Pencak Silat, Penjak Silat, Pentjak Silat, or Silat (fighting by using techniques of self-defense) is a Southeast Asian martial art with roots in the culture of the Malay World. This art is widely known in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore and the Philippines but can also be found in varying degrees among the Malay-affiliated communities in Thailand and Cambodia. 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. Many of the aliran find their origin in the observation of wild animals fighting. Harimau (Tiger) and Elang (Eagle) are some examples.

There are four main aspects to pencak silat:

1. Mental and spiritual: Pencak silat aims to build and develop personality and noble character. One must use their training to focus their mental and spiritual energies during combat situations or dangerous emergencies.

2. Self-defense: Self-confidence skills and perseverance skills are very important. Without them, your skills are reduced.

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

4. Sport: This means that the physical aspect of pencak silat is important. We try to have a sound mind in a sound body. Competitions and intense training are part of this aspect. There are full-contact matches, as well as form demonstrations, for single, double or teamed.


The beginning of formulized martial arts in Southeast Asia can be traced back to India and China. Traders and settlers from both lands have long been living in the region and provided the basis for local culture, including martial arts. Indian martial arts had an impact on Southeast Asian styles, evident from the use of silambam staffs and the thigh-slapping found in many forms of silat which is reminiscent of Hindu wrestling for example. Bas-reliefs in Srivijaya which clearly illustrate warriors wielding weapons such as the Chinese double-edged sword also suggest a strong Chinese influence.

With the rise of Malay civilizations, combat became more advanced and silat was institutionalized. There are a number of legends of how this happened but only one has any historical significance. The story tells of a Sumatran woman who witnessed a fight between a tiger and a very large bird while fetching water from a well. Both animals, unfortunately, died in the fight. The womans angry husband came to scold her for her tardiness but she blocked all of his attacks, remembering the movements of the fighting animals that she saw earlier. The couple later formulized the art and founded the first style of silat. However true this story is, archeological evidence shows that silat was indeed created in the Sumatra-based empire of Srivijaya and flourihed after it spread to Java.

Java was home to the Mataram Kingdom and, together with Srivijaya, was an important centre for education and religion, particularly Hinduism and Buddhism. It attracted monks and learned men from various parts of South-East Asia. This allowed silat to influence and be influenced by other styles from nearby countries such as Krabi Krabong from Thailand and Banshay from Myanmar. Trade with Okinawa also brought about the similarities between silat and karate as well as various Japanese weapon-arts like tessenjutsu and bojutsu.

By the early 1300s, silat was already highly refined, much like its present form. After Dutch colonization, silat was brought to Netherlands by Indonesian immigrants. From there it spread to other parts of Europe to eventually become as popular as it is today.



* Bersilat is the word given to the act of practicing silat.
* Berpencak is the word given to the act of two pesilat in combat situation.
* Pentjak is the old Indonesian spelling of the word pencak.
* Another alternate spelling of pencak is the phonetic penchak (commonly used by French practitioners).

Wikipedia contributors, Silat,Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Silat&oldid=129473478 (accessed May 10, 2007).

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