SELF-DEFENSE

SELF-DEFENSE

Self-Defense is a method that exists for a person to defend themselves from enemy attacks. It is a traditional method of fighting with or without the use of weapons. In ancient times, it was a practice for everyone, especially men, to learn and have self-defense knowledge. Every nation has martial arts knowledge or self-defense knowledge that developed as a result of local outbreaks or modified from foreign martial arts that infiltrated and were then inherited from generation to generation, and practiced as a cultural heritage of a race or community.

Self-defense has existed for centuries. There are several types of self-defense arts in this country. Among them are Malay Martial Arts, Silambam, Wushu, Kuntau and so on. Self-defense arts are also often associated with the cultural practices of a race and this art should be seen in a more holistic context, namely as the basis for uniting society in this country. This is because self-defense arts not only aim to produce highly disciplined individuals but also educate the hearts and souls of its practitioners to foster a spirit of love for the homeland, race and religion.

There are 2 types of self-defense arts that have been designated as National Heritage, namely:

1.            Seni Persilatan Melayu

Malay Martial Arts or silat is synonymous with the Malay people. Silat is a self-defense art that lives and has its roots in the Malay Archipelago. Before the word Silat was used, the Malay martial arts were known as the science of war, the science of hulubalang, the science of soldiers or the science of bravery. The Malays have created and practiced the science of silat before the arrival of external influences to strengthen and defend the traditional Malay kingdom and it has gone through its own golden age as highlighted by the heroes or hulubalang from the Malay kingdom or sultanate in the past.

This silat certainly has various forms and styles that can be innovated, including silat pulut, silat buah pukul or martial arts and silat athletics. Its authenticity and movements are immortalized by being learned and passed down from generation to generation. In Malaysia, there are more than 500 Silat schools that are active in Malaysia, including Silat Cekak, Silat Gayung, Silat Buah Pukul, Silat Lincah, Silat Pulut, Bunga, Harimau, Sendi Naga, Cimande, Cekak, Kunta and others. The art of performing silat has been recognized by the Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) as a World Heritage under the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity category in December 2019.

2.            Silambam

Silambam is a type of martial art that is the most important for Tamils ​​around  the world. Researchers believe that the art of Silambam has existed for 5000 years, since prehistoric times and before the arrival of the Aryans to India. Therefore, the art of Silambam can be considered the oldest martial art in the world. The art of Silambam is one of the 64 types of arts outlined by traditional Tamil society as a martial art that must be learned to become a perfect human being. The art of Silambam has developed to Southeast Asia between 1000 and 1500 years ago.