Self Defense Moves – What is Tempur Beladiri?

There are many styles of martial arts in this world. They all have their own history, training system and identity. However, what attracts many people to learn martial art is the uniqueness of self defense moves from each other The most significant is whether it is practical and effective when fighting with more than one opponent.

Silat is a martial art that can have both artistic and contact variations. It has its own traditional and improved training system in Malaysia. It is also known with unique movement patterns and self-defense fighting system. It is this unique fighting style that attracts many self defense experts from Europe and America to come to Malaysia to learn silat.

This fighting system is also known as silat combat or Tempur Beladiri. is an application of self defense moves throughout fast-paced combat actions that test silat exponents’ efficiency, agility, skills, comprehension, and ability to master all knowledge in silat. The silat exponent can train tempur beladiri with her partner during the silat training session. The procedures of East silat combat is next;

1. Both silat exponents begin the training with Bunga Silat (the offensive and defensive movements in silat).

2. The distance between both exponents of silat before starting the fight must be three to four meters.

3. Both silat exponents begin the moves with Pecah Langkah (the beginning of silat moves to start the fight, usually derived from bunga silat moves).

4. The pattern of the fight starts from Sikap Pasang (posture based silat position) and ‘Pecah Langkah’ to get closer to each other. When both exponents move away to attack, one of the exponents can initiate the combat with hand or leg blows. Both exponents should then return to the sikap pasang position once separated from each other. They must prepare to counter using the pecah langkah technique for the next few moves.

5. Both silat exponents must stop the fight when one of the exponents signals the Paras signal (stop fight hand symbol) to stop the fight. The beladiri tempur will end with bunga silat.

Each level in the silat training system emphasizes starting the beladiri tempur with simple silat movements. When silat exponents master the tempur beladiri foundation, they can learn to fight using traditional silat weapons such as keris, machete or karambit. The best part is when silat exponents are skilled enough to master all the self defense moves laid out in the silat curriculum; they can fight anyone with or without weapons. They will also learn the fighting secrets on how to fight faster and when to end the fight. At the end of the apprenticeship, silat exponents will feel that all the hard work and hours of practice are worth it with all the experience gained in the process to become a silat expert.