Bidayuh Headhunting Songs

Yesterday, a good friend, the person who was responsible to introduce me to Guru Jak, lend me a book called Malaysia At Random (At Random Series). In it, there's a page on a really interesting subject, a subject about songs that the Bidayuh tribe sung prior to a headhunting mission.
 
Before a group of male members of the Bidayuh tribe of Sarawak leave on a headhunting trip, a traditional prayer song will be performed by them. The translation of the song goes like this;

A normal character in ordinary time,
He can make himself a brave fighter,
And a hero when the time comes for revenge against his enemies.
We have kept the skulls for to long,
It is now time to go and get new ones,
Now we are on a headhunting expedition,
Let us say farewell to the spirits of our ancestors,
Let us give them the gifts of these rice grains,
And the heads of the beheadide enemies.

On the other hand, they will then sing another traditional song sung to those male members of the Bidayuh tribe who did not wish to join a headhunting trip which goes;

It is a pity you do not join us in the headhunting venture,
But all you can do is look after the Baruk*,
You are not brave enough,
You have no idea what the spirits of our ancestors told us,
This is because you did not join us in the katang*.
As you had joined me in this successful headhunting expedition,
I gave you the chin part of the skull for you to show to your people.
But as the dog had grabbed it from your hand, you had nothing to show.
Because you are a drunkard
You never realised
That your wife
Was having an affair with another man

* baruk - traditional structure used for ceremonial gatherings and for the storage of skulls.
* katang - a ceremony to appease the spirits of people who were headhunted.

I remember hearing my Guru asking a particular kickboxing student of his, who is affectionately known to many as Captain, if she can ask around, especially the elders from Sarawak, the land where she came from, stories of headhunting adventures and more specifically, to find out more about their fighting system. That would be a very interesting subject to research. The headhunting tribes' martial arts. I myself have been very curious about this for a long time. Hopefully, there will be a documentation of this subject soon, before anything about it will be lost forever in time.

Salam.

Silat Tomoi

I just had an AHA moment. Nothing big, but it is related to the video in the previous post. I just realized where I saw Guru Ed demonstrated a counter that looks similar to the Filipino combat knife fighting moves shown in the video from the previous post. Yeah. You can see him demonstrating it in the video above at 1:09. I gave up trying to count how many hits he delivered in that one single move.

The video above is a little trailer for a DVD on Silat Tomoi, a collaboration between Guru Jak and Antonio Graceffo, The Brooklyn Monk. which is coming out soon. Hopefully very soon, I can't wait. This video shows the many elbow applications in Muay Thai roots back to the ancient art of Silat Tomoi. Well, I might not explain it 100% accurately, I just say it as how I understood it from talking to Guru Jak. The only way is to get the DVD and watch it for yourself.

Besides the elbow devastating moves, what excites me the most would be the weapons part. The weapons that will be featured in it are the kapak kecil (small axe), Sakti Pencawangan (bladed mai sok), and I'm pretty sure I remember some kerambit demonstrations were shot during production too.

I'll give you an update when I get news about the release of the DVD and where you can get it.

Salam.

How Many Blades?

Found this video on Youtube while I was taking a short break from work in the office. I was not sure how I found it because I was sure I was not looking for it, but, I did get into trouble as soon as I shared this on my Facebook. Don't worry, it was not silat related, I did not offend any silat or any other martial art guys. However, I do regret that accidentally hurt someone's feelings that afternoon.

Actually, I wanted to say that this video kept me glued on it for a while for several reasons. First, was for the number of blades the guy was carrying on his body. Second, was for the speed of his counter attacks without causing hurt to the other guy. And third was for the moves that were demonstrated. I was very sure that the moves shown was performed on me before by Guru Ed. Well, at least the first four counters, the breaking of the knuckles, wrist, elbow and up to the neck.

However, before watching this video, I thought the hit on the elbow was only to shock the biceps muscles thus to render them useless for a while and the damage on the neck was not up to the point of breaking, only to stun and inflict pain to stop the opponent's attacks. About the similarity, I guess, Visayan knife fighting is Silat. Well, that is my conclusion.

I remember asking my Guru, how many weapons did a Harimau Berantai soldier carry on their body, when they launch a sabotage mission against the Dutch during the colonial days? I don't remember exactly, but, during a mission, a Harimau Berantai soldier wears his Javanese batik that acts as a camouflage that blends with the tropical surrounding. He carries a few blades, a few kerambits, maybe two pairs of Sauh (Tekpi), one Ekor Pari (Stingray's tail). It's highly possible that the Sundang is part of his arsenal of weapons too. He also carries a little pouch containing a powder substance, the War Dust that was used to temporarily blind the enemy soldier.

How many of them in a group? Hmm, I don't know, I guess, it's a very small army unit that I would imagine a five person group infiltrating the enemy camp and take out the number one guy, then quickly vanish into the dark.

Okay, now back to the question again. How many blades can you see on the guy's body? Yeah, the guy in the video. I don't know, I have to watch the video again.

Salam.

Back Into The Gelanggang

Image via Wikipedia

Hmm.. World cup 2010 has finally ended, and I'm now back at training. Well, actually there was no relevance at all between the two, but I did take a two weeks break. The first week was because I just wanted to take a break, but the second week, I was down with flu. Bad.

Last Monday night, I came back to the gelanggang for training. I was late, but at least I made it. No, I should not have justified my tardiness. Pendekar Scott was there earlier. Flipping the Tekpi (Sai) or what we at the Harimau Berantai call, the Sauh, which is a Malay word for anchor. I too have to train with my Sauh, as instructed by Guru Jak, but I usually leave them in my car. It was time for me to take them out and train with them again. Awesome!

Throughout the night, I was deflecting and 'breaking' a horizontal rattan pole that sticks out towards me and acts as a hand thrusting a weapon, stabbing and hitting tires that act as the body and legs of an opponent. There's also a wooden pole sticking out of the body of tires that act as the head that I have to remember stab and hit too. I got really into it. Felt really good training that night. I used to not like them as weapon as they are not easily concealed, and who brings around these things into battle these days? Except Rafael of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Elektra of course.

However, when you deflect an attack with your Sauh, then counter with attacks that render your opponent useless through blunt force trauma, and stabbings, I find them very fascinating. All night, I focused on practising with speed and power. I do try to get my footwork done properly too.

Great training session that night. Salam.

Been A Really Long Time..

.. Since I last updated this blog. What can I say, either I am a chronic habitual procrastinator, or I don't have much to say lately. However, since I just came back from training and learnt something new tonight, I felt much obliged to share.

Earlier tonight, Guru Jak shared with us some new techniques. Locking Buahs not from the Harimau Berantai system, instead, he taught us the Buahs from the Gayong Harimau system.

1. Kilik Senapang, which depicts how a hunter carries around an unloaded rifle
2. Lipat Mayat, which literally means Folding A Corpse
3. Cengkam Harimau, translated is, Tiger Choke
4. Kacip Sirih, I do not know how to translate this, but sirih is betel leaf

Man, they were painful I tell you. I used to tap out when I started learning Silat but nowadays, I don't tap anymore. If it gets too painful, I would just scream and my Guru would let go. Hehe.

I just found out that a great Silat master had passed away earlier this month. He was known affectionately as Pak Mat Kedidi and I had the privileage to meet him during a Silat documentary shoot. In that documentary, he was selected give his views on Tekpi as a Silat weapon. One thing I heard about him was, in his younger days, he was a Tomoi fighter known as the Black Beatle because when he kicks, they would buzz. Yeah, scary I would imagine. Al-Fatihah.

The Small Axe

This is going to be a quick and small post. I am just going to announce to you that my Guru have written an article on the Kapak Kecil (small axe).  It is the first part of a series of articles that he would produce this year in 2010.

Let me list down some of the few things that he talked about in this article on the Kapak Kecil.

• History of the Kapak in the Malay world
• Famous battle
• Kapak Bungkus, or axe wrapped in a piece of cloth used by the Malay assassins of Kelantan and their Modus Operandi
• Kapak Terbang, or flying axe used by specialist hitmen
• Kapak kecil, small axe used by Srikandi (lady warrior) and Pendekar of the Harimau Berantai clan.
• Anatomy of the Kapak Kecil
• Carrying and Concealing
• Methods of handling
• and lastly, two BUAH (attack & defense combos) taken from the Harimau Berantai kapak syllabus.

I'm sure you can't wait to know more about the Kapak kecil. Now, do not delay any longer. Go read it up at his blog.

Salam

Maybe Cats Do Have Nine Lives

I really have to share with you this. Last night after having to instruct Kickboxing and closed up the studio, I went straight to my car to get home. Luckily, I managed to see a mama cat and her litter under my car. I spent some time to shoo them away, but it was not so easy I tell you. Then, after I managed to chase them away, I started my car, and drove myself home.

Not too long after that, I suddenly heard a vague sound of little kitten in my car. I said, no, it can't be. I'm a big dummy about cars, but I don't think there's any way a cat can stay hanging under a moving car. I stopped the car, checked around the car, try to listen to that sound of a kitten again, but I did not hear it anymore. There's no more sound. Told myself I must be hearing things or maybe it was the radio.

Then, I started the car again and continued my drive home. Not too long after that, I hear it again. No! It can't be. I lower the volume of the radio, changed the channel and turned the radio off but still I can hear that sound. Argh! Now its driving me nuts. It was starting to get creepy. Did I accidently ran over a little kitty when I reversed my car out of the parking space and that dead little kitty immediately set out to haunt me for the cruel and painful end I accidentally delivered to it? Or is there a little cat hanging somewhere under my car dying but still crying out of pain? But why won't it die immediately? It was becoming unbearable.

I quickly exited the main road, parked my car and tried to calm myself for a while. I was not hysterical, but I was disturbed I have to admit. Got off my car, I walked around it, kicked every tyres and tried to hear that sound again. Nothing. Went around again, I saw some kind of fluid slowly running down the asphalt ,but no, it was not blood. It was from the air conditioner. I continued looking for something. Circumbulated my car which I call the Flying Dutchman again and again looking for the origin of that haunting sound of a dead kitty.

Then, miraculously, from behind the rear wheel, came out this tiny little scared and fragile looking thing. It was a kitten. Immediately, I bent down to grab it by the back of its neck, but it got scared and ran under the car again. Tried again and I came up behind him as it was peeking from behind the wheel looking for me. Gotcha!

I quickly got the kitten into my car, and briefly, I was thinking of adopting it. As quickly as the thought came, I got back into my senses. I should not waste this little kitty its eight remaining lives. Hehe. Yeah, I decided to drove back to where I parked and deliver it back to its Mama.

When I got there, Mama cat was looking so distraught sniffing her surrounding with another little kitten by her side. When mama cat saw us, she quickly came rushing to us and sniffed her little kitty. I was not sure if she's mad or what, but she was not hissing at me but was continuously meowing at me. I gave her some time to calm down and slowly approached her and rubbed the back of her head to tell her that everything is okay now. You got your baby back with you. I could sense that she was definitely stressed out for the momentary loss of her kid.

I was glad that the kitten survived the ride under my Flying Dutchman unharmed. It was a miracle. That must be the ride of that little kitten's life I'm sure. I guess, there is some truth when they say that cats have nine lives. I am a living witness. It was a creepy experience, but thinking back, it was funny because it surely scared the sh*t out of me.

Salam.

Takraw After Working Hours

Image via Wikipedia

 

Before Silat training last night, I had a session of Sepak Takraw at the office after working hours. I think I played three games. Did I tell you about that little accident I had the first time I participated in this game with my colleague? Maybe about a month ago, or more, my teammate, who is two an a half size bigger than me, stepped on my ankle as I fall, and I think it felt as how my Guru taught me how to crush someone's ankle in a silat class. I could even hear the sound of my ankle cracking that precise moment. Yeah, scary.

Speaking of takraw, a year ago, probably March 2009 or earlier, a group of students, including me of course, helped my Guru shoot a documentary about the game Sepak Takraw. (In the old days, we in the Malay world call the game Sepak Raga. Sepak Takraw is a modern version of the game.) So, we drove to the foot of the legendary Mount Ledang (Ophir), where the national Takraw teams are training, and our role was for a little segment which reenacts how Silat in the old days were related to the game.  Each of us were given one or two silat moves that have resemblance to how the game is played nowadays.

The moves were awesome! I don't remember much, but I remember a move that involves one dropping down to a low stance and give a headbutt to the groin after a one-two exchange and another one, probably mine, that ends with me clinching the opponent's head and smash it to my shoulder. My takraw at that time, sucked big time! Hehe.. Not that it is good now, but a little bit better I hope. That takraw part, we leave to our skilful national players. After all, they are the main attention of the documentary. That documentary I think was about our attempt to bring the glory of Takraw back to our country. It was not about Silat.

Not too long after the shoot, our national team got thrashed again. I didn't care to find out if it was by Thailand, or by some other country not known for their Takraw talents. I remember in the 80s, it was either Malaysia or Thailand that rule the Takraw world. Both of these countries would meet in the finals of any Sepak Takraw championship, and no others.



I don't know what happened to the documentary. Did it went through or not, I do not know, but I do know some problem arised after that particular shoot. Nevermind. To tell you the truth,  I was not in a fine mood that day. I had some 'issues'. No, I don't have PMS, and, no Babe, I was not mad at you, just a little bit sad. It was all good and great after that babe :)

Yeah, back to training last night, I'm glad that last night's class we went back to the basics. The Langkahs (footwork) and learning the Pelampas (sticky hands drills).

First, Guru showed us two types of Langkahs. Langkah Segitiga (triangle) and Langkah Ladam Kuda (Horseshoe).  According to Guru, Langkah Segitiga is for close range, suitable for hand strikes while Langkah Ladam Kuda is used for longer range which is good for kickers. Later, Guru Ed showed us a three-point stance. It is a very low stance where one leg, the knee and the ball of foot on the ground and the other leg, only the flat part of the foot is on the ground. Then, we move around the gelanggang in that three-point stance. The leg which only the flat part of the foot on the ground will drop the knee to the ground and the other leg will then step forward and rise the knee and have only the flat part of the foot on the ground. Repeat the process and you'll find yourself moving around in that three-point stance. Do you get the picture?  It's late and maybe its hard to explain in words but its so easy to demonstrate. I'll show you when you join the class. :)

Pelampas was fun. I miss doing the pelampas. Guru corrected my pelampas last night.  I hope that we do pelampas for warmup in every class.

Salam.

Before you leave, you might want to watch this documentary featuring our biggest rival, the Thai's Sepak Takraw team. Enjoy.

Flipping the Kerambit Again

First of all, I would like to apologize for keeping this blog quiet for a very long time. I'm not sure if I will be as active, but I will try to update when I have something to say.

I've been missing a few sessions with my Guru. No, I don't have a really strong excuse for skipping class, but I find the need to spend some time with someone for a time being. So, when I came back training tonight, I first bump into my Guru and he immediately asked me what was wrong. I just said I had flu. Yeah, I did, only I din't tell him it was nothing serious.

So tonight, I didn't join the whole class training the Buahs. Instead, I was asked to face the wall for the entire training duration. Not to reflect on my wrong doings, but to flip a kerambit back and forth for one and a half hour. So throughout the entire duration, I was concentrating on my kerambit in my hand, and not participating or even take notice what was going on behind my back.

I am not sure why the sudden intensive Kerambit training tonight, possibly, a weapons documentary is in the pipeline, or maybe, it is just time for me to start training the Kerambit again. Whatever it is, it felt good to be back training again, and updating this blog again.

Salute!

The One Inch Punch

Before stumbling into this video clip, I was already familiar with the term one inch punch made popular by the legendary Bruce Lee, but I didn't care much to know deeper about it. Not until I found this interesting video and discovered some similarity to a striking method that was taught to me by Guru Jak.

The similarity lies not in the traditional Chinese method of centering of the Chi, nothing as complex as that, as I being a new student will have no idea whatsoever in what is that going to be about. It lies simply at the flicking of the wrist joint when delivering the one inch punch. That, with the help of this video, I can easily understand.

However, instead of using the lower knuckles, the method shown by my Guru uses the base of the palm to make contact. I asked my Guru if this method is similar to Bruce Lee's One Inch Punch and he said yes, almost, kind of. He said this striking method is called Kepak Ayam. I hope he was not kidding me because, translated, it means Chicken Wings, which I find it very amusing. However, after making a little demonstration, probably after sensing my sceptism, (not that I don't trust my teacher, but sometimes being a jovial character, he does sometimes pull my leg once in a while) I understand that Kepak Ayam means more like Flapping of the Chicken Wings instead of just Chicken Wings.

Silat training is on as usual tonight, and probably I will try to practice my Kepak Ayam on a pad tonight. Practicing Kepak Ayam on myself hurts.

Salam.

Scary Urumi

Image via Wikipedia

Many came for training last night. The seniors are back to train Silat. Good for me as their return would make our learning environment more lively.

Tonight, I did some warm up with some belati moves, did a quick revision on the eight Belati Buahs, the eight Tekpi Buahs, and four Sakti Pencawangan Buahs.

During training, I asked Pendekar Scott, his opinion about Merantau, the latest Indonesian Silat movie that is currently playing on Malaysian cinemas which features Silat Harimau. Well, his opinion matters because he and Guru Ed is a Guru in this system. His comment was something like, if you like watching Tony Jaa, then you'll enjoy the movie. I think he also said that there are more knees than what they usually do in Silat Harimau.

After class, as usual, had a quick tea session with Guru Jak and fellow students. Interesting topic that Guru Jak talked about was something about Bodhidharma and his possible origin, (a theory that would probably shake the entire Martial arts world). He also said something like Kalaripayattu being one of the most deadliest Martial arts in the world and described how Urumi, a Kalaripayattu weapon, would be a really terrifying to go against, as it is a long sword made of flexible steel, sharp enough to cut into flesh, but flexible enough to be rolled into a tight coil. A Kalaripayattu practitioner wielding an Urumi would probably laugh at our own Ekor Pari (Stingray's Tail) flexible weapon used in Silat Harimau Berantai if they were to go against each other in a duel. He probably says so to describe how devastating this Urumi can be.

I looked up Wikipedia.org and Youtube.com about this particular flexible weapon, Urumi. Take a look.



What do you think? Scary? Share your thoughts and leave some comments.

Salam.