Traditionally, Silat is a male activity; although changed over the years. As the Minang Kabau Society is a Matriarchal one, young men cannot possess lands and family goods, therefore they must leave the Minang Kabau region in search for wealth, this process is referred to as MERANTAU. Here, Silat has an important role to play not only to prepare oneself combatively but rather as a hard school towards adulthood, towards becoming a fully-grown human being.
URAGAN NAN SABANA URANG, jorking it is said that for those who are not Minang, only the Kabau (Buffalo) remained. For Silat education, each tribe (SUKU) has its own schools called SASARAN OR GELANG-GANG. When needed, their territory, the NAGARI, was defended together with other schools of the NAGARI.
Until today we can still find the original Martial Arts in the interior of the Indonesian Republic which was not subjected to influence from the outside world and therefore can be considered stil pure and refined. The way of thinking of a man is influenced by their way of life from moment to moment and from age to age. After learning the essentials of Martial Arts which they partly discovered from animals, they realised that they are human beings, the most perfect creatures on earth. They modified basic movements, therefore Martial Arts was created based on the flexibility of the movement of the human body which is perfect to confront human challeges and proved to be useful on the health of the body as well, consequently, a healthy body meant a healty mind and vice versa.
And what is the relationship between Seni and Bela Diri?
Silat means the perfect Martial Art movement which is Holy and Pure as a Spiritual resource for ones own self-preservation.
And this is perhaps one of his secrets.
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