'Silat Cekak', Brunei's art of self-defence

EXPONENTS say that the Pencak Silat art of self-defence is a symbol that can be associated with the values that promotes the nation's philosophy of Malay Muslim Monarchy (MIB).

"The link between silat and MIB is due to its emphasis on the value of respect, the core essence that shapes the Brunei Malay culture," said Pg Haji Mohamad Pg Haji Ludin, the president of the Pencak Silat Association Brunei (Persib) who has been a Pesilat or silat practitioner since his late teens in the 1950s. He mentioned that silat was officially recognised in Brunei since the 1950s and added that silat has been around way before then — since the days of the great maritime empires of the Malays in the Nusantara.

Silat is a collective word that reflects the geographical position of where it was originated which was in the Malay Archipelago and Malay Peninsula of Southeast Asia. Some experts say that silat could have been developed in Indonesia, peninsular Malaysia, Brunei, Southern Thailand and Singapore and was practised in places such as the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam.

"Silat in Brunei is part of the nation's culture ... it is also part of our symbol of nationhood. Silat in Brunei has both similarities as well as differences with other forms ofsilat in the region. There is also the case of sharing the same name of a certain movement, but then consisting of different movements respectively. One form of the silat is the Cekak Brunei. The name Cekak is also used in other Southeast Asian countries but over here the concept is different," he told The Brunei Times.

According to another Pesilat, Amir Talib in his book Silat A Perspective on the Malay Martial Art, he stated that the origins of Silat Cekak Brunei "is pretty much lost in the mists of time. Even the older practitioners of the art can only identify the period when it started to flourish in Brunei; which was some time in the 1950s ... this form of Silat Cekak is not to be confused with the Silat Cekak found in Peninsular Malaysia. There are no affiliations between the two arts."

Amir Talib emphasised that Silat Cekak can be considered as the national art of self defence for Brunei, thus making it a genuine cultural heritage of the Sultanate.

However, like any other form of martial art, it has over time evolved and created two philosophies — one advocating the pure "traditional" forms whilst the other, as Amir puts it, "adopting — some would argue — even diluting and incorporating other forms of silat".

Silat Cekak Brunei consists of six basic attack techniques called the Rangkaian Enam or "Chain of Six" which is the one unifying concept that is common in all variations of Silat Cekak. According to Talib's book, the techniques involved in Brunei's form of silat is the platform that develops its very own "offensive rationale".

"If there is no Rangkaian Enam, it is simply just not Silat Cekak," said Amir Talib. His interpretation of the beauty of Silat Cekak Brunei lies in empty hand and weapon practise as opposed to having to master a separate set of skills for weapons.

"Silat Cekak has a grace and hidden functionality that needs to be experienced to be understood ... and this is entirely my opinion on the matter — that it is the best base from which to learn silat ... (where it) encapsulates many of the cultural nuances of Bruneian Malays ... the cultural spectrum which reveals Brunei's spiritual orientation and royal legacy," he said in his book.

Rangkaian Enam or Silat Cekak's "Chain of Six" comprises of tumbuk kanan, tumbuk kiri, tatak/balah, simbur, paras and tikam/radak which consists of elbow techniques and flow, backfist techniques and flow, rod defence techniques, short stick(s) techniques and others.

Amir Talib's main influence in silat came from his late father, Dato Seri Paduka Haji Talib Derwish, who passed away in 1985 when he was 13 years old. He never stopped to continue his studies of the art to this very day.

Pg Haji Mohamad told The Brunei Times that in order for a person to delve into the art of silat, one has to start off with a clear and true "Niat" or intention and, from there, then a true belief in the art to create a difference in you as well as patience because the art does not only involve the strengthening of one's physical body but also one's inner self. This is especially evident in Amir Talib's recount of the role of silat as his companion during his lonely years in boarding school where it became a nurturing tool for his confidence.

"I used to practice silat in the dead of the night, when the lights went out at bedtime ... the practice of Silat my sense of familiarity ... transporting myself back home. Silat sustained me and kept me mentally strong as I (also) went through cancer ... For me, silat has become a vehicle for expression, growth and living," narrated Amir Talib.

The President of the Silat Association told The Brunei Times, "It is good to see that many of our younger generation have learn to appreciate that silat have made them proud of their identity as Bruneians," he said.

The Brunei Times