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SILAT NOW! E-ZINE

3D"silat =20

Silat Seni Gayong: The Art of Preventing War

Written by Abdul-Lateef Abdullah (Steven Krauss)
Editor: Sean = Stark=20
=A92004 Combat Silat Union, Silat Now! e-zine

Gayong - The Philosophy

The words Silat Seni Gayong = comprise=20 three concepts:

1) SILAT - which is the technical skill = employed=20 in the art of self-defense. It is a reflex action based on physical = training,=20 self-control and discipline.

2) SENI - is the esoteric = focus or=20 the spiritual aspect of the art. Its focus is to rid the self of the = negative=20 and at the same time bring out the positive elements of the student. = This stage=20 is well connected to Islam and grounded in its beliefs and practices. = Through it=20 the student will plant the seed of faith and care for the tree until it = bears=20 the fruits of excellence. The master or teacher's role is to show him = the right=20 path in the journey toward self and God realization.

3) = GAYONG -=20 is self and God-realization that is achieved by the student through the=20 practices of the art of Silat. With the knowledge and practices of = Silat, the=20 student will develop a strong understanding of himself and his Creator. = This=20 will eventually lead to the practice of Islam, and the acquisition of = faith and=20 spiritual excellence (Islam, iman, and ihsan).

Silat Seni Gayong = is not=20 an art of self-defense, but rather a traditional art of war. Moreover, = it is not=20 an art of creating war but of stopping or preventing war. This is = because the=20 practice of Gayong is not centered on "self-defense" but rather on = developing=20 one's self (belajar mengenal diri), and becoming a better person for the = purpose=20 of serving the Creator by serving humanity. As such, it is a great way = to=20 develop and increase physical fitness, flexibility, mental conditioning, = spiritual discipline and self-confidence. The philosophy of Gayong is = strongly=20 related to the Malay Adat Istiadat (Malay culture and traditions), = morals, and=20 adab (proper respect and manners) grounded in the teachings of Islam. = Islam is=20 the inspiration, motivation and guidance for the high quality behavior = of the=20 Gayong practitioner. It is also the mark of peace and harmony when = implemented=20 appropriately.

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Gayong - Physical Training =

The=20 syllabus of Silat Seni Gayong is comprised of different levels that = build on one=20 another. As a Gayong practitioner is trained and taught never to = instigate an=20 attack, he is also trained never to act defensively, but rather to=20 counter-attack and annihilate his enemy. As such, Gayong is not an art = designed=20 for the gym or for sport recreation. Due to the seriousness of its = approach, the=20 Gayong practitioner is taught only under the strict tutelage of an = experienced=20 and knowledgeable teacher. Furthermore, the practitioner is taught to = never use=20 his art on the sick, weak, elderly, women or children, nor may he use = his art=20 for any reason other than in defense of an attack to self, family, = property,=20 religion or that of someone else. In this way, the Gayong practitioner = is taught=20 to be a defender of the dignity of man.

The different levels of = the=20 Gayong syllabus include:

1) How to avoid an oncoming attack or=20 establishing a 'safety zone' - The first level of understanding for a = Gayong=20 practitioner is how to move and manipulate his body to avoid an oncoming = attack=20 and simultaneously position oneself for returning the attack. This = represents=20 the first level of understanding in Gayong and is called elakkan or = avoidances.=20 Avoidances also include acrobatics and rolling and are a critical = element of the=20 Gayong syllabus. Acrobatics provide the student with the agility and = ability to=20 avoid attacks and protect oneself in a number of ways, particularly when = dealing=20 with multiple attackers.

2) Avoiding and returning an attack - = After one=20 has avoided an oncoming attack, the next level of understanding in = Gayong is how=20 to return that attack in an efficient and effective manner. The second = level is=20 therefore named elak pukul, or 'avoid and hit or attack'.

3) = Multiple=20 attacks or annihilating one's enemy - The third level takes the student = to an=20 understanding of how to annihilate one's opponent with a series of = deadly hits=20 and movements for the sake of disabling and disarming the enemy, = preparing him=20 for the final stage. This third stage is aptly called pukulan maut or = 'death=20 blows'.

4) Multiple attacks followed by dead locks (grappling) - = Once=20 the enemy has been aptly disarmed and disabled, the Gayong practitioner = is=20 taught how to finish off the enemy with what are called kunci mati or = dead=20 locks. Dead locks are grappling moves that can be administered standing, = sitting=20 or on the ground. Unlike many other martial arts, Gayong's grappling = moves are=20 not fixed insomuch as a practitioner is taught how to apply dead locks = in a=20 variety of situations. Thus, Gayong never claims to teach fixed forms or = kata,=20 rather, it teaches how to react to whatever situation one finds him or = herself=20 in. As such, the key focus of Gayong training is on deception, langka = (steps or=20 footwork) and the efficiency and precision of one's hits and locks. = Furthermore,=20 as an art of war, Gayong must be applicable in any situation or context. =

5) Sensitivity drill - In Gayong, the techniques and attitude = that is=20 taught for applying the art do not allow for actual sparring, such as = with other=20 martial arts. However, an important aspect of the training is to be able = to=20 apply all four stages 1 - 4 in 'live' or real-time situations. As such, = the=20 fifth level of Gayong training includes a sensitivity drill called in = the Malay=20 language, pentas (performance). Pentas is a series of seven sets of buah = (fruits) that looks like a 'staged' performance between two Gayong = practitioners=20 and, as such, is often used for demonstrations of the art. However, that = which=20 looks like a mere performance is actually a high-level training exercise = for=20 learning how to apply Gayong at real-time speed and involves a variety = of=20 strikes, counter-strikes and deadlocks as applied in real-life = situations.=20 Pentas is also performed with weapons for the senior students. To be = able to=20 perform pentas, a student must be in strong physical shape and be highly = knowledgeable of the first four stages of the Gayong syllabus. =

6)=20 Weapons training (same sequence of movements) - Levels 1 - 4 involve the = empty=20 hand foundation of the Gayong syllabus. However, Gayong, as a = weapons-oriented=20 art, is designed for the use of a range of weaponry including knife, = simbat=20 (long stick), keris (traditional Malay dagger), machete, spear, cindai = (chain,=20 belt, scarf, etc.). In addition, there are several other weapons taught = such as=20 kerambit (chicken claw) and sundang (double-edged sword) that are not = formally=20 part of the Gayong syllabus. Weapons training in the Gayong tradition = only=20 begins after the mastery of the empty-hand syllabus. All training is = done with=20 real weapons.

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The Gayong Belt System

In Gayong, there = are six=20 belt levels that coincide with the five levels described above, they = are:=20

1. 'Empty' black - At this introductory level, the student = learns the=20 foundation movements, rolling, avoidances, avoiding and returning an = attack, the=20 first seven multiple attack combinations, the first 14 dead locks and = the first=20 empty-hand pentas.

2. White - At the white belt level, the = student=20 trains for the completion of the empty-hand syllabus by learning more = advanced=20 foundation movements, rolls, 21 multiple attack combinations, 21 dead = locks and=20 the second empty-hand pentas. At the completion of the white belt = curriculum or=20 the acquisition of the green belt, a student is considered a master of = Gayong=20 empty-hand combat.

3. Green - At the green belt level, the = student=20 completes the foundational movements and rolls and begins the first = level of=20 weapons training which, depending on the Gayong system, may include = knife,=20 simbat and keris.

4. Red - At the red belt level, the student = trains for=20 the completion of the second level of weapons training which may include = keris,=20 machete (parang), and spear (lembing). At the red belt level, the = student may=20 become an assistant instructor and begin teaching students the = foundation Gayong=20 syllabus.

5. Yellow - At the yellow belt level, the student is=20 considered a master in both empty hand and weapons training and can = teach both.=20 His focus is on teaching and the transition from physical training to = spiritual=20 and metaphysical training, including a deeper devotion to the Islam. =

6.=20 Black - At the black belt level, training no longer focuses on the = physical=20 dimension, but is predominantly spiritual and metaphysical in nature.=20 Furthermore, a black belt in Gayong is engaged primarily in teaching and = the=20 dissemination of knowledge of Gayong and Islam. The black belt is also = expected=20 to be a leader within Gayong and deeply involved in organizational work = and adat=20 istiadat or carrying on of the tradition of Gayong.

Silat Seni Gayong - Parang Clip

Gayong History and Organization =

Gayong=20 is a unique and dynamic art of war that has been made available to the = entire=20 world through the founding of Gayong Amerika 15 years ago by Cikgu = Sulaiman=20 Sharif. Dato' Meor Abdul Rahman, the late Mahaguru of Gayong, was = responsible=20 for systemizing Gayong, which had existed for hundreds of years = throughout the=20 Malay Archipelago, for the sake of its wide dissemination among the = Malay=20 people. In 1991, just before his death, he commissioned Cikgu Sulaiman = to=20 universalize and disseminate the art to the whole of humankind, = beginning with=20 the United States and Europe in 1991.

As shown above, Gayong is = a=20 complete art, encompassing the physical and metaphysical and is designed = not for=20 the defense of self, but for the development of self. Gayong prevents = war by=20 developing human character and protecting human dignity. Its use, = although=20 deadly, is specific and for the preservation of peace and human = well-being. Its=20 physical approach of fluidity of motion, deception and reaction rather = than=20 fixed forms makes it both soft and hard, and versatile depending on the=20 situation in which one finds him or herself.

Gayong is widely = practiced=20 in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, and has been introduced in = America, Europe=20 and the Middle East. Due to different opinions and styles of managing a = very=20 large organization, Gayong carries a variety of different names = including Gayong=20 Malaysia, Pusaka Gayong, Gayong Warisan, Gayong Amerika and Gayong = PASAK.=20 Nevertheless, they all share the same Mahaguru -- the late Dato' Meor = Abdul=20 Rahman.

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SILAT NOW! E-ZINE

Silat Seni Gayong: The Art of Preventing War

My = Testimony History= Tes= timonials=20 Location Reps webzine System Training Opps = Forum = Media = V= ideos=20 Store = Links Contact Us =A9Copyright 2005 Combat Silat, Pencak Silat Pertempuran, Silat = Pertempuran,=20 Combat Silat Union. All Rights Reserved.

My = Testimony History= Tes= timonials=20 Location Reps webzine System
Training Opps = Forum = Media = V= ideos=20 Store = Links Contact Us

=A9Copyright 2005 Combat Silat, Pencak Silat Pertempuran, Silat = Pertempuran,=20 Combat Silat Union. All Rights Reserved.