Ancient martial arts seeks global spotlight
SOME fight with machetes that are three-feet long, others are armed with daggers curved like the claws of big cats, while other combatants rely only on their minds.
This is the world of pencak silat, or Indonesia’s martial arts, which are now battling for greater global recognition – having secured a place in the Asian Games, the government is now hoping for Olympic glory.
They are held dear by many Indonesians because of historical links with the country’s struggle for independence when anti-colonial groups used the martial arts to take on the archipelago’s then Dutch rulers in the 20th century.
But despite being practised for centuries across Southeast Asia, pencak silat has struggled to receive the same international recognition as other Asian martial arts, such as karate and taekwondo. The Indonesian government is seeking to change that.
Pencak silat will feature for the first time in the Asian Games in Indonesia in 2018. Officials then want to take it to the Olympics, and hope it could one day be recognised by UNESCO.
“Pencak silat has it all – the sport, the art, the spiritual side,” said Erizal Chaniago, secretary-general of the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association.
“That is what makes it unique and special when compared to martial arts from other countries.”
Pencak silat is an umbrella term for a family of about 800 related Indonesian martial art forms. They are linked by their emphasis on defence rather than attack, and are characterised by fluid, dance-like movements.
Some styles use full-bodyody combat involving strikes and grappling,pling, others focus on fighting with weapons,eapons, while some involve performrming moves as a kind of dancee show with no contact.
One of the best known iss the “tiger-claw” style pracctised on western Sumatra tra island, where practitionerss stay crouched down low to the ground as they take on their heir opponents.
Java island’s Kanuragann is linked to local mystic beliefs, eliefs, and supposedly gives its practi- racti- tioners supernatural powers including protection from attacks by weapons.
Some Kanuragan experts are said to have proven their mastery of the style by stabbing and cutting themselves without sustaining any injuries.
‘Cultural diplomacy’
Recently at a gym in the capital Jakarta, a 12-year-old boy stood stock still as a coach smashed bricks over his head and stomach (pictured, AFP) during a training g session in a form of the martial art called “Pencak Silat B a s i c Energy”. The style m i x e s tradit i o n a l moves with specialised breathing techniques and is meant to help the body withstand strong blows. The version that will feature in the Asian Games is likely to be one of the traditional fighting styles. “It will pave the way for us to reach our two main goals – competing in the Olympics and for pencak silat to be recognised as part of Indonesia’s national heritage by UNESCO,” said sports ministry spokesman Gatot Dewa Broto. UNESCO draws up a list of “Intangible Cultura Cultural Heritage” around the world that i is in need of protection. Gaining e entry into the Asian Games, which is the biggest multi-sport event in the worldworl after the Olympics, was easy becaus because Indonesia, as the hosts, could nomin nominate the sport for inclusion themselves themselves. Officials concede getting pencak silat into the Olympics will be far tougher tougher. To become an Olympic event, a sport must first be recognised b by the International Olympic CommitteeCo and then a long, costly campaigncam is necessary before a final de decision is taken.