Forum > Traditional Weapons
Keris in Silat
Ranggalana:
Dear Sahabats,
Indonesian silat apparently doesn't teach keris fighting. Contemporary Jawanese think that the keris should not be used for fighting, and silat schools do not teach it. In Jawa literature keris is used as a weapon, to murder, to execute, and also it is used in battle, but in real life at least since the 20th century the keris has never been used physically. In the times that it was used as a weapon the keris was considered to be the last weapon.
Malaysian silat is different, the keris there is not revered in the same way as in Jawa and there are silat schools that teach keris fighting. The Malay keris is different to the Jawa keris, it has a short "pesi" and the handle is also at a different angle.
I am very interested in the new developments in keris fighting, where we have new "Pendekars" teaching keris fighting and claiming knowledge of ancient times. What are the sahabats of this forums opinions about keris in silat, particularly keris Jawa?
Salam hangat semuanya,
Bram
Gajah:
An interesting and potentially controversial subject.
I would be interested to know at what point the Kris stopped being used as a weapon in Indonesia but continued so in Malaysia. Do you have any pointers Bram?
It would seem to me, that something that obviously initially represented a weapon, has at some point in history come to be imbued with differing meaning depending on geography. However, wasn't the geography a political one imposed by colonists? ie. Dutch & British?
I'm in a curious position with regard to this. I study a Javanese silat rooted in pre colonial times(allegedly) that found it's way to Malaysia as a family system. The later stages of training do indeed contain some Kris fighting.
I wonder if this is either, a remnant from the Javanese origins or a Malaysian 'add on' that was more culturally acceptable.
So, what do the historical records suggest? What was the turning point?
Ranggalana:
--- Quote from: Gajah on 16/11/2007 01:20 ---
I would be interested to know at what point the Kris stopped being used as a weapon in Indonesia but continued so in Malaysia. Do you have any pointers Bram?
...
So, what do the historical records suggest? What was the turning point?
--- End quote ---
Hi Martin,
The problem about keris discussions is that there are no real experts who know everything there is to know, and also, when there are very knowledgable people often they disagree with eachother on many things.
Most researchers agree that keris reached its peak in Majapahit and spread out from there. By the Majapahit time Jawa keris had evolved to include most current dhapurs (profiles) and ricikans (features). Many features do not have a form that follows a physical function, as by Majapahit times the keris was no more ONLY a physical weapon. In fact, because a keris is made by uniting a ganja and a wilah, from the beginning it is a symbol and not only a knife.
In literature describing Majapahit wars you have keris fights. In Bali's puputan in 1908 (?) you have jurnalists reporting the employment of keris. In early Islamic Mataram and Kartasura literature you have keris used in fighting, and in Sultan Agung's reign, all his officers' kerises were decorated with 'kinatah' in the form of an elephant and a lion (kinatah gajah-singo) to celebrate his sacking of the petty king of Pati. After that Sultan Agung failed twice to kick the Dutch out of Batavia, and it is said that later he created the wayang character 'buta cakil'. Buta Cakil is has a keris and sometimes two but always gets killed by his own blade...
I have a feeling that this complete defeat in Batavia and the Cakil character had an impact on the status of keris in Jawa. On top of that, add the superstitious Dutch that were here at the time, all serve to make the keris ever more mystical. Saying that, keris Jawa, keris Bali, keris Lombok, keris Bugis, keris Sumatra, and keris Melayu, all have different ways of handling - beda cara mainnya. A keris Jawa is used not only for stabing but also for -ngiris - slicing. It is held in a unique grip that you are taught in classical dance. Other regions kerises are shaped different to the keris Jawa, and are employed differently too.
Please, more knowledgable sahabat, illustrate more about keris in silat.
Salam hangat,
Bram.
Michael Lee:
Hello Bram and Martin!
In my research for the upcoming post I will be making about the Keris, I was directed to this website and thought you'd be interested.
http://www.nikhef.nl/~tonvr/keris/keris2/keris01.html
Any feedback would be appreciated!
Michael
Ranggalana:
--- Quote from: Cimande Fan on 21/11/2007 04:29 ---Hello Bram and Martin!
.....
http://www.nikhef.nl/~tonvr/keris/keris2/keris01.html
Any feedback would be appreciated!
Michael
--- End quote ---
Michael,
That site is a good place to begin your quest of keris...
An other site http://www.cimande.com/writings/keris/article.htm will lead you to believe that the writer knows about keris....
FLAMING TEXT REMOVED BY MODERATOR !!
Come one, you must be joking, no?
Salam hangat,
Bram
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