| Self defense is a necessity in everyone's lives. Some | | | | Earlier silat was a generic term used to refer to any |
| people receive training to defend themselves as part | | | | type of fighting. Now it is specific to a style of martial |
| of their career. A person in the protective services or | | | | art particularly originating from the Indonesian region. |
| police force would naturally be learning basic self | | | | In Malaysia Silat was encouraged among the royals |
| defense. Today more and more people from the | | | | and the generals and it was a mark of the higher |
| general population are also taking an active and avid | | | | sections of the society to know and practice this |
| interest in different forms of self defense such as | | | | martial art form. Fighters who proved their worth were |
| Karate, Silat, Kick boxing and other forms. | | | | relegated to lead troops and given special honors from |
| This is a type of indigenous art form originating from | | | | the king. Thus knowing and being well versed in this |
| Indonesia. From there it has grown in popularity and | | | | martial art form was a sign of nobility or royalty. |
| spread to Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. There has | | | | Silat Weapons are also a point of interest. They use a |
| also been a Chinese version of this same martial art | | | | type of weapon incorporated from Japanese culture in |
| form known by the name Kuntao. Those who practice | | | | practicing this art called as the Katana. A breastplate |
| this are called as pesilat. | | | | or a rattan shield is also used as a protective gear. It is |
| The form of martial has a number of different moves | | | | the only protective piece worn by people practicing this |
| and various styles of performing but for the most part, | | | | form in early times. In order to start working with a |
| focus is on the joint manipulation, strikes, throws, use of | | | | weapon when practicing this form of martial arts, |
| bladed weapons, or techniques based on animals. | | | | students should have an acquired a degree of |
| Based on the country where the Silat martial form is | | | | proficiency. There are also various styles where the |
| practiced, there are a number of different | | | | form itself is weapon based. The commonly used |
| organizations at the national level that oversee its | | | | weapons by people practicing this are the kris or |
| practice and its performance. | | | | dagger, parang or machete, the sarang and the |
| Silat comes from a word in the Menang language | | | | tongkat or walking stick. |
| which is silek, the origin of this word is still unknown. | | | | This is a form of martial arts which has very ancient |
| The origins of this martial arts form has various stories | | | | routes, over the years different styles have developed |
| associated with it. One version says that this originated | | | | as new moves were incorporated into the original |
| when a woman saw a fight happening between a | | | | form and it has evolved. Its style has been merged |
| tiger and an eagle. She learnt it and taught it to her | | | | with other martial art forms and incorporated into |
| husband who then passed it on across generations. | | | | cultures in china, Japan and other countries. |