| Are there any philosophical teachings or moral guidelines in silat Lincah? |
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| The tenets we use come from my direct teacher Johari Jantan. Humility, honour, respect, dignity, loyalty, brotherhood, and friendship. On top of this there are very strict guides for codes of behaviour in Malaysia generally. I generally try not to preach. But I try to ensure that my students know these tenets and try to live them rather than just recite them. |
What aspects of Adat and Hormat are maintained in your teachings?
The adat is still taught as part of the Malay culture, but since we are not in Malaysia I don’t like to do it too much. I kinda do the “When In Rome…”. My close student are taught it, but we tend to be a more informal group. In Silat as in all martial arts respect is a vital part of training. I am conscious that wherever I go I am an ambassador for myself, my school, my country and my art, as well as my teachers. I therefore try to behave in a manner that would bring no dishonour to any. I was once taught that before we learn how to control others we should control ourselves. So adat is a way for us to learn about ourselves more, and show respect to others. It is 2 way. You cannot expect to be shown respect without showing this to others. You also cannot expect to be respected if you do not respect yourself. Silat has a code of honour and that is part of the adat. Unfortunately someone has been impersonating me on some of the discussion boards and issuing challenges in my name. I do not know who is the culprit, but it is not me- my adat, grammar and manners are not that poor. I am sorry that some people seem to have taken offence to that and cannot differentiate between a wind up designed to inflame, and a genuine martial artist. I feel that reflects on them more.
In Malaysia I try to follow the adat there. In Belgium I follow the adat in that country. I have taken onboard what I have learned through silat and try to impart that to my students. It is not just about respecting all things Eastern.
How is the spiritual or religious training manifested in the system itself?
There are various tests performed, from taking punches, to hits with machetes or baseball bats, diving through glass, off tops of buildings to hot oil baths and being hung,
What (if any) weapons are studied?
Tongkat, keris, knife, and kerambit
Do these weapons studies involve jurus or are these taught through buah and pecahan? We don’t really have jurus,so they are taught through the buah and pecahan.
At what point in your training are these weapons introduced?
Basic instructor level. In Malaysia it is introduced a lot earlier, but I don’t for a variety of reasons, one is fear- people react differently if there is a weapon involved; another is insurance. In Malaysia you are unlikely to get sued, here you are. It isn’t responsible to teach bladed weapons too early.
You mentioned that your Maha Guru Lincah calls Silat Lincah a Keris art and that you concur, Why? I have been told silat is a duelling art, or an art of war. You don’t go to war unarmed. If you know you are going to have to fight, you use weapons.
What place does the Keris training have in self-defence today? I think it still has relevance for attacks with screwdrivers bottles and kitchen knives. People still get attacked with these weapons. We also use knives parang, etc so we cover the majority of blunt and edged weapons. I try to teach a traditional art in a modern progressive scientific manner.
What (if any) body conditioning is done?
Arms, legs, and body. We train full contact so need to be fairly well conditioned.
Is this done through two man drills, self-hitting or external equipment? All the above.
What (if any) medicines, herbs, medical treatments or healing components are taught?
I teach some massage.
Is this a traditional part of Silat Lincah? No, it is my job. Maha Guru used to run healing clinics throughout Malaysia but although he has taught me some of what he did, not enough.
Do you have any other comments you would like to make?
With the arrival of the eclectic martial arts, traditional arts have taken some serious criticism, some deserved, some unjustly. It is not enough to just take the best bits of an art, because you invariably take the bits you like and can do, not the bits that are difficult and challenge your skills and competence. Traditional arts have that lineage that is tried and tested methodology. What I try to do is combine that with current sports training methods, and knowledge on mechanics. That ensures that the art continues to develop and grow, while still maintaining the core principles of technique and practice.
I look forward to bringing Silat Lincah to the USA.
As the saying goes- watch this space!
