Pencak Silat is the collective name for traditional Indonesian martial arts. Different styles have traditionally developed in each region, often imitating local animals.
In Indonesia, Pencak Silat is strongly mixed with mental and spiritual elements, where physical and mental development go hand in hand. In Europe, the physical aspect is the most well-known.
The origin of Pencak Silat
Because many wild animals lived in the jungles of Indonesia, the Indonesians developed a self-defense style that was distinct from any other form of self-defense.
They began to imitate the movements of animals. These techniques were continuously adapted and perfected. Most agree that Pencak Silat originated in West Sumatra with the Minangkabau people.
The oldest known styles, such as Silek Tuo, Silek Pauh, Silek Kumango, Silek Seteralak, and Silek Lintau, all come from this region and are still taught today.
What is Pencak Silat?
The power of pencak silat is expressed when it transitions into hard, fast movements. Pencak silat consists of two parts. Pencak stands for: movement with controlled, smooth body control that is graceful.
Silat stands for: lightning-fast movement, based on hardness with the goal of defense, neutralization, and counterattack.
A well-trained pencak silat practitioner will never attack in real life but waits with great patience and control to respond to an attack before using their techniques in combat.
Some ways of practicing pencak silat also mean that participation in sparring and competitions is practically impossible because the techniques used are forbidden due to their destructive effect on the opponent.
Introduction to the West
Although the Dutch colonials in the former Dutch East Indies were already familiar with it, the moment of first contact between the West and the beginning of the international breakthrough is considered to be the article published in June 1965 in the American magazine Black Belt, featuring a cover photo of a demonstration by Rudy Ter Linden and Paul de Thouars, two great figures who played an important role in this.
Within Europe, there are only a few schools that focus on the traditional and more authentic form of silat. Here, teachers try to keep the style untouched by influences from other martial arts and self-defense systems to preserve its authenticity. These schools are often in direct contact with the mother school in Indonesia.
The more modern styles of pencak silat mainly focus on the physical element of silat (self-defense techniques, art form in demonstrations, and the sport element). Influences from other martial arts are not excluded. For example, the use of weapons mainly from Chinese martial arts is common.
