Pencak Silat is the collective name for traditional Indonesian martial arts. Different styles have traditionally been developed per region, which often imitate local animals. In Indonesia, Pencak Silat is strongly mixed with mental and spiritual elements, where physical and spiritual development go hand in hand. In Europe the physical side is best known.
The Origin of Pencak Silat
Because many wild animals lived in the jungles of Indonesia, the Indonesians learned a self-defense method that differed from any other form of self-defense. They started to imitate the movements of animals. These techniques were continuously adapted and perfected. What most agree on is that the Pencak Silat has its origins in West Sumatra among the Minangkabau. The oldest known styles, such as Silek Tuo, Silek Pauh, Silek Kumango, Silek Seteralak and Silek Lintau, all originate from this region and are still taught.
What is Pencak Silat
The power of the pencak silat is manifested when it transitions into hard, fast movements. Pencak silat therefore consists of two parts. Pencak stands for: movement with controlled, flexible body control, which is graceful. Silat stands for: lightning-fast movement, based on hardness with the aim of defense, neutralization and counter-attack.
A well-trained pencak silat practitioner will never attack in real life, but waits for the attack with a lot of patience and control and only then uses his techniques in the fight. Some ways of practicing pencak silat also mean that participation in sparring and competitions is practically impossible, because the techniques used are prohibited because they have a destructive effect on the opponent.
Introduction to the West
Although the Dutch colonials in the then Dutch East Indies were already introduced to it, the article that appeared in June 1965 in the American magazine Black Belt, with a photo on the cover, is considered the moment of their first introduction to the West and the beginning of the international breakthrough. of a demonstration by Rudy Ter Linden and Paul de Thouars, two great figures who would play an important role.
Within Europe there are only a few schools that focus on the traditional and more authentic form of silat. Here the teachers try to keep the style untouched by influences from other fighting and defense arts to keep the style as authentic as possible. 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 the silat (self-defense techniques, art form in the form of demonstrations and the sports element). Influences from other martial arts are not excluded. For example, the use of weapons from mainly Chinese martial arts is common.
