Overview Of Silat And Indonesian Martial Arts (Part 2)

Continued from part 1 The Pentjak Silat stylesmost modern Silat schools to teach firearm
are the indigenous styles which include culturalretention and counter-firearm strategies, as well
elements. Here is where you will find the weddingas more traditional weapons (knife, stick, spear).
styles, the dance styles, and many of the sportOne noted difference between the Indo arts and
styles. There are also quite a few fighting styles inthe nearby Chinese arts is the tendency of the
here. The Pentjaks tend to prefer outside overIndo arts to use already strong structures within
inside fighting positions. They tend to go fromthe body (as opposed to the Chinese tradition of
open defensive postures to closed offensiveconditioning the body). This allowed the old, the
postures. They will occasionally have mysticalyoung, the sick, and the wounded to effectively
elements. The Poukilan Silat styles tend to be pureuse these arts. Training: With so many arts, there
fighting styles without cultural elements. Theyis a great deal of variation in training methods.
tend to be direct and to the point. They tendSome schools teach Silat in a very conceptual
towards close fighting (Poukilan means "impact").way. Some are similar to classical Chinese or
They also tend to prefer outside positions. TheJapanese schools. Some teach it around the
Kuntao Silat styles are conglomerates of Indo andsparring (like kickboxing). Feel sure that there is a
Chinese fighting methods. They tend moreSilat school somewhere that matches your
towards closed defensive postures that open topreferred training method. Definitions: Silat - Silat
attack. They also tend more toward insidemeans something close to "fighting applications".
positions when fighting, preferring the availability ofBy itself it has little meaning, rather it modifies the
soft targets to the safety of outside positions.word it is with. Pentjak - Literally "forms,
The Silats do have animal styles (Harimau (tiger)postures, and movements". Without Silat, Pentjak
and Madi (monkey) being two of the betteris useless, and without Pentjak, there is no Silat.
known). They have few if any unarmed styles.Poukilan - Literally "impact".
They tend to adapt rapidly. There is a tendencySigung Richard Clear has over 30 years of
to throw out whatever becomes obsolete andexperience in Chinese Kun Tao and Indonesian
add whatever becomes relevant. This is whySilat.