Silat Melayu

Etymology				The samping is a waistcloth.
The etymological root of the word silat is				The bengkung is a cloth belt or sash which
uncertain and most hypotheses link it to any				secures the samping. Some schools colour the
similar-sounding word. It may come from Si Elat				bengkung to signify rank, a practice adopted from
which means someone who confuses, deceives				the belt system of Japanese martial arts.
or bluffs. A similar term, ilat, means an accident,				The training hall
misfortune or a calamity. Another theory is that it				In Malay the practice area is called a gelanggang.
comes from silap meaning wrong or error. Some				They were traditionally located outdoors, either in
styles contain a set of techniques called Langkah				a specially constructed part of the village or in a
Silap designed to lead the opponent into making a				jungle clearing. The area would be enclosed by a
mistake.				fence made of palm leaves to prevent outsiders
The word Melayu means Malay and comes from				from stealing secrets. Before training can begin,
the Sanskrit term Malai Ur which can translate as				the gelanggang must be prepared either by the
"land of mountains", the word used by Indian				teachers or senior students in a ritual called
traders when referring to peninsular Malaysia. Silat				"opening the training area" (buka gelanggang ). This
is sometimes called gayung or gayong in the				starts by cutting some limes into water and then
northern Malay Peninsula. In other regions the				walking around the area while sprinkling the water
word gayung refers to the spiritual practices in				onto the floor. The guru walks in a pattern
silat.				starting from the centre to the front-right corner,
History				and then across to the front-left corner. She/he
Origins				then walks backwards past the centre into the
Hang Tuah training with his friends				rear-right corner, across to the rear-left corner,
The first martial skills in the Malay Peninsula were				and finally ends back in the centre. The purpose
those of the orang asal (indigenous tribes) who				of walking backwards is to show respect to the
would use hunting implements like spears,				gelanggang, and any guests that may be present,
machetes, blowpipes and bows and arrows in				by never turning one's back to the front of the
raids against enemy tribes. Certain tribes were				area. Once this has been done, the teacher sits in
well-known warriors and pirates such as the Iban				the centre and recites an invocation so the space
and the Tringgus of Borneo. Aboriginal populations				is protected with positive energy. From the
on the peninsula were mostly replaced by				centre, the guru walks to the front-right corner
Deutero-Malays from Sumatra and Borneo and				and repeats the invocation while keeping his/her
Chamic peoples from Thailand. These settlers				head bowed and hands crossed. The right hand is
were rice-farmers from whom modern Malays				crossed over the left and they are kept at waist
are directly descended. The areas from where				level. The mantera is repeated at each corner and
they originated are concurrent with the early				in the same pattern as when the water was
evidence of silat. Sumatra is the birthplace of				sprinkled. As a sign of humility, the guru maintains
much of what constitutes Malay culture,				a bent posture while walking across the training
particularly the Malay language. The Chams				area. After repeating the invocation in the centre
(Vietnamese Malays) of Dong Son are believed by				once more, the teacher sits down and meditates.
many archaeologists to have created the				Although most practitioners today train in modern
prototype of a kris as far back as 2000 years				indoor gelanggang and the invocations are often
ago.				replaced with a prayer, this ritual is still carried out
The Malays had established regular contact with				in some form or another.
both India and China before the 1st century. Silat				Silat Pulut
was largely shaped by Chinese and Indian martial				Silat pulut performance
arts, as evidenced by Kedah's 5th century Bujang				Silat pulut is a sport that utilizes agility in attacking
Valley civilisation which housed various Indian				and defending oneself. In this exercise, the two
weapons including an ornate trisula. Their influence				partners begin some distance apart and perform
resulted in the founding of other Hindu-Buddhist				freestyle movements while trying to match the
kingdoms throughout the region. The oldest				each other's flow. One attacks when they notice
among them was Funan, a Cambodia-based				an opening in the opponent's defences. Without
empire that ruled over an area including what is				interfering with the direction of force, the
now northern Malaysia, Thailand and Laos. Another				defender then parries and counterattacks. The
was Gangga Negara (lit. Ganges country) that was				other partner follows by parrying and attacking.
founded in present-day Beruas by the Khmer				This would go on with both partners disabling and
prince Raja Ganji Sarjuna. and served as an				counter-attacking their opponent with locking,
important trading port before being destroyed by				grappling and other techniques. Contact between
Raja Chola Rajendran of Tamil Nadu. Today most				the partners is generally kept light but faster and
Malaysian Indians are Tamils, who influenced				stronger attacks may be agreed upon
several Southeast Asian martial arts through				beforehand. In another variation which is also
silambam. This staff-based fighting style was				found in chin na, the initial attack is parried and
already being practiced by the region's Indian				then the defender applies a lock on the attacker.
community when Melaka was founded at the				The attacker follows the flow of the lock and
beginning of the 1400s. During the 1700s silambam				escapes it while putting a lock on the opponent.
became more prevalent in the Malay Peninsula				Both partners go from lock to lock until one is
than in India, where it was banned by the British				incapable of escaping or countering.
government. The bamboo staff is still one of				This game is called silat pulut or gayong pulut
silat's most fundamental weapons.				because after a performance each player is gifted
In south-central Vietnam the Cham Malays				with bunga telur and sticky rice or pulut. Silat pulut
founded their own kingdom of Champa, which				is held during leisure time, the completion of silat
remained independent from the Chinese who				instruction, official events, weddings or festivals
controlled Vietnam's north. In its refusal to submit,				where it is accompanied by the rhythm of silat
the kingdom of Champa frequently waged wars				drums or "silat baku music".
against China. Commanders of Champa are				The British colonists introduced western training
known to have been held in high esteem by the				systems by incorporating the police and sepoys
Malay kings for their knowledge in silat and for				(soldiers who were local citizens) to handle the
being highly skilled in the art of war, as shown in				nation's defence forces which at that time, was
the Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals) where it is told				receiving opposition from former Malay fighters.
that Sultan Muhammad Shah had chosen a Cham				Consequently, silat teachers were very cautious in
official as the right hand or senior officer because				letting their art become apparent because the
the Chams possessed skill and knowledge in the				colonists had experience in fighting Malay warriors.
administration of the kingdom.				Thus silat pulut provided an avenue for exponents
One Malaysian variant of an Indonesian story				to hone their skills without giving themselves
explains that the first complete system of silat				away.
was created by a woman who was carrying a				Despite its satirical appearance, silat pulut actually
basket of food on her head when birds tried to				enables students to learn moves and their
steal the food from her. She dodged the birds				applications without having to be taught set
coming from all directions while at the same time				techniques. Partners who frequently practice
attempting to chase them away with her hands.				together can exchange hard blows without injuring
She arrived home late and was scolded by her				each other by adhering to the principle of not
husband who had no food to eat. He tried to beat				meeting force with force. What starts off as a
the woman but she avoided all his attacks and				matching of striking movements is usually
was completely untouched. Her husband had				followed by successions of locks and may end in
grown tired and after listening to her explanation				groundwork, a pattern that is echoed in the
for being late, asked his wife to teach him what				modern Mixed Martial Arts.
she had learned. Together they created the				Weapons
rudiments of silat. By the 7th century it had had				Main article: Weapons of silat
already spread throughout the Malay Peninsula.				Kris/Keris: A dagger which is often given a distinct
The styles created on the peninsula are now				wavy blade by folding different types of metal
called silat Melayu or seni silat to differentiate				together and then washing it in acid.
them from the pencak silat of Indonesia. Tradition				Parang/Golok: Machete/ broadsword, commonly
credits silat tua (lit. "old silat") as the first system				used in daily tasks such as cutting through forest
of silat Melayu to have been founded on the				growth.
peninsula. This border area between Malaysia and				Tombak/Lembing: Spear/ javelin, made of wood,
Thailand where it was created is culturally				steel or bamboo that may have dyed horsehair
significant and considered to be the "cradle of				near the blade.
Malay custom".				Tongkat: A walking-stick carried by travellers and
King bestowing Hang Tuah with the rank of				the elderly.
Laksamana (admiral)				Batang/Galah: Staff or rod made of bamboo,
Over time, silat was refined into the specialized				steel or wood.
property of royalty, pendekar, and generals. Kings				Kayu: Wooden stick of any size.
encouraged princes and children of dignitaries to				Gedak: A mace or club usually made of metal.
learn silat and any other form of knowledge				Kipas: Traditional folding fan preferably made of
related to the necessities of combat. Prominent				hardwood or iron.
fighters were elevated to head war troops and				Pisau/Sundang: A sword or knife, either single or
received ranks or bestowals from the raja. One				double edged.
of these was the famous 15th-century Melakan				Badek/Badik: One-sided knife ranging in length
warrior Hang Tuah. He learned martial arts				from 2040 cm.
together with his four compatriates - Hang Jebat,				Seligi: Sharpened bamboo shaft used as a javelin
Hang Lekir, Hang Kasturi and Hang Lekiu - from				or spear.
two of the most renowned silat guru of the era.				Kerambit: A concealable claw-like curved blade
In Malaysia today, Hang Tuah is called the "father				that can be tied in a woman's hair.
of silat" which has led to the misconception that				Sabit: Sickle commonly used in farming, harvesting
he created silat. However, Hang Tuah is more				and cultivation of crops.
likely to have been one of the art's disseminators				Serampang/Trisula: Trident originally used for
rather than its originator since silat is known to				fishing.
have been practiced long before the founding of				Tekpi/Chabang: Three-pronged truncheon thought
Melaka.				to derive from the trident.
Colonial period				Chindai/Samping: Wearable sarung used to lock or
In the 16th century, conquistadors from Portugal				defend attacks from bladed weapons.
attacked Melaka in an attempt to monopolise the				Rantai: Chain used for whipping and seizing
spice trade. The Malay warriors managed to hold				techniques
back the better-equipped Europeans for many				See also
days before Melaka was eventually defeated. The				Silat
Portuguese hunted and killed anyone with				Pencak Silat
knowledge of martial arts so that the remaining				Kuntao
practitioners fled to more isolated areas. Even				References
today, the best silat masters are said to come				^ Silat Dinobatkan Seni Beladiri Terbaik by Pendita
from areas that have had the least contact with				Anuar Abd. Wahab AMN (pg. 42 SENI BELADIRI
outsiders. For the next few hundred years, the				June 2007, no: 15(119) P 14369/10/2007)
Malay Archipelago would remain under a string of				^ Sejarah Melayu by A. Samad Ahmad
foreign rulers, namely the Portuguese, Dutch, and				^ Crego, Robert (2003). Sports and Games of
finally the British. The 1600s saw an influx of				the 18th and 19th Centuries pg 32. Greenwood
Minangkabau and Bugis people into Melaka from				Press
Sumatra and south Sulawesi respectively. Bugis				^ a b Thesis: Seni Silat Melayu by Abd Rahman
sailors were particularly famous for their martial				Ismail (USM 2005 matter 188)
prowess and were feared even by the European				^ Sejarah Melayu by A. Samad Ahmad 1996:
colonists. In the 18th century both groups were				matter 75
engaged with the Dutch in a triangular contest for				^ Sheikh Shamsuddin (2005). The Malay Art Of
control of the Melaka Straits. By the 1780s the				Self-defense: Silat Seni Gayong. North Atlantic
Bugis had control of Johor and established a				Books. ISBN 1556435622.
kingdom in Selangor. The Minangkabau formed				^ Draeger & Smith (1969). Comprehensive
their own federation of nine states called Negeri				Asian Fighting Arts. ISBN 978-0-87011-436-6.
Sembilan in the hinterland. Today, many of				^ Zainal Abidin Shaikh Awab and Nigel Sutton
Malaysia's silat schools can trace their lineage				(2006). Silat Tua: The Malay Dance Of Life. Kuala
directly back to the Minang and Bugis settlers of				Lumpur: Azlan Ghanie Sdn Bhd. ISBN
this period.				9789834232801.
After Malaysia achieved independence, Tuan Haji				^ Martabat Silat Warisan Negara, Keaslian Budaya
Anuar bin Haji Abd. Wahab was given the				Membina Bangsa PESAKA (2006) [Sejarah Silat
responsibility of developing Malaysia's national silat				Melayu by Tn. Hj. Anuar Abd. Wahab]
curriculum which would be taught to secondary				^ Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Dictionary (Teuku
and primary school students all over the country.				Iskandar 1970)
On 28 March 2002, his Seni Silat Malaysia was				^ a b Martabat Silat Warisan Negara, Keaslian
recognised by the Ministry of Heritage and				Budaya Membina Bangsa PESAKA (2006) [Istilah
Culture, the Ministry of Education and PESAKA as				Silat by Anuar Abd. Wahab]
Malaysia's national silat. Since its disassociation with				Sejarah Silat Melayu by Anuar Abd. Wahab (2006)
the palace, silat did not develop in the national				in "Martabat Silat Warisan Negara, Keaslian Budaya
defence institution and returned to the				Membina Bangsa" PESAKA (2006).
countryside. It is now conveyed to the				Istilah Silat by Anuar Abd. Wahab (2006) in
community by means of the gelanggang bangsal				"Martabat Silat Warisan Negara, Keaslian Budaya
meaning the martial arts training institution carried				Membina Bangsa" PESAKA (2006).
out by silat instructors.				Silat Dinobatkan Seni Beladiri Terbaik by Pendita
Clothing				Anuar Abd. Wahab AMN (2007) in SENI BELADIRI
Silat attire varies according to style and locality.				(June 2007)
People of the Malay Peninsula traditionally wore				Silat itu Satu & Sempurna by Pendita Anuar
sarongs and carried a roll of cloth which could be				Abd. Wahab AMN (2007) in SENI BELADIRI
used as a bag, a blanket or a weapon. The				(September 2007)
standard full dress of today's silat practitioners				Silat Medan aknar & kapap by Bijak Gurpreet
usually consists of the following:				Singh Dhillon. (2008) published in Military Training
The tengkolok and tanjak are headkerchiefs with				Journal
different ways of tying them depending on status				(September 2008)
and region.				Further reading
The baju Melayu, meaning "Malay clothes" is the				Donn F. Draeger and Robert W. Smith (1980).
male shirt but is also worn by female silat				Comprehensive Asian fighting arts. Kodansha
exponents.				International. ISBN 9780870114366.

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Silat Melayu

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