Our Ideals. The manifestation of our Vision – to which we have held true without wavering going on 9 years now. Mabuhay!

I give thanks to my students: for your dedication, your hard work, your interest, your desire to know more, your desire to do it better, your discipline, your sacrifice, for representing your Teacher and your Lineage with honor, and for realizing that what we are doing is bigger than all of us. For being the best group of students any Teacher has ever had…Mabuhay!

Teachers and Students pt 1: Teachers

The hallmark of a superior Teacher: He doesn’t just impart information, he guides each student according to the individual’s unique needs, strengths, and weaknesses. In the context of Martial Arts, it’s one thing to merely demonstrate techniques for a student to copy. The real task is to give the student the proper guidance in the right measure, so that he develops to his full potential – whatever that potential might be.

Not every student is destined to be a Master.

Not every student is destined to be a Teacher.

Not every student is destined to even be ‘good’.

Regardless, everyone can at least get Better. Everyone can improve, grow, and reap the innumerable benefits of the journey that is training in the Martial Arts. It’s the Teacher’s duty to take the student down that road. On the other side of that coin not everybody who has a license to instruct, is capable of doing it on that level.

It’s difficult to teach this way to large groups of people at the same time. That is why I strongly prefer to teach in a one-on-one type setting. I’m convinced that’s the only way to impart our Arts properly. If we’re training a large group of “recruits” in very specific basic techniques, perhaps that rule doesn’t necessarily apply; but in many cases, the best way to develop the Individual is through direct Guru-to-Student transmission – at least until you get them to the point where they can teach themselves. That itself is a topic for later…

For example, my students and I came to the conclusion long ago regarding Grand Tuhon Gaje, that when we would have him in for a group seminar, the seminar itself could be considered more of a training session (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). However, the real in-depth learning for us would actually take place in the days preceding- and following the seminar, during more intimate sessions of private instruction. Throughout the years, I discovered that several of the old-timers including Guro Ricky Rillera (May G-d Rest His Soul) and Guro Omar Hakim had arrived at a similar conclusion.

From a historical perspective, our Arts were never taught in en masse at large academies, temples, dojos, kwoons, or sprawling state-of-the-art gymnasiums. The Teachers didn’t advertise, and in fact most went out of their way to maintain a very low profile. The traditions and skills were carefully and quietly handed down from generation to generation within a family; within a village; or amongst small, tight-knit groups of compadres. Outsiders were not welcome, for very good and valid reasons.

While studying the indigenous Yoruba fighting arts in West Africa, it happened time and time again that people would come from surrounding villages hoping to train under my teacher. Each time they were summarily turned away. When asked, my teacher offered me the following simple explanation (loosely translated): “If the people in their own village aren’t teaching them, there must be a good reason.”

At times when I’ve attempted to describe this decorum to folks from more conventional Martial Arts backgrounds, they’ve sometimes remarked “Geez is this like some kind of cult?!?!” No. Actually, it’s more like a Secret Society.

There’s another interesting parallel in the Spiritual field (another highly personalized theater). An acquaintance of mine on the East Coast was extremely privileged to be a personal student of the great Rav Kaduri z”l many years ago in Israel. According to my friend, Rav Kaduri – a legendary scholar and certainly one of the greatest Merkubalim (Kabbalists) of our time – had so few private students of his own that his group would often find themselves lacking the 10 men required by Jewish law to form a quorum for prayers.

So there are certain reasons historically and practically that some of the best Teachers in diverse fields prefer to keep their student ratio on the low-end.