Pencak Silat Martial Arts

What is "Pencak Silat" ?

Definition of Pencak Silat
Pencak Silat is a standard term used to describe a typical Indonesian martial art. Martial arts itself contains two meanings: Arts and Self-defense (Martial).

Refers to the beauty of the art motion planning, pattern move, attack-defense, even art in martial arts is more specifically defined as the art of dance show in which the beauty of martial arts movements and steps to the musical accompaniment of drums combined arts (nayaga).
Art can also be interpreted as a technique; attack techniques, techniques dodge, parry, hit, and so on. Herein lies the difference a martial arts expert with laymen during a fight in which a martial arts master who will face an opponent with a patterned movement and measurable.

Martial arts is a key element in Pencak Silat, the essence of one's expertise in Pencak Silat is in self-defense against crime.
Defend himself in the martial arts course using techniques, rules and filososfi in one's own martial arts. Pencak silat martial art born from a sense though, initiative, and inventiveness of our ancestors greatly influenced by elements of the culture and customs, because that is in charge of martial arts principles and philosophies that characterize a very strong indigenous nation.
As a martial art that is full of typical local wisdom ancestors, every region in Indonesia has its own term to refer Pencak Silat as a martial art.
In West Java, known as amengan, ulin, or maenpo. In Minang or west Sumatra called Silek, in Batavia called "Main pukul", Central Java and East Java called "Pencak", in Makassar called "Mancak", in east Kalimantan called "Bermancak", and so on.
To homogenize terms necessary for the international association that is then born of raw title "Pencak Silat".

Organizations are realizing the federation of martial arts in various nation states are "Persekutuan Pencak Silat(PERSILAT)", which was formed by Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. Pencak Silat is a martial sport that requires a lot of concentration. Usually every region in Indonesia has a typical martial arts school.
For example, the area of West Java is famous and Cikalong Cimande flow, no flow in Central Java, White Dove and no flow in East Java Shield Yourself.

Every four years in Indonesia there is a national level martial arts match in National Sports Week. Martial arts also competed in the SEA Games since 1987. Beyond Indonesia also there are many fans of martial arts such as Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, and America.
At the national level sport through games and sports martial arts into one of the means of unifying the country, even to the name of the nation, and the identity of the nation. Martial arts sport has been contested at the international scale. In Indonesia, a lot of schools in the martial arts, with many streams shows that there is a wealth of culture in Indonesia with the values in it.

History of Pencak Silat

Since when martial arts in Indonesia? It is very difficult to answer this question, no one can answer with certainty when its origin. But as a self-defense activity, the forerunner of Pencak silat martial arts can be considered as old humans.
Did not the early humans have been accustomed to hard against his nature, wild animals and other human groups in maintaining their viability. Whatever his name every form of hand gestures, legs and other body parts, in whatever form the primitive style is a martial art (though sometimes to strike first).

Referring to the above hypothesis, it is logical to say "Silat / Pencak silat" (naming now) was very old and born with the formation of the composition Indonesia's oldest people (referring to the tribes who lived throughout the archipelago).
Tribes is then spread throughout the archipelago so that its influence can be seen today in Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines, Thailand, and surrounding areas.

In the year 130 BC has established the first kingdom in Java called Salakanagara. A simple kingdom whatever its form, must have security tools to protect his kingdom, here there must be a martial skill possessed by the soldiers and their commander, even told his royal predecessors salakanagara are people who are expert martial.

In further developments in line with the progress of civilization nations living in the archipelago, this martial art also boomed, acculturation and influence each other, especially after interacting with other nations such as china and india and acculturation occurred including the martial arts.
It is estimated that since the 7th century martial arts have spread in the archipelago, with the spread through oral tradition from mouth to mouth, from teacher to pupil. This oral tradition is one of the least causes no valid historical documentation about the martial arts.
Although the origin of martial arts is still difficult to ascertain, but it was agreed that martial arts is a culture born of ancestors and the forerunner of the Indonesian nation. For example, the Malay nation especially in the Malacca peninsula believe the legend "Hang Tuah" is a great martial arts warrior in the 14th century.

4 Period of Historical Development of Indonesian Pencak Silat

Pencak Silat is a part of Indonesian culture evolved in line with the history of the people of Indonesia.
With a variety of geographical and ethnological situation and the changing times experienced by the people of Indonesia, Pencak Silat is formed by the circumstances.

Pencak Silat now we are familiar with the form and style that is diverse, yet has the same aspects.
Pencak Silat contains elements of the personality of the Indonesian nation possessed of Farmed hereditary.

Historical development of Pencak Silat briefly can be divided into 4 period, namely:

The development of Pencak Silat before the Dutch colonization in Indonesia
Self-defense in these times which are mainly based on high personal ability, is the basis of self-defense systems, both in the face of life's struggle and in the defense group.
The development of Pencak Silat at the time of Dutch colonization
Opportunities are permitted only in the form of art or arts development solely still used in some areas, leading to a performance or ceremony only.
The development of Pencak Silat at the time of the Japanese occupation
The entire Java simultaneously established Pencak Silat movements are regulated by the Government
The development of Pencak Silat at the time of Indonesia's independence

4 Main Aspects In Pencak Silat

There are 4 main aspects in Pencak Silat, namely:

Mental-Spiritual Aspects
Pencak Silat build and develop one's personality and noble character.

Aspects of Art and Culture
Culture and Pencak Silat art game is one very important aspect. Pencak terms generally describe the art form of Pencak Silat dance.

Martial Aspect
Persistence and self-confidence is very important in mastering martial arts in Pencak Silat. Silat term, tend to emphasize the aspect of pencaksilat martial technical capabilities.

Aspect of Sports
This means that the physical aspect is important in Pencak Silat. Pencak Silat Fighters tried to adjust the mind with the body though. The competition is part of this aspect. Aspects include games and sports demonstrations stance forms, both for single, double or team.

Those that argue that the martial aspect and exercise, both physical and breathing, is the beginning of the Pencak Silat development.
Aspects of sports and Martial Aspect is what has made Pencak Silat be grown in Europe.

The Proficiency Stages of Pencak Silat

In summary, student, or Pencak Silat fighters divided into several stages or levels of proficiency, namely:

Beginners
Taught all the basic stages as Kuda-kuda, the technique kicks, punches, blocks, dodgery, catch, dings, body work, as well as a series of basic steps and moves as standard IPSI.

Medium
At this stage, is more focused on applications fighters all the basic movements, understanding, variation, and here will start to look the interests and talents of Pencak silat fighters, and will be distributed to each branch, for example, Sports & Arts.

Coach
The result of the ability of mature experience in the budding stage, and the medium will make the Pencak silat fighters step into the next stage, where they will be given techniques of martial arts college, where this technique is only given to people who are trustworthy, and technically capable and moral, because it usually is a martial arts technique that is highly effective combat techniques to incapacitate an opponent / very deadly.

Warrior
A Pencak Silat's fighter who has been recognized by the elders college, they will inherit the secret sciences high level.

Techniques in Pencak Silat

The technique is a system or way of doing a movement or do not do anything in the Pencak silat.
Keep Silent, or not doing anything is also a technique, for example, is a calm attitude with a sharp looking towards the opponent.

In general, the technique in Pencak silat can be divided into:

Attitude ( Sikap )
Attitude here means the state of a fighter in a fight, whether it's the game or the actual fight. Attitude is sometimes referred to as "Pasang", style, Stand style , or Kuda-kuda.
The attitude of each fighter will be different depending on flow studies. There are calm, there seemed understated, there is a stand with solid Kuda-kuda, and so on.

Techniques Attack ( Hitting, Kicking, Dropping).
Attacks in Pencak silat has the style and a regular pattern and directional, which distinguishes it from inconsequential attacks layman. Striking can be done by all members throughout the body and limbs opponent.
Herein lies the difference between competed Pencak silat with traditionally Pencak silat. Pencak silat for game has certain rules that prohibit dangerous fighters to attack the opponent's area.

Techniques Dodge
There are many kinds of avoidance techniques, such as straight-forward attack can be avoided by taking a step back, move sideways, or downing the body combined with patterned leg movements.

Techniques Parry
Fend generally use a hand, but can also using the foot, to deflect the kick. Cimande fighter known for his muscle and bone strength are trained specifically to a particular method. Defense is conducted by a pit fighter Cimande with bone (hands or feet) can break his bones. Parry a fighter who relied sense, will feel soft but deadly. Fend sometimes followed by capturing the opponent's hand.

Techniques Step
In general stepped in Pencak silat toward the four winds (commonly referred her pancer), ie forward, backward, right and left. Step pattern is varied form and its techniques, there are steps triangles, rectangles step, step horseshoe pattern, circular steps, and so on.

Pencak Silat in The World

Pencak Silat has grown rapidly during the 20th century and has been a sports competition under the control and regulation Persilat (Persekutuan Pencak Silat Between Nations, or the International Pencak Silat Federation). Pencak Silat is being promoted by Persilat in several countries across the 5 continents, with the goal of making martial arts became an Olympic sport. Persilat promoting Pencak Silat as an international sporting competition. Only members are allowed to participate Persilat recognized in international competition.

Now, some European national federations of martial arts along with Persilat has established the European Pencak Silat Federation. In 1986 the World Pencak Silat Championship first outside Asia, takes place in Vienna, Austria.

In 2002 Pencak Silat program was introduced as part of a performance at the Asian Games in Busan, South Korea for the first time. The last World Championship was in 2002 took place in Penang, Malaysia in December 2002.

Aside from efforts Persilat that make martial arts as sport games, there are many schools of traditional old martial art that develops with the name Silek and Silat in various parts of the world. It is estimated that there are hundreds of streams (styles) and thousands of college.