Persatuan Seni Silat Pukulan Melaka

Introduction

• We are a Pencak Silat sports association in Amsterdam (the Netherlands). We were founded in 1996. Our goal is to train our pesilats (students) in the art of Pencak Silat based on the spiritual and physical techniques of the Malaysian style Pukulan Melaka.
• Our students are trained in the four major disciplines of Pencak Silat:
  • Isis (de Silat as mental spiritual force).
  • Seni (the Silat as art)
  • Beladiri (the Silat as self defense)
  • Olah Raga (the Silat as sport)
• Our trainers are FOG certified teachers Martial Arts. They are also certified Pelatih Muda of Pencak Silat with years of experience in the art of Pencak Silat. They have been trained in the Pukulan Melaka style by Hj. Mohktar bin Hj. Yahya from Melaka, Malaysia.
• We have applied for membership of the NPSB. This national Pencak Silat federation is a member of the PERSILAT (Persekutuan Pencak Silat Antabarangsa), the International Pencak Silat Federation. The NPSB is also member of the FOG, a national federation for oriental martial arts.
• Our assocation is run by a board consisting of the following three members:
  • Fred Annyas (Chairman)
  • Bianca Tan (Secretary)
  • Rob Smits (Treasurer)
• For more information about our association please contact :
  

>Persatuan Seni Silat Pukulan Melaka
Alblasstraat 58-2
1079 ZP Amsterdam
Phone/Fax (+31) (0)20 6461979
<101656.2100@Compuserve.com>

Pencak Silat: 'defensive movements '

• History
  Pencak Silat is a martial art from South-East Asia (Nusantara). By tradition it is generally accepted that the development of Pencak Silat started in the 4th century. Chinese traders from South-East China passed the Strait of Malacca on their journeys to the Arabian peninsula.
  On these journeys they visited Sumatra and Malaysia. During their stay they exchanged not only the usual goods but also techniques of self defense (China is the cradle of all martial arts). This exchange of techniques marks the beginning of Pencak Silat. The centre of growth was Pelembang (Sumatra).
  In South-East Asia Pencak Silat served a number of purposes. Initially is was used as a technique for protection against perils from the wilderness, later it became a defense against the usual human type of violations.
  Although Pencak Silat was prohibited during the colonial ages the development of the art continued in secrecy. This prohibition ended during the Japanese occupation and after the countries gained their independence.

• Philosophy
  Pencak Silat has clear philosophical foundations. The philosophy is called Budi Pekeri Luhur which stands for 'noble mind and character'. Budi is the spirit of men and contains the following aspects:
  • fairness
  • sensitivity
  • will-power
  The Budi of men reveals itself in his Pekerti (character). This character should be noble, high-minded and ideal (Luhur). This philosophical development is contrary to the development in Europe during the last centuries, where the emphasis was put on the development of weaponry. This technical development caused a gradual loss of basic human values. Nowadays Pencak Silat is a social network in Asia where social and human values are still honored. By uniting people Pencak Silat tries to preserve the cultural inheritance (Pursaka) of Nusantara.

• The four elements of modern Pencak Silat.
  The generally accepted four elements of modern Pencak Silat are:
  • Isis, the mental-spiritual force of Silat
  • Seni, the Silat as an art
  • Beladiri, the Silat as self defense
  • Olahraga, the Silat as sport
    These four elemens should not be seen as separate elements; they form a unity. In competition a distinction is made between Olahraga and Seni & Beladiri, but a pesilat who wants to perform well in Olahraga can never do without Isis, Seni or Beladiri and vice versa.

• Organisations
  Pencak Silat is organised on national and international levels. The International Pencak Silat Federation, also known as Persekutuan Pencak Silat Antarabangsa or PERSILAT, is the highest organisation in Pencak Silat. PERSILAT is a non-political organisation based on the principles of brotherhood, unity, mutual respect and non-discrimination of race and religion.
  PERSILAT was founded in 1980 by four national organisations (also known as the founding members). These four founding members are:
  • Ikatan Pencak Silat Indonesia (IPSI)
  • Persekutuan Silat Singapura (PERSISI)
  • Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan Malaysia (PESAKA)
  • Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan Brunei Darussalam (PERSIB)
  Any national organisation that has been accepted by the PERSILAT as the representative of Pencak Silat in a specific country can become an affiliated member. National organisations are usually founded by the Pencak Silat sports associations in a country. If a national organisation does not exist, another organisation may be accepted by PERSILAT as an associated member for a specific country.
  The PERSILAT organisation has a structure that consists of many departments, councils and institutions. The organisational structure as well as her objectives are described in the constitution of the PERSILAT. The objectives are clearly focussed on the philosophy of Pencak Silat.

PSSPM in Melaka

Melaka is the place where it all begun. Language, religion, the culture and the Silat Malayu of West-Malaysia all originated in Melaka. Already in the 14th century Melaka had to cope with threats by foreign powers. Classes of warriors were formed to defend Melaka against these threats. These warriors were strong men with great skills and experience in a wide range of fighting techniques. One of these warriors was Hung Tuah. His deeds are even today for many people a shining example of the struggle against foreign and domestic suppression and corruption.

In most of the battles fought by the people of Melaka they acted as defenders. This concentration on self defense explains why in many Pencak Silat styles originating from Melaka, like Pukalan Melaka, the training is focussed on Beladiri and Seni.

The Persatuan Seni Silat Pukulan Melaka in Melaka has about 2000 members. With the foundation of PSSPM in Amsterdam the Pukulan Melaka style is the first of the original styles from Melaka that can be studied outside Melaka.

The Ketua Perguruan (chairman) as well as the Kepala Aliran (style leader) of the PSSPM in Melaka is Hj. Mokhtar bin Hj. Yahya. He started with Silat in 1969, trained by:

1. Guru Tua Hj. Ali from Melaka
2. Guru Tua Ariffin B. Dol from Melaka
3. Guru Tua Ibrahim Hashim from Melaka

Hj. Mokhtar also held and holds various functions in national and international Pencak Silat organisations. A short summary:

1. Dewan Pendakar (Sesepuh) PESAKA Malaysia 1993-1994
2. Dewan Hakim Silat Seni (PERSILAT)
3. Teacher Silat Seni PESAKA Malaysia
4. Ketua Pertandingan Silat Seni PESAKA Malaysia
5. Member of the Technical Delegates of the PERSILAT
6. Representative in PESAKA for Melaka
7. Member of the board of Seni of PESAKA

Perkampungan Pencak Silat Antarabangsa

In Air Molek (10 km from the city of Melaka) the Perkampungan Pencak Silat Antarabangsa was build in 1995. This gelanggang (arena) serves as an international meeting place for pesilats. They can visit the Perkampungan to receive training or to take a break on their journey through Asia. Prices are very moderate, accomodation is good, but do not expect hot tubs, swimming pools etc.

This Perkampungan Pencak Silat Antarabangsa is the first one in the world. We hope that many will take the initiative to build such meeting places in other regions and countries. Eventually this might result in a network of silat meeting places.

For more information please contact Fred Annyas and Bianca Tan at the above mentioned address of PSSPM in Amsterdam.

Copyright © 1996 by Persatuan Seni Silat Pukalan Melaka, Amsterdam