Silat

Silat is an umbrella term used to describe the martial art forms practiced throughout the Malay Archipelago. Internationally it is now called Pencak Silat. Silat is a combative art of fighting and survival and it has been evolved in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam civilizations for centuries into social culture and tradition. During the colonization era, both in Malaysia and Singapore as British Colonies and in Indonesia as Dutch colonies, practitioners (locally known as pesilat) used the martial art as a form to liberate from foreign authorities.

 

The distinctive forms of silat with other Asian martial arts, such as kung fu, tae kwon do or karate, lie on the cultural aspect. Silat is not only for combative purposes. When accompanied with traditional instruments, such as kendang, silat transforms into a folk dance. In Minangkabau area (the West Sumatra province of Indonesia), silat was the oldest men’s tradition known as silek and it is one of the components to perform the Minangkabau folk dance of randai. In Malaysia, one form of silat known of silat pulut also shows the harmonic silat styles as a dance accompanied by traditional instruments, and so in Brunei Darussalam “silat cakak” also performed with the presence of “gulintangan”. A silat form in West Java province of Indonesia, known as pencak, is usually accompanied with music, notably by the traditional Sundanese suling instrument.

Etymology

A theory states that silat word itself comes from silek from Minangkabau language. Silek was one of the of components to perform the Minangkabau’s randai folk dance components besides bakaba (storytelling) and saluang jo dendang (song-and-flute).

 

The noun silat has a formidable arsenal of terms used to refer to martial arts in Southeast Asia. It can be said in Malaysia as seni silat, seni bela-diri and sometimes ilmu silat. In Sumatra, silat is known as silek and in Java and Indonesia as Pencak Silat. The Chinese fusion of silat is known as kuntao.

 

History

Silat began spreading throughout the Malay Archipelago in the seventh century AD, but its origin is still uncertain. Silat has been acknowledged as a genuine Malay art. Malay people that have inhabited coastal cities of Sumatra island and Malay peninsula, from Aceh in the north to Kelantan, Kedah and Riau archipelago in the south, practiced silat. Contacts with other ethnic groups in the coastal cities had also influenced silat. There is evidence that Chinese and Indian culture influenced the martial art forms. When Islam spread throughout the archipelago in the fourteenth century, it was taught alongside silat. Silat became a spiritual training as well as being a combat art and folk dance.

 

Silat was refined into the specialized property of sultans, panglima (general) and pendekar (warriors) during the Malacca Sultanate, Majapahit and Srivijaya empires. It was the time when silat spread through Malay peninsula, Java, Bali, Sulawesi and Borneo. Malays, in particular in Malay peninsula, consider Hang Tuah as the father of silat.

 

Silat shares the same history in Malaysia (incl. Singapore and Brunei) and Indonesia during the colonial era as a form to liberate from foreign authorities. During post colonization era, silat evolved into formal martial arts. National organizations were formed, such as in Malaysia: Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan Malaysia (PESAKA), in Indonesia: Ikatan Pencak Silat Indonesia (IPSI), in Singapore: Persekutuan Silat Singapura (PERSIS), in Brunei Darussalam: Persekutuan Silat Brunei Darussalam (PERSIB), as well as in US and Europe. Silat is now included in competitions, particularly during the Southeast Asian Games.

 

Regional usages

In Indonesia, pencak silat was chosen in 1948 as a unifying term for their martial arts. It was a compound of the two most commonly used terms for martial arts in Indonesia. Pencak was the term used in central and east Java, while silat was used in Sumatra. In modern usage, pencak and silat are seen as being two aspects of the same practice. Pencak is the performance aspects of the martial art, while silat is the essence of the fighting and self-defense.

 

In Bali, with a predominantly (94%) Hindu population, silat is a unifying force in each district and almost every village. Formal instruction takes place every morning and evening by one of two organizations: Bakti Negara and Kertha Wisesa.

 

In Malaysia, silat is a term which is sometimes used as an umbrella term for all Malay martial arts. Examples of the forms of silat in Malaysia are the:

 

1. Gayong Singa Berantai
2. Abjad
3. Al-Haq
4. Alam Cahaya
5. Alang Samudera
6. Awang Sulong Merah Muda
7. Bakawali
8. Bambu Runcing Rajawali
9. Bangau Putih
10. Bantan
11. Bantan Melaka
12. Banteng Betawi
13. Bengkong Putih
14. Bengkong Hijau
15. Berembang
16. Betung Cemati Siguntang
17. Buah 21
18. Buah Dalam Tari
19. Buah Pukulan Yunan
20. Buah Pukul Mersing
21. Buah Jatuh
22. Buah Johor
23. Bunga Negeri Kedah
24. Bunga Malaysia
25. Bunga Raya
26. Bunga Wali
27. Cekak Hanafi
28. Cekak Malaysia
29. Cekak Harimau
30. Cekak Pendekar Ahmad
31. Cekak Lincah Sutan Maakat
32. Cekak dan Gayong Pahang
33. Cekak, Terlak, Lintar, dan Spado
34. Cekam Rimau
35. Cekap
36. Cemara Bugis
37. Cempani Cekalong
38. Cengkam Harimau Ghaib
39. Cepat Tangan
40. Cikalong
41. Cimandi
42. Cimande Pecah Tujuh
43. Cimande Mega Malam
44. Cimande Lincah
45. Cindai Alam
46. Cindai Putih
47. Cindai Kuning
48. Cula Sakti
49. Cula Simanjakini
50. Daun
51. Dangwangi
52. Diam
53. Gabungan 5
54. Gayung Tunggal
55. Gabungan Panji
56. Gayung Harimau Hitam
57. Garis Laksamana
58. Gayung Jati
59. Garuda Sakti
60. Gayung Siam
61. Gayang Lian
62. Gayung Sri Fatani
63. Gayong Malaysia
64. Gayung Zahir 9
65. Gegaran Petani
66. Gayong Ghaib Nusantara
67. Gerak Insan Seni Malaysia
68. Gayong 7
69. Gerak Kilas
70. Gayong Panglima Ahmad
71. Gerak Gayong Jati
72. Gayong Karomah
73. Gerak Sunan
74. Gayong Pancaindera 9
75. Gerak Kilat
76. Gayong 5
77. Gerak Teras Pasak Bumi Melayu
78. Gayong Sri Gemuruh
79. Gerak Jati
80. Gayong Gerak Serentak
81. Gerak Kerohanian Gayong Dalam
82. Gayong Helang Merah
83. Gerak Ibu Gayong
84. Gayong Seni Bunga
85. Gerak Pendekar
86. Gayong Garuda
87. Gerak Ilham
88. Gayong 3 Kalimah
89. Gerak Sejati Pancar Murni
90. Gayong (9) Hak Sejati Pahang
91. Gerak Langkah 7
92. Gayung Ghaib 9
93. Gerak Persilatan Sejagat
94. Gayung, Kuntau Jawa dan Tomoi
95. Gerak Kuntau
96. Gayung Khalifah
97. Gerak Silat Tapak Suci Kelantan
98. Gayung Fatani
99. Gerak Panca
100. Gayung Pancasila
101. Gerak Panji Alam Setapak 71
102. Gayung Laksamana
103. Gerak Lincah
104. Gayung Kedah
105. Gerak Tempur
106. Gayung Ghaib Ghadiwat Panca Purba Gerakan 9
107. Gerak Jurus Makrifat
108. Gayung Maarifat
109. Gerak Ilham Kuntau Kaedah
110. Gayang Lima
111. Gerak Seni Silat Kuntau Melayu Kedah
112. Gerak Silat Lian
113. Gerakan Suci Mangkubumi
114. Gerak Tangkas Suci
115. Gayong Warisan Serantau
116. Habib Hamid
117. Halilintar Gerak Laksamana Jebat
118. Hak
119. Haqq Melayu
120. Harimau Hitam
121. Harimau Sri Rama
122. Harimau Berantai
123. Harimau Banten
124. Harimau
125. Harimau Jatian 5
126. Harimau Berantai Kedah
127. Harimau Sang Saka
128. Helang Terbang
129. Helang Putih Perkasa
130. Helang Merah
131. Helang Langkawi
132. Helang Harimau
133. Hulubalang Melaka
134. Ikatan Kalam Utama
135. Ikatan Laksamana
136. Jabat 7
137. Jalak Lenteng
138. Jatuh
139. Jatuh Ketereh
140. Jatuh Mata
141. Jawa
142. Jawi
143. Jawa Sunda
144. Jawa Betawi
145. Jemaah
146. Kala Putih
147. Kalimah Malaysia
148. Kalimah Yahya Said
149. Kalimah Serumpun Jati
150. Kalimah Gempur Jagat
151. Kampung Rawa
152. Kenjawen
153. Kerayong Sendeng
154. Kera Putih
155. Kegayungan Acheh Helang Putih
156. Keris Lok Sembilan
157. Khatam Maut
158. Klimunan
159. Kota Sendeng
160. Kunci Melayu
161. Kuningan
162. Kuntau
163. Kuntau Jawa
164. Kuntau Tekpi
165. Kuntau Melayu
166. Kuntau Patani
167. Kuntau Banjar
168. Kuntau 7
169. Kuntau Iban
170. Kuntau Betawi
171. Kuntau Harimau
172. Kuntau Ilat
173. Kenjawan
174. Langkah 3
175. Langkah 7
176. Langkah Pusaka Purba
177. Langkah Silat Sri Wali Maya
178. Laksamana Kedah
179. Langkah Hang Jebat
180. Lela Pahlawan
181. Lima Bersaudara
182. Lian
183. Lian Buah Pukul
184. Lian Padukan
185. Lincah
186. Lincah Harimau
187. Lincah Sutan Maakad
188. Lincah Terlak
189. Lintar Tanah Datar
190. Lintar Minangkabau
191. Lintau Tua
192. Lintar Warisan
193. Megat Laksamana
194. Mega Chemande
195. Melayu Asli Kedah
196. Melayu Asli
197. Melayu Jati
198. Melayu Pahang
199. Melayu Pahang (Tok Gajah)
200. Menanti
201. Merpati Putih
202. Minangkabau
203. Naga Buana Cekak Berapi
204. Nasrul Haq
205. Pagar Ruyung
206. Penjurit Melayu Kepetangan
207. Pahang Tua (Pencak Desa)
208. Perkalongan Cimindai Putih
209. Pahlawan
210. Perisai Sakti
211. Paksi Rimau Berantai
212. Perisai Minda Sejati
213. Palitau
214. Pesaka Desa
215. Pancaindera
216. Pesaka Terlak
217. Pancang 12
218. Pesaka Bahaman
219. Panca Delima
220. Pesaka Melaka
221. Panca Sila Seni Silat Gayong Pongok
222. Porsigal
223. Pancasila Gayong Harimau
224. Pukulan Paris Dendam
225. Pancaindera Seni Silat Lintau
226. Pukulan Melaka
227. Pandinjuan
228. Pukul Pelaga
229. Panglima Terbilang
230. Pukulan Sendeng
231. Panji Putera Ledang
232. Pulut
233. Pasak Bambu Runcing
234. Pungguk Laut
235. Panglima Hitam
236. Purba
237. Pedang
238. Pusaka Hang Tuah
239. Pelaga Pulau Pinang
240. Pusaka Gayung Panglima
241. Pelanduk Putih
242. Perguruan Senaman Gerak Sentuhan
243. Pusaka Kalimah Amin
244. Pencak Riak Harimau
245. Pendekar Muda
246. Pendekar Warisan Mahaguru Melayu Sejati
247. Pendekar Ulong
248. Pendekar Bertuah
249. Peninjau Sutan Maakat
250. Permainan 12
251. Penyatuan Gerak Seni Gayong Sentuhan Badar
252. Rajawali
253. Rajawali Tunggal
254. Rajawali Putih
255. Randai Minang
256. Ranting
257. Rencong Rentak Sembilan
258. Riak Harimau Cengkam Maut
259. Rumpun Serantau
260. Sakabumi
261. Seperguruan Silat Sepanji
262. Sabil Seri Indera Sakti
263. Serimau Putih
264. Sambar Helang
265. Serimau Hitam
266. Sarang Dayung
267. Seri Cahaya Chemande
268. Sekebun
269. Seri Pelandok
270. Sekubi
271. Setiabakti
272. Selangkah Gerak
273. Setia Hati
274. Selendang Merah
275. Sikorek Monyet
276. Seligi Putra
277. Siku
278. Semangat Panglima Hitam
279. Siku 12
280. Semandai Dam-Dam
281. Siamang Laut
282. Sembah Pahang
283. Si Pincong Minangkabau
284. Sempedi
285. Singa Kandangan
286. Semulajadi
287. Si Faqir
288. Sendeng Malaysia
289. Silat Kapi
290. Sinar Ilham
291. Sendeng Betawi
292. Siswirama
293. Sendeng Minangkabau
294. Spelet Gayung
295. Sendeng Asli
296. Spelet Tomoi
297. Sendeng 7
298. Spelet Tapak Tiga
299. Sendeng Pesaka
300. Spelet Gunung Jati
301. Sendeng Terlak
302. Sri Gayung Panglima Ulung
303. Sendeng Alif
304. Sri Menanti
305. Sendeng Harimau
306. Sukmorogo
307. Sendeng Cimande
308. Sumbang
309. Seni Gerak Silat Sunan
310. Sunda Asli
311. Seni Tempur
312. Sunda Cimande
313. Sendi Cemara Bugis
314. Sunda Rajawali
315. Seni Pati Serendeng Puntong
316. Sekiambang Sakti
317. Seperguruan Pencak Silat Mandung Sepanji
318. Sendeng Jebak Purba
319. Sadar Malaysia
320. Selendang Gabungan
321. Sendeng Nusantara
322. Seni Pencak Silat Sangkar Rewana
323. Tadah Kuntau
324. Tanah Baru
325. Tapak Suci Warisan Wali 9
326. Tapak Suci Warisan
327. Tangkas Tamin Sabil
328. Tangkisan
329. Tanjak Pusaka
330. Tari Kelantan
331. Tari Kalimah Terengganu
332. Tari Laksamana
333. Tarian Maut
334. Tari Tumbuk
335. Tari Jawi (Pulut Kelantan)
336. Tembung Rimau
337. Tempur Sendeng Banjar
338. Telapak Natar
339. Terlak, Lintau dan Kuntau Jawa
340. Terlak 4
341. Teralak Asli
342. Terlak Nata
343. Terlak Warisan Pendekar Pin
344. Titi Pinang
345. Tinkah Maut
346. Tokku
347. Tok Perpat
348. Tongkat
349. Tongkat Rimau
350. Wali Suci
351. Wali Tujuh Sejagat
352. Warausah
353. Warisan Gerak Ilham
354. Warisan Bugis
355. Warisan Silat Minangkabau Laksamana
356. Warisan Perlis
357. Warisan Belebat To’ Perpat
358. Warisan Melayu Minangkabau
359. Wira Melayu

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