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What is Pencak Silat?

Pentjak Silat is a traditional Indonesian martial art that was originally an armed style of
combat.

Traditionally Pentjak was a secretive method of self-defence and was not meant to be used
for competitive combats shown in public. It was also a path to spiritual enlightment and in
some parts of Java also a component of community celebrations.

Although it has been described as one of the deadliest martial arts of the Indonesian
Archipelago, it is not considered an art of war, but rather an art of stopping the war.

Today, it is a non-aggressive martial arts that is practiced by men and women of any age, and
is accessible to children and complete beginners in martial arts.

Silat is the essence of the fighting and self-defense, the application of these movements in a
fight. In this sense Silat and Pencak represent the esoteric and exoteric aspects of the same
fighting style.

The origin of the words Pencak and Silat are still unclear. Some believe that Silat comes from
silap, ‘meaning making a mistake’, in the sense that the opponent’s strength is used against
him. However, the most prominent origin theory of the word Silat is that it derives from
sekilat which means “as (fast as) lightning”. This may have been used to describe a warrior’s
movements before eventually being shortened to Silat. Some believe it may come from the
word elat which means to fool or tick. Pencak is thought to come from the Sanskrit word
Pancha meaning five, or from the Chinese Pencha meaning avert or deflect.

Another interpretation is that Pencak has the meaning of “method of educating” whereas
“Silat” means “friendship”, in which case Pencak Silat would stand for “to be educated in how
to live harmoniously with others”.

Pentjak Silat systems are generally named after a geographical area, city, district, person,
animal, physical action, or a spiritual or combative principle. For example, Undukayam Silat
takes its name from the actions of a hen scratching the ground. The Seitia Hati, ‘faithful heart’,
system gets its name from a spiritual principle. Mustika Kwitang is named after the Kwitang
district in Jakarta. Menangkabau people.

Reference – Donn. F. Draeger (1992). Weapons And Fighting Arts of Indonesia. Rutland, Vt. :
Charles E. Tuttle Co.

American Kun Tao Silat. Indonesia Fighting, The Devastating Art of Pentjak Silat by Cass
Magda.

Ian Douglas Wilson (2002). The Politics of Inner Power: the prace of Pencak Silat in West Java.
School of Asian Studies, Murdoch University, Western Australia.

D.S. Farrer (2009). Shadows of the Prophet: Martial Arts and Sufi Mysticism. Springer.

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