I have not seen a silat demonstration for a long time. Silat is a Malay martial art of self defense.
So when I saw these silat practitioners performing live at Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house last Sunday, October 12, 2008, I was really thrilled and enchanted by their graceful movements. It was entertaining all the same.
To the accompaniment of traditionally silat music, they shrugged their shoulders (as if to say that there was nothing) as they moved their steps hesitantly with their fists ready to strike. Then suddenly their slow movements change into explosive and lightning fast strikes to their opponents.
The large number of people that had gathered to watch were excited and thrilled to see demonstration on use of defensive or offensive techniques such as using bare hand as weapon and use of several martial arts weapons such as keris (Malay dagger), parang (chopping knife), long sticks and steel chain.
Silat martial art covers hand and leg techniques.
The core of the art focuses on body mobility and coordination.
Practitioners learn to use their bare hands as their weapon.
Silat Gayung also teaches the "ground fighting form". Falling to the ground does not mean the fight is over.
Young practitioners show their skill in the combative arts of fighting and survival.
Learning how to apply defensive or offensive techniques using the keris - a Malay dagger.
Disabling an opponent armed with a parang - a chopping knife.
Silat employs the usage of several martial arts weapons such as long sticks.
A long chain can be used as an offensive weapon.
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