Silat

Pencak Silat or Silat is predominantly a Southeast Asian martial art with roots in the culture of the Malay World. This art is widely known in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore but can also be found in varying degrees among the Malay-affiliated countries of Thailand and the Philippines. The art has also reached Europe, and is especially popular in the Netherlands, where it is as popular as karate is in the United States. It is estimated that there are hundreds of aliran (styles) and thousands of schools.

There are four main aspects to pencak silat:

1. The "Mental-Spiritual" aspect:

Pencak silat aims to build and develop personality and noble character.

2. The "Bela Diri" (self-defence) aspect:

Self-confidence and perseverance are very important.

3. The "Seni Budaya" (culture, art) aspect:

Culture and performing the "art" of pencak silat is very important. This combines Pencak Silat with traditional music and costumes.

4. The "Olahraga" (sport) aspect:

This means that the physical aspect of pencak silat is important. We try to have a sound mind in a sound body. Competitions are part of this aspect. There are full-contact (Pertandingan=Competition) fights, as well as form demonstrations, for one (Tunggal), two (Ganda) or team (Regu) persons.

The styles and schools of pencak silat differ from each other with regard to which aspects are emphasised. It is thanks to the sport and self-defence aspects that this sport has become popular in Europe. However, many believe the essence of Pencak Silat is lost, or watered down, when converted to a sport and therefore still focus on traditional or spiritual forms of Silat, not strictly following the PERSILAT way.

Pencak Silat is a system that consists of sikap-sikap (positions) and gerak-geri (movements). When pesilat (silat practitioners) are moving (when fighting) these sikap and gerak-geri change continuously. As soon as one finds an opening in their opponent's defence, they will try to finish the opponent with a fast serangan (attack).

Pencak Silat has a wide variety of defence and attacking techniques. Practitioners may use hands, elbows, arms, legs, knees and feet in attacks. Common techniques include kicking, hitting, tripping, sweeps, locks, takedowns, throws, strangles, and joint breaking.

The pesilat, or silat practitioner, practices with jurus. A jurus is a series of meta-movements for the upper body used as a guide to learn the applications, or buah when done with a partner. The use of langkah (steps), or lower body meta movements teach the use of footwork. When combined, it is dasar pasang, or whole body flow.

Pencak Silat has developed rapidly during the 20th century and has become a competition sport under the PERSILAT rules and regulations. At the moment Pencak Silat is being promoted by PERSILAT in several countries on all five continents. The goal of PERSILAT is to make Pencak Silat an olympic sport. Apart from the official PERSILAT line of making Pencak Silat a competition sport, there are still many traditional styles practising old forms of Silek and Silat.

PERSILAT (Persekutuan Pencak Silat Antarabangsa, the International Pencak Silat Federation) is promoting Pencak Silat as an international competition sport. Only members recognised by PERSILAT are allowed to participate at international competitions.

At the moment some European national Pencak Silat federations together with PERSILAT have founded a European Pencak Silat Federation.

In 1986 the first Pencak Silat World Championship outside of Asia took place in Vienna, Austria.

In 2002 Pencak Silat was introduced as part of the exhibition programme at the Asian Games in Busan Korea for the first time.

The 13th World Silat Championships took place in Pahang, Malaysia in October 2007 where a total of 26 countries participated.

Lawatan Muhibbah PERSIB CDB Ke Bintulu

Lawatan muhibbah PERSIB Cawangan Daerah Belait (CDB) ke Bintulu telah berlangsong pada 21hb dan 22hb December 2007 dan berjaya dilaksanakan sesuai dengan apa yang dihasratkan.

Tujuan lawatan adalah bagi memperkenalkan Seni Silat Cekak Asli Brunei dan Kuntau. Di samping itu, untuk mengeratkan lagi tali silaturrahim serta perpaduan di antara kedua belah pihak khususnya.

Rombongan PERSIB CDB seramai 25 orang telah bertolak dari Kompleks Sukan Mumung, Belait pada jam 9.30 pagi setelah semuanya berkumpul dan mendengar taklimat dari ketua rombongan iaitu Hj Zabidi bin Ali.

Rombongan PERSIB CDB yang menggunakan lima buah kenderaan selamat tiba di Imperial Mall Miri kira-kira pada jam 11 pagi untuk makan tengah hari dan rehat seketika. Pada jam 1.00 petang rombongan seterusnya bertolak menuju ke Daerah Bintulu.

Alhamdulillah rombongan telah selamat sampai ke Bandar Bintulu pada jam 4 petang, dimana kedatangan kami di sambut secara sederhana tapi dalam suasana meriah oleh Ketua Gabungan Pencak Silat (GPS) Bintulu iaitu Tuan Guru Nawawi. Kami juga telah di pelawa untuk menikmati jamuan ringan sambil bersalaman dengan ahli Gabungan Pencak Silat Bintulu yang lain. Sedikit taklimat telah di berikan olih ketua GPS mengenai atur cara majlis pada malam kemuncak dan di selajurkan dengan rehearsal secara ringkas.

Majlis pada malam kemuncak itu telah di mulakan dengan nyanyian lagu kebangsaan bagi kedua buah Negara, Brunei Darussalam dan Malaysia dan disusuli dengan bacaan doa bagi memberkati lagi majlis pada malam tersebut. Persembahan di mulakan dengan persembahan drill dari Gabungan Peguruan Langkah Pertiwi Bintulu sebagai tanda salam penghormatan dan perkenalan.

Seterusnya, kata alu-aluan dari Pengerusi Majlis Tuan Guru Nawawi yang mana telah merasa berbesar hati menerima kunjungan PERSIB CDB yang julung kalinya mengadakan lawatan ketempat mereka. Sehubungan dengan itu beliau juga mencadangkan untuk mengadakan pertemuan Ahli Pesilat dari 5 wilayah (Brunei, Sarawak, Kalimatan, Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan & Sabah)untuk tujuan mengeratkan tali silaturrahim sambil memperkenalkan seni silat dan budaya masing masing. Kemudiannya di ikuti dengan ucapan dari Pengerusi PERSIB CDB, Hj Zabidi bin Ali yang telah merakamkam ucapan setinggi terima kasih atas kesudian GPS Bintulu untuk menerima kunjungan PERSIB CDB dan juga mempelawa GPS Bintulu untuk membuat kunjungan ke Negara Brunei Darussalam semasa Perayaan Hari Keputeraan Kebawah DYMM di bulan Julai 2008.

Majlis seterusnya disambung dengan upacara pembukaan gelanggang dari Perguruan GPS Bintulu dan di ikuti olih persembahan pencak silat dari kedua belah pihak. Upacara di serikan lagi dengan persembahan seni silat dari ketua guru perguruan yang bergabung dengan GPS Bintulu yang terdiri dari :-

1. Perguruan Helang Putih

2. Kuntau Spring 12

3. Cempaka Putih

4. Langkah Pertiwi

5. Perguruan Setia Hati

6. Kuntau Betawi

7. Pesilat jemputan dari Indonesia

Majlis di akhiri dengan penutupan gelanggang dari perwakilan dari PERSIB CDB iaitu Pg. Ali bin Pg. Hj Apong dari Pertubuhan Gagak Hitam (PERGAH) dan Hj Ramli bin Hj Metali dari Ikatan Pencak Silat Nusantara (IPSN). Dan seterusnya pertukaran cenderahati sebagai tanda kenang-kenangan dari kedua belah pihak. Sebelum majlis bersurai kedua belah pihak berkesempatan untuk bergambar ramai dan bersalam salaman sebelum bersurai pada jam 11.00 malam.

Pada keesokkan harinya rombongan bertolak meninggalkan Bandar Bintulu pada 12.30 tengah hari dan tiba di Bandar Miri pada kira kira jam 3.30 petang untuk minum petang, rehat dan membeli belah. Rombongan seterusnya bertolak dari Bandar Miri pada kira kira jam 6.00 petang untuk menuju balik ke Brunei Darussalam.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting was held on the 11th January 2008 to elect the new committee members of PERSIB Cawangan Daerah Belait for the 2008-2010 year session at the Dewan Kemasyarakatan in Kampong Pandan, Belait. The meeting was attended by more than half of the current committee members and was started at around 8.30 in the evening and preceeded with the recital of Surah Al-Fatihah.

After verifying and confirming the minutes of meeting from the previous election, Hj Zabidi bin Ali, the current President made a surprise announcement that he wishes not to be elected as the next President of PERSIB Cawangan Daerah Belait and requested everybody not to propose him for this position in the new election. His main reason besides heavy job commitment, is to give way for the new member to lead the PERSIB Cawangan Daerah Belait.

The election was then continued by proposing the candidates for the new committee members and the final selection was decided based on majority voting system.

The meeting had successfully elected the new committee members for 2008-2010 year session in that evening.

The new elected committee members of PERSIB Cawangan Daerah Belait are as follows :-

President : Pengiran Ali bin Pengiran Apong

Vice-President : Abdul Gani bin Hj Sabar

Secretary : Dyg Hartini binti Osman

Deputy Secretary : Awg Fairulman bin Bidin

Treasurer : Awg Daliman bin Jaludin

Deputy Treasurer : Soraya binti Mali

Head of Referee & Jury : Awg Johan bin Pintar

Head of Technical : Awg Hamdan bin Hj Ramli

Deputy of Technical : Benny Boy bin Md. Hatta

Auditees : Awg Kamis bin Yahya & Dyg Ranie Faizan binti Mahali

Honorary Members : Hj Ramli bin Hj Metali, Hj Zabidi bin Ali, Hj Rosly bin Tajuddin, Hj Ibrahim bin Hj Ismail, Sulaiman Hj Udin, Hj Kula bin Matyassin and Hj Abang Setria Hj Abang Taha.

Associated Members : Consist of the representative of each Perguruan .

The meeting was closed at around 11.00 pm and ended with the group photo of the new elected committee members.

We would also like to record our sincere gratitude and appreciation to our outgoing President Hj.Zabidi bin Ali who has for many years contributed his effort, energy and time in striving and leading the PERSIB Cawangan Daerah Belait.

Let his commitment and leadership be an inspiration to all of us.

ORIGINS OF BRUNEI WARRIOR ARTS

Historical findings suggest that the Brunei kingdom began more than 1,500 years ago, pre-dating Islam. Founded by Pateh (or Patih) Berbai and a group of 90 warriors from the Sakai Tribe.

It existed side by side during the reign of the Srivijaya Empire of Sumatra in the 9th centrury, the Madjapahit Empire in Java in the 13th century and Parameswara in Malacca in the 15th century. Its earliest existence was believed to be a tributary province of the Srivijayan then the Majapahit Empire.

The word 'Borneo' has only recently been used as pronounced by Europeans based on the statement by John H. Moor in 1871.

In another writing in 1812 by J.Hunt, he says "Borneo was the name only of a city, the capital of the three distinct kingdoms in the island,... The natives pronounce Borneo as Bruni and say its derived from the word "Brani" (Bruneian dialect for "Berani" in Bahasa Melayu) meaning courageous..."

The early kings of Brunei were called "Sang Aji", or "Reverend Monarch", a title of Sanskrit origin. The Brunei ruling dynasty changed in 1371 when Awang Alak Betatar, a heroic warrior King from a powerful kingdom in western Borneo, married a princess from a neighbouring kingdom and ascended the Brunei throne after gaining freedom from the Madjapahit Empire, took charge of their own territorial responsibility . He became the first Brunei ruler and the present ruler is his descendant.

Awang Alak Betatar was the first Brunei Raja to accept Islam, changing his title and name to Sultan Muhammad Shah (1371-1402) in honour of the Prophet Muhammad.

Brunei’s sovereignty peaked in the 15th and 16th centuries, when it controlled the whole of Borneo and parts of the Philippines. The kingdom’s vast wealth, derived from international commerce, created a strong impression on early European explorers. They returned to Europe with stories of gold, regalia and majestic ceremonies.

As the first Islamic kingdom in the area Brunei was the base for the Islamisation of the southern Philippines and surrounding areas, frequently coming into conflict with Catholic Spain after the Spanish conquest of Luzon, the central island of the Philippines. In 1578 in the conflict known as the Castille War (Perang Kastila) Spain attacked part of the Brunei Kingdom but was defeated by 100 fierce warriors, together with other locals who were loyal to the Sultan, lead by warriors of royal blood, Pengiran Bendahara Sakam with Orang Kaya Harimau Padang. Spain continued to try to conquer the Islamic Sultanate of Sulu in the southern Philippine islands, finally succeeding in the last quarter of the nineteenth century.

Bruneian martial arts culture was used effectively within the major history of Brunei, seen perfectly preserved to present day in the Royal Regalia of Brunei's ancient rulers even before the 7th century, to the Castille War (Perang kastila) where the Spanish was defeated in 1578, to the World War against the Japanese.

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Introducing Silat Suffian Bela Diri Presentation

PERSIB

PERSIB adalah singkatan dari perkataan "Persekutuan Pencak Silat Kebangsaan Brunei Darussalam". PERSIB telah berdaftar sebagai sebuah persekutuan yang sah di Negara Brunei Darussalam pada 31hb. Disember 1986 dengan bilangan pendaftaran BPD/816.

PERSIB juga berperanan sebagai induk kepada cawangan-cawangan PERSIB yang terdapat di Negara Brunei Darussalam seperti :-

1. PERSIB cawangan Daerah Brunei dan Muara

2. PERSIB cawangan Daerah Belait

3. PERSIB cawangan Daerah Tutung

4. PERSIB cawangan Daerah Temburung

Tujuan Utama PERSIB di tubuhkan adalah :-

1. Menyatupadukan dan mengeratkan hubungan semua badan silat di Negara Brunei Darussalam

2. Bertindak sebagai badan yang memperjuangkan silat, perunding, penyelaras dan penasihat dalam hal ehwal persilatan.

3. Memelihara, mempertahankan dan mengembangkan silat sebagai salah satu seni budaya warisan orang-orang Brunei bagi mengekalkan keperibadian yang tinggi dalam membentuk jasmani yang kuat dan jiwa satria yang berbudi luhur.

4. Meningkat, maju, membangun dan mengembangkan silat diperingkat kebangsaan dan antarabangsa.

Yang Di Pertua PERSIB pada masa sekarang ialah Pengiran Jaya Indera Pg Hj Mokhtar Puteh bin Pengiran Hj Rajid.

Sejarah Pencak Silat

Pencak Silat adalah seni beladiri yang berakar pada rumpun Melayu. Seni beladiri ini banyak ditemukan di Brunei, Filipina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapura, dan negara-negara yang berbatasan dengan negara etnik Melayu tersebut.

Banyak ahli sejarah menyatakan bahwa Pencak Silat pertama kali ditemukan di Riau pada zaman kerajaan Sriwijaya di abad VII walaupun dalam bentuk yang masih kasar. Seni beladiri Melayu ini kemudian menyebar ke seluruh wilayah kerajaan Sriwijaya, semenanjung Malaka, dan Pulau Jawa.

Namun keberadaan Pencak Silat baru tercatat dalam buku sastra pada abad XI. Dikatakan bahawa Datuk Suri Diraja dari Kerajaan Pahariyangan di kaki gunung Merapi, telah mengembangkan silat Minangkabau disamping bentuk kesenian lainnya. Silat Minangkabau ini kemudian menyebar ke daerah lain seiring dengan pemergian para perantau. Seni beladiri Melayu ini mencapai puncak kejayaannya pada zaman kerajaan Majapahit di abad XVI. Kerajaan Majapahit memanfaatkan pencak silat sebagai ilmu perang untuk memperluas wilayah jajahannya.

Kerajaan Majapahit menguasai hampir seluruh wilayah Nusantara. Hanya kerajaan Priyangan di tanah Pasundan yang tidak dapat dikuasai penuh oleh Kerajaan Majapahit. Tentara kerajaan Priyangan ini terkenal akan kehebatan pencak silatnya. Kerana wilayahnya yang terpinggir jauh, dan terbatasnya pengaruh Majapahit, seni beladiri kerajaan Priyangan hampir tidak mendapat pengaruh dari silat Minangkabau. Pencak silat priyangan ini terkenal dengan nama Cimande.

Para ahli sejarah dan kalangan pendekar pada umumnya sepakat bahawa berbagai aliran Pencak Silat yang berkembang dewasa ini, bersumber dari dua gaya yang berasal dari Sumatra Barat dan Jawa Barat seperti diuraikan di atas.

Aspek-aspek Pencak Silat

IPSI (Ikatan Pencak Silat Indonesia) mendefinisikan pencak silat sebagai suatu kesatuan dari empat unsur yaitu unsur seni, beladiri, olahraga, dan olahbatin.

Unsur seni merupakan wujud budaya dalam bentuk kaedah gerak dan irama yang tunduk pada keseimbangan, keselarasan, dan keserasian.

Unsur beladiri memperkuat naluri manusia untuk membela diri terhadap berbagai ancaman dan bahaya, dengan teknik dan taktik yang effektif.

Unsur olahraga mengembangkan kegiatan jasmani untuk mendapatkan kebugaran, ketangkasan, maupun prestasi olahraga.

Unsur olahbatin membentuk sikap dan kepribadian luhur dengan menghayati dan mengamalkan berbagai nilai dan normal adat istiadat yang mengandung makna sopan santun sebagai etika kalangan pendekar.

Pencak Silat

It is not easy to trace back the history of pencak silat because written documentation is limited and oral information is handed down from the gurus or masters. Each region in the archipelago has its own version of its origin which is largely based on oral tradition.

Silat takes important role in country's history. Since the age of Ancient Indonesian Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms like Srivijaya, Majapahit, Kingdom of Sunda . They use silat to train their soldiers and warriors.

Archaeological evidence reveals that by the sixth century A.D. formalized combative systems were being practiced in the area of Sumatra and the Malay peninsula. Two kingdoms, the Srivijaya in Sumatra from the 7th to the 14th century and the Majapahit in Java from the 13th to 16th centuries made good use of these fighting skills and were able to extend their rule across much of what is now Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore.

It is said that according to old Javanese poetry, Kidung Sunda, the sentinels of the Prabu Maharaja Sunda exhibited great skill in the art of pencak silat when they escorted Princess Dyah Pitaloka to Majapahit as a potential bride for King Hayam Wuruk, and faced indignities that greatly affronted their honour[2]. In a battle that ensued at the Bubat field (1346), the Sundanese forces fought to the last drop of blood, using special pencak moves and various weapons,

Albeit the pencak silat styles employed in combat were different, we can still draw the conclusion that in Javanese kingdoms throughout the archipelago, pencak silat served the same function: to defend, maintain or expand territory.

Also in ancient times, the Buginese and Makasar people from South Sulawesi region were known as tough sailors, adventurers, mercenaries and fearless warriors . Throughout the archipelago, these people were known for their combat skills. Nowadays, some well known silat schools in Malaysia can trace their lineage back to ancient buginese warriors.

The Dutch arrived in the seventeenth century and controlled the spice trade up until the early 20th century, with brief periods of the English and Portuguese attempting unsuccessfully to gain a lasting foothold in Indonesia. During this period of Dutch rule. Pentjak Silat or Pencak Silat (as it is known in Indonesia today) was practiced undergound until the country gained its independence in 1949.

The growing spirit of nationalism within pencak silat circles echoed the intensification of efforts to realise 'One Country, one Nation, one Language' in the archipelago. Following several incidents of mass uprising in the 1920s and the declaration of the Youth Pledge on October 10, 1928 in Batavia, the colonial government tightened and expanded its control over youth activities, pencak silat included.

The colonial intelligence apparatus (PID) kept a close eye on all activities and organisations considered to be potentially in opposition to Dutch control. Training in pencak silat provided youths the strength, confidence and courage needed to resist the Dutch colonialists. Therefore pencak silat self-defence activities were closely scrutinised as they were suspected to be the front for political activities, and had to go underground. Training was done in private houses, in small groups of no more than five persons. At the end of the training, the pesilat had to leave one by one without attracting the neighbours' attention. At times, training would be carried out in secret locations in the middle of the night (from midnight to morning prayers) to avoid the scrutiny of the Dutch. Pencak silat teachers often made use of eerie locations such as graveyards, since even the police would be scared to go there, and they could be protected and safeguarded by the spirits of their ancestors.