Tuesday 23 March 2010

Introduction to The Other Animals ?


Hello everyone.
This article will be an introduction into a series of articles addressing the lesser know animal movements techniques and mannerisms that are found in Pencak Silat and the martial arts of the surronding peoples of South East Asia.
As you know ours and other systems have five main animal mannerisms which make up Pukulan Cimande Combat, Pukulan Cimande UK Pukulan Cimande Combinasi and Pukulan Cimande Pusaka.

These main animal mannerisms are for those of you who dont know the
  • Harimau (Tiger)  
  • Ular (Snake)
  • Monyet (Monkey)
  • Blekok / Bangau (Crane, Stork, Heron)
  • Naga (Mythical creature, Long Dragon type moster)
These animals are the main phases or journeys that students of our style go through on their path to mastery
There we become the less known sixth animal "Man" or Woman sorry ladies ;)

Im asked sometimes by other practioners of Silat outside of Cimande as to why we make such a big deal about the animals almost  "venerating" them, when man is the "Pinicle of creation" made in "Gods own image"

We dont venerate any one thing over another, the animal systems to me are a personal journey in which we meet and learn from "Animal guides or friends" like once seen in Native American socities, these animal helpers teach us about themselves we stay with them for a while. In their company we are shown how they hunt, stalk, move think fight etc we learn from them, we thank them and move on the the next friend who in turn teaches us, until we have learned and experienced a jorney; a time in the life of a tiger, snake, monkey, bird these are combined into a ever changing mystical blending of the four which becomes the Naga.
Until we have learned and lived as them how can we be whole fighters whole people, from here we become "Man" but a man or women with a strong appreciation, love and respect  for our guides and friends in the animal kingdom, because whether we like it or not we are animals, we have all this technology , art, mathmatics high culture but we are essentially clever apes.

I often wonder that if a control group of us where dropped into the rain forests of say Papua New Guinea and left without our gagits, toys, tools, modern trappings, removed from the fine culture and arts all the things we hold dear and "civilized", may soon start to become less and less important replaced by the needs of survival, food, shelter etc.
How many generations down the line , left fending in the wilderness with nothing would remember how to play the piano, or do calculus? how long would our fine ideals and social trappings last?
Perhaps completly removed from what we have now 10 generations later re woulkd'nt even remember what all this stuff was, like some long lost magic perhaps eventully centuries even language would change.

Yes we would still be "Human Beings" but would that mean the same thing ?

Now lets say that we do the same experiment with our closest cousins the Orangutans, take them away from having to fend and live as they do under the constant threats of living in the rain forests, deforestation, starvation, Man!!! and left in a world like ours how many generations would it take for them to forget how to forage for food, to hold that mental map of the whole of there forest , where the trees grow at certian times of the year what fruit is safe, which animals not to play with they would'nt need to! move as they do through the trees how long before they picked up some of the things we do now? What would they be like a few centuries down the line, more like us than I think most religious leaders  and clerics would like to say.
Basiclly we are not "Better" just different! We live in a world where we were able to shape and control, take that away for a millenia or two and things would be very different.

Food for thought!

So I will be doing a series of articles on the lesser know animal "friends" seen and discussed in the arts of South East Asia.

First one will be Celing (Boar)

Monday 8 March 2010

Guru Besar Liam McDonald Training Tips#2

 

 



Try to arrange a permanent slot for your training times lets say. Tuesdays 19.00pm. So no matter what comes up (unless its a complete emergency) you are going to train.
This will create in a few weeks a mindset that will mean your mind and body will be ready to train, and you won't procrastinate or try to come up with an excuse to yourself (or teacher) why you shouldn't train. As human being we do like a set timetable and a routine, we grow comfort from knowing where we should be, plus others will know what time you train. From my own experience students who fail to develop a good training pattern and start going to different classes and time slots each week, end up attending less and become frustrated. What could happen is the following.

Monday night.... "Ahh you know what I was on the drink at the weekend I give it a miss tonight, I feel better tomorrow night.."

Tuesday night... "Boss doing my head in, girlfriend wants to meet me.. ahh I give it a miss tonight, sure I catch up tomorrow night, I don't usually go Tuesday"

Wednesday night.. "Football on tonight , I want to see the match mmmhh sure I go tomorrow night"

Thursday night... "Jeess shouldn't have went to pub last night, I'm wrecked, need to catch up with myself, you know what I go at the weekend, that make up for missing class"

Weekend .. " Hey the weekend for party, to much to do, sure I prob wasn't missed at class, anyway Monday a new week sure I restart then, new week and all!

Is this You??
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Thursday 4 March 2010

The Silat Warrior



The Silat Warrior
(An article by my Guru Besar Liam McDonald)


The Silat Warrior walks fearlessly, with calm grace through the mysterious wonders of Life

His Knowledge has been imparted to him by his Master Teacher – a direct link in an unbroken chain of succession – guided by the sacred ancestral spirits of his lineage. Forever seeking to refined his own understanding of the art, the Silat student strives to be worthy of a place, within their ranks, and to be an inspiration to future generations of warriors.

His skills have been forged and tempered to a razor edge, by countless hours of dedicated practice. His techniques, honed to lethal perfection through direct combative applications in the training ground, now he stands ready in the depths of his sub conscious mind – awaiting only a moments warning to serve in his defence. He has intimate knowledge of the Way of the Warrior’s path: blade, stick, swords, chains.. hold no fear for the silat warrior, for they are his constant companions. He also knows that if necessary, he can unite any element in his environment as an extension of his will to overcome an adversary.

His spirit is tranquil and receptive – reflecting the very elements of creation. The elements of water, the grace of air, the stability of earth and the destructiveness of fire all find appropriate expression in his being. He learns the lessons of nature directly from his wise teachers. He can call esoterically upon his brothers the Monkey, Snake, Tiger, Crane and Dragon, as well as all of the sacred medicinal herbs of the forest to learn their profound secrets often used his spiritual energy to heal, but also can apply it in ways more destructive order to preserve the lives of those he protects.

His character is the clearest expression of his spirit. from the elders he has learned honour and respect. Remembering the great skills of his teachers, who bestowed humility upon him. As a result of his realistic training, he has learned the value of his life and therefore regards all life as precious. He would harm only if faced with no other alternative. He is mild in manner, and soft spoken avoiding vulgarity. He is at peace with his convictions and feels no need to confront those who challenge his views. He has absolute faith in the supreme power that guides his existence and can identify it’s presence in all the many religions that men have created to honour it. He recognized the elements of truth in all traditions and strives for it within the way of his own chosen path.

Thus armed only with his own strength and wisdoms the silat warrior stands ready to accept the challenge of his destiny…