Silat is a blanket term covering all the fighting arts of the Indonesian archipelago. It is used to describe both indigenous (Pentjak Silat and Poukilan Silat with around 900 estimated styles) and Hybrid arts (Kuntao Silat with around 400 estimated styles).

Indonesian Archipelago

Indonesia is a land of spice islands. Their history has always been that of competing tribes and peoples. They also have a history of invasion by foreign powers. The many Silat styles evolved under both. Most Poukilans are tribal arts intended for the entire village to use. Because of the nature of tribal warfare (and the prevalence of cannibalistic tribes), the Silats tend to be designed with weapons in mind and both as and against multiple armed opponents. Very little "sportsmanship" is applied when fighting someone you intend on eating.

Another group of events defining how the Silat fighting arts evolved is the tendency of everyone around to invade. Indonesia has been claimed by (among others) the Chinese, the Japanese, and the Dutch. In fact, the phrase "run Amok" refers to Indonesian warriors tying off pressure points, grabbing a knife, and walking down the street killing every foreigner they saw. Today in the west, many of the best known Silat players are Dutch-Indo.

There is also in Indonesia a strong history of Immigration, and many Chinese have moved there. The Chinese Kung-Fu styles were blended with the native Silat styles and form the basis of the hybrid Kuntao Silat styles.

Most recently Islam is becoming the predominant religion of the region. And we are beginning to see it's influences on the arts still popular in Indonesia.

There is a tremendous amount of variety in Indonesian fighting methods. They range from sports styles, to purely combative styles, to a style designed for a ritualistic challenge of a bridegroom for the bride. So I will talk in generalities.

to be continued in part 2...