krys

Who is practicing silat on the forum?
Let us talk silat....

This is from an interesting interview with my first master the late C. H. Turpijn and I decided to forward it:

COR TURPIJN


The uniformed boy is on his knees, panting in the dust. Tears of impotence well on
his face, mixing the sweat that gushes from his brow. He gets up again, knowing that
the Japanese officer will throw him against the parched ground floor again, just as hard.

Arigato Gozaimazu. You're kicked and beaten and have to say "thank you". He wanted to
join the Japanese army to fight the hated Blanda's (whites-avd). No one had told him that the
"liberators", the Japanese, would be even crueler than they. Hashimoto laughs. He pulls
him up by his hairs again. He likes this game. To the ground again. Then, a red haze comes
before the boy's eyes. Mataglap! (Berserk- avd).

Forgetting everything, he instinctively reacts like a caged predator. A flashing move, and
the bayonet is pulled from his belt and is stuck from below into the neck of the man
above him. Shouting. Screaming. He runs away, into the protective jungle.

Against the backdrop of war ravished Indonesia, Cor Turpijn grew up. As a child of 13 he
was recruited to join the Heiho, Indonesian auxiliary troops which were part of the Japanese
army. When in 1945 the English landed, heading Indian troops, the situation became even
more chaotic; large scale massacres of Europeans, engagements between English and
Indonesian troops, and the occupation of large parts of Java and Sumatra by Indonesian
troops.

SETIA HATI Sabda Ing Pendita, Pencak Silat


Founder of the Setia Hati style,
Guru Ki Hadji Ngabehi Surodiwirdjo. After the incident with the Japanese army instructor,
the 13 year old Turpijn fled into the jungle and sought
refuge in an Islamic monastery, called Pondokan
Pesan. Here, from these Indonesian Islamic devotees,
he came to know his Guru, Ki Hadji Ngabedi Surodiwirdjo,
the founder of Pencak Silat Setia Hati.

Together with 13 of his contemporaries, a time had
arrived for him which would keep him locked away
from the outside world for 7 years.

ILMU BATIN

"It wasn't just physical training we had to endure.
Our mental capacities were strengthened there.
We were taught to believe in what we could do
with our bodies, so that at a certain point we
believed we were invulnerable. People laugh about
this of course, but in Indonesia this is seen in a
very different way. Of course your body is
vulnerable, but with your mind, you can achieve
very remarkable things...



The least of these effects are forgetting pain, not feel your injuries.

We had so much confidence in our inner power, the Ilmu Batin, that during training, we
didn't feel it when we were hit with sticks, Goloks and Parangs (knifes, machetes).
Normal people who haven't gone through mental conditioning will of course run up the
worst kinds of injuries, but if you've got that power, nothing will happen to you!".

The training took place in the deep of the night, only lit by the shining of the moon.
These exhausting sessions could go on until the break of day, their spiritual leader
driving them on, again and again. Besides walking the Lankahs, they practiced the
taking out of opponents a lot. There were no sparring sessions like here in Europe.

"Sparring wasn't necessary over there. If you got into a fight, it wasn't for fun! You
fought to survive. It was a matter of me or him. A fight is real, or it's a game, and
therefore not a fight.

During sparring, you use a physical force which is never equal to a mental force. You
never hit and kick for 100%, like I was taught and that what we had to go through
during those nightly sessions can't just be compared with what's happening here in a
dojo or gym. At all times, we were very much conscious of the fact that what we were
doing could decide over life and death.

So, I have to laugh when I hear people talk as if Pencak would be a dance. Of course,
some parts of it are made public that way, and shown at weddings and parties.
But don't be mistaken, Pencak in its most basic form is killing!"

INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM

Once the Japanese had been driven out, the troubles that had beset Indonesia were by
no means over. The English and the Indians came and tried to create some order. The
Dutch came back and tried to reclaim their old rights. But the seeds of revolution which
had been sown long before the invasion were now fully grown, and finally, there came
an Indonesian Republic. Cor Turpijn, who by this time had joined an underground
revolutionary group which fought the Ghurkas, the English, and later even other
Indonesian groups.

Fighting for his land, his independence, for his freedom. One on one fights of man against
man, in the jungle, where mainly guerilla tactics were used, were no exception.

"You should by no means imagine these fights as long drawn-out encounters. There were
two, at most three actions and ten he was taken out, or he was killed. You almost always
used weapons, but if you had lost it for whatever reason, you had to rely on Pencak Silat.

How that went? Well, I was a lot younger and stronger then, of course, I used what we c
allied the "cobra system". From a low, squatting stance, you jump up, scissors your legs
around his neck, and bring him to the ground like that. What also worked very nicely was
striking at the eyes, or breaking the jaw...

(he stretches out his hands and very briefly touches the aforementioned places. He
only has a soft hand, but the accurate pressure reflects only too well the power behind
the move.)"

"You know, I have difficulty with seeing Pencak Silat as a sport. I was taught it so very
differently. My Guru said: "Death is the recognition of defeat", and I belief in that
very much. To be able to say you won from me, you have to kill me, it's as simple as that."
Then later, smiling: "But you know, that was then, things aren't that way anymore. I've
learned to see Pencak as a sport."

After the declaration of independence, all the fighters are called up and told they will have
to start to get an education. So, it's back to school for them. The disappointment for
Turpijn and his comrades is great when the promises made by the Sukarno government
aren't kept. Because he had never had the time to get a real education, he sees his further
rise in the ranks of the military cut off. After he has married an Indonesian wife, she
persuades him to come to Holland.

Holland, in the first instance did not appear to be the promised land. Also because of
his stubbornness and his temper he repeatedly comes into trouble. His limited knowledge
of the language and the pride of the Javanese, don't make him an easy person to get along
with.

PENCAK SILAT AS A SPORT

"Again and again I got into trouble. With my boss, with my colleagues, usually it came
to blows. Fired. Then I got another boss, and it was the same story again. Only because
I took care of
them so quickly, word went around that I was a good fighter. People started to ask: how
did you do that. What are those strange moves? What kind of fighting is that? People
wanted to be taught by me and because I had such a hard time adjusting as an employee,
I could start opening some schools. My only regret is that people in Limburg (because that's
where I started) know me only as a fighter. Once you've got that reputation, it's hard to get
rid off. I know, it's my own fault, but I was young and hot tempered and spoke the language
very badly."

"Also with my colleagues who taught Pencak I had a difficult time. I saw some of them
going through their stuff and didn't know what I saw. I couldn't understand that they
practiced Silat in such a sporty way. It was totally contrary to everything I had been
taught. Together with a good friend of mine, Pa Flohr, I talked about it, and his good
advice has helped me a great deal. To my knowledge, I was the first one to start to
spread Pencak through demonstrations at Pasar Malams (a kind of festive fairs of
Indonesian culture, food, etc.- avd) and such. Now I'm older, I can see that in Holland
the situation isn't like it was in Indonesian in those days that I learned Pencak there and
that one has to adapt to the spirit of the time.

After all, Holland is a civilized country, where jungle fighting really is a bit superfluous."

"It's a real shame that there is so much division in the Pencak world, because I know
there are so many people involved in it. Shortly, I will go to Indonesia to speak with
the Pencak authorities there, to find a solution for the entangled situation in Holland.
I'm glad that the Paka Buana (a union which has as its aim, to unite Pencak in the
Netherlands) is made up of so many enthusiastic young people. I'll do my utmost,
together with Pa Flohr, to propagandize it both at home and abroad."

"If I'm still teaching? Sure, regularly, even. Also, I often go to people's homes to
teach them privately. I used to have a lot of schools, 24 even, but, you know, taxes,
huh? They got me really good, so I had to slow down those activities. Now, I've
given over all those schools to people trained by me, and now and then they invite
me to their higher ranks. That goes very well and I enjoy that very much."

PENCAK WATERED DOWN.

Cor Turpijn is one of the last to have studied Pencak in its primal form and to the
question if the Pencak which he has been given will disappear, he answers:

"A lot of people have never "really" learned the Pencak and study it like I did in
Indonesia. They have learned it here, or learned a little over there and mixed that
a little with Kempo or Karate. That's why a lot of people laugh at the gracious
movements of Pencak Silat, because they (those teachers) never studied the other
side. That's not their fault, of course, but sometimes it hurts a little when I see
Pencak watered down like that. But, you also have to realize that Pencak was
developed with the Indonesian person in mind, who is usually lighter and smaller
that the West European. That immediately means that some techniques from
Pencak have to be adapted if they're going to be used against a European. This
means you have to work even harder to hit the soft and vulnerable spots. Look,
kicking someone in the head is nice and well, but the strong Europeans you
don't necessarily get down with that. Also, it is a dangerous technique, which in
a real fight is as dangerous to the person giving it as the one receiving it. My Pencak
Silat I have brought over to my children and a few special students, so in that respect
I can answer your question negatively. But, we're living in a civilized world with
different norms and values than I held 40 years ago.

The feelings that lived in me, the present generation has never known, and in that
respect, the real fight in the jungle, the jungle fighting, will probably disappear
when I die."

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sikal

I got your C Lot - right next to the B Lot Just kidding, of course. I've been training in Silat since 1995 and loving every minute of it.

Mike

__________________
Louisville Martial Arts Academy - Louisville, KY

Asian Fighting Arts - Dayton, OH

Lansdale's Self-Defense - Nacogdoches, TX

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krys

Welcome Mike. I started with javanese Setia Hati T. in 1990 and learned silat Gayong in Malaysia in 1996. Since my silat studies focus essentially on filipino Silat Asli and some malaysian Silat Lincah. Just curious did you come to escrima before learning silat or afterwards? Is silat very popular in the US? What are the main styles there? Is there also filipino silat in your country?

All the best.
Christian

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sikal

I came to Kali and Silat simultaneously in 1995. My primary system is actually a hybrid of the two. It starts with the Kali then moves into the Silat then blends the two - which I find suits me very well. I also do Kuntao Silat de Thouars.

Yes, there is some Filipino Silat here in America but it's more rare than Indonesian Silat - which is rare enough here as it is. Malaysian Silat is also (in my experience) more rare here than Indonesian Silat. As far as I know, the only Malaysian Silat here is two or three instructors Seni Gayong.

The most common Silat found here in America (in my experience) would be from the de Thouars lineage. Pentjak Silat Serak, Bukti Negara (a "child" art of Serak), and Kuntao Silat de Thouars.

Then, I'd say, Mande Muda - founded by Pak Uyuh Suwanda (of Bandung) and brought to America by his son, Pak Herman (via Guro Dan Inosanto - he brought Pak Herman to America and helped him start getting established here). Now Pak Herman's sister, Ibu Rita, is in charge of the system.

There are a couple of Cimande systems but, except for "Pukulan Cimande Pusaka" and the Cimande that's part of the Mande Muda system, I've not seen any Cimande being taught publicly - but I know of a few people who teach it out privately to select individuals.

There are a few other systems of Silat here in the States but many of them - like the Silat that I study - are derived from these other systems. My primary Silat instructor has trained with all three of the de Thouars who live here in the US, trained with Pak Herman, trained with Guro Dan Inosanto, and traveled to Java to train there with Pak Herman and people Pak Herman introduced him to.

Mike

__________________
Louisville Martial Arts Academy - Louisville, KY

Asian Fighting Arts - Dayton, OH

Lansdale's Self-Defense - Nacogdoches, TX

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krys

Actually I came to escrima because I wanted to improve my silat footwork when I was a beginner, I enjoyed it from the start and practice it since.

Do you by the way know the names of the filipino silat styles taught in the US?
Kass magda learned some from my filipino grandmaster but I don't know if he teaches it. There is also a filipino in Canada who learned our style but we lost touch with him.
I heard Serak is more on high positions and it comes from a chinese Kuntao system, is that true?

All the best,
Christian.

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sikal

LOL. Probably depends on who you ask. According to what I was taught, no, it doesn't come from a Chinese Kuntao system (though it may have been influenced by some Chinese Kuntao over the course of its development - but based on what I've seen of Serak and Chinese Kuntao - I don't think it came from Kuntao).

By "high positions" do you mean "stand up" as opposed to "groundfighting"? If so, then Serak is mostly a stand up system but also has groundfighting. Some of the groundfighting I saw when I was training in Serak had a distinct Harimau look to it. But some of the other groundwork I've seen in Serak wasn't much like Harimau.

Nope, I can't think of any system names of Filipino Silat taught here - on the rare occasion that I've heard it mentioned, it's just been in a generic way.

BTW - are you the same "krys" that's on Martial Arts Planet? If so, I'm "pesilat" there and I think we've talked some over there, too, right?

Mike

__________________
Louisville Martial Arts Academy - Louisville, KY

Asian Fighting Arts - Dayton, OH

Lansdale's Self-Defense - Nacogdoches, TX

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krys

Yes I was meaning stand up fighting.... Actually the filipinos I spoke too told me Serak is more on stand up fighting and that is a kind of Kuntao....
What weapons are taught in this system


Most of the Javanese silat I saw has a lot of groundfighting (especially Setia Hati Terate), in some filipino silat systems it is 80% groundfighting.....

Ah the world of silat is small, yes I am the same krys... welcome pesilat-sikal.

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sikal

Serak is a "Pukulan" (word primarily used by Dutch/Indonesians) system - which means it's heavy on striking. Most of the Silat that I've seen was Javanese. Mande Muda is a composite system that draws from a lot of Silat systems - most of them are Javanese. Many of them have a lot of stand up material - or, at least, the components I saw of them in Mande Muda were stand up. Most of the groundwork in the Mande Muda I saw was drawn from Harimau.

Mike

__________________
Louisville Martial Arts Academy - Louisville, KY

Asian Fighting Arts - Dayton, OH

Lansdale's Self-Defense - Nacogdoches, TX

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sikal

Forgot to address this one. My instructor trained in Bukti Negara with Paul de Thouars and in Serak with Victor de Thouars. I'm not sure about other Serak instructors but the weapons that I saw in Serak from Pak Vic were stick, staff, and knife (especially kris).

Mike

__________________
Louisville Martial Arts Academy - Louisville, KY

Asian Fighting Arts - Dayton, OH

Lansdale's Self-Defense - Nacogdoches, TX

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krys

Yes in Asia this word isn't usually used to decribe silat systems (at least the masters I met, told me every silat system has striking ie pukulan ). Filipino Silat Asli has different components, is rather all rounded and has an associated escrima style... at a higher level it specializes in catching-traping-locking.
There are many weapons knives, swords, staves, spears, ropes and different flexibles weapons, projectiles.

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haumana2000

I learned the perforance aspect of the Langka Silat from Dolly Banzon of Mindanao who was a very well known cultural dancer there. As an Escrima practitioner I could easily see the interpretations of the movements, but it was not taught in a combative context. Also, the escrima I learned growing up was very much influenced by the southern styles as Tatay Marquina who taught us was formerl a cultural dancer and some of the motions like cross stepping, and some of the very low positions we learned were reminicent of silat.

__________________
Tenei te koorero mo te wa
rapua i te mea ngaro
"search for what is missing, hidden, stolen"

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krys

I heard about langka silat, it is practiced by the muslim minorities of the southern Philippines.
Is it a martial dance or a martial art of it's own? Actually some silat juruhs are done in a very gracefull way that could mislead observers... lethal techniques are hidden behind gracefull movements.

You were lucky to learn southern filipino escrima... the muslims, lumads (Mindanaos mountain tribes) and badjaos ("sea gypsies") seldom teach it to outsiders.
The southern escrima style I practice is quite different from the northern-visayan styles... Footwork is very different, our style uses lots of small jumps, also cross legs ... some pesilat from Borneo use simalar kinds of movement in the bolo practice of silat, but links are strong on both sides of the Sulu sea. Just curious was/is your teacher a member of one of the southern minorities groups?

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haumana2000

No he was not a one of the minority groups. (I guess your referring to muslim?) He was a Catholic and Chavacano. Was a soldier, and knew many of the traditional dances like the singkil, and also did a dance that had a shield with little bells, where he would squat very low, and tap the shield with a bolo, while using square pattern footwork. He loved boxing, and cockfighting. He immigrated to the big island of Hawaii (Kona side) in I believe around the 60's, though I will check again.

__________________
Tenei te koorero mo te wa
rapua i te mea ngaro
"search for what is missing, hidden, stolen"

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krys

This looks like a Lumad dance (could be wrong), actually different non muslim minority groups are living in the highlands of Mindanao. There are also sea dwellers (the Badjaos or sea gypsies) in the Sulu sea. Some of these peoples kept their martial traditions but unfortunately they are losing their culture...


haha, this is very filipino, i wonder if there are also cockpits there... I heard many filipinos went to Hawai, did some filipino-polynesian martial arts emerge there?

All the best.

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haumana2000

Yeah, me being from Hawai'i I know first hand that some of my friends dads there have cock farms, though they are Kapu,( off limits) to all but a select few of course. There is a book called Iron Butterfly, that details an escrimadors ship travels and his encounters with the native martial arts of Hawaii, and how they exchanged information.

__________________
Tenei te koorero mo te wa
rapua i te mea ngaro
"search for what is missing, hidden, stolen"

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