Indo-Malay Martial Traditions by Kirstin Pauka
Many Indo-Malay martial arts are kept private, taught in secluded areas away from the public. These are arts of the older tradition, developed when combative knowledge was valued for its use in protecting the sanctity of life. This two-volume anthology brings together a great collection of writings by authors who dive into the deepest realms of Indo-Malay combatives. They offer readers a rare viewing of martial traditions that is usually hidden behind social shrouds of secrecy and a clannish quest to preserve individual tradition. A special presentation in this second volume are the writings of Dr. Kirstin Pauka forming three chapters on silat (silk) of West Sumatra. The lead chapter discusses silk history, styles, training methods, and its use in dance. In chapter 2, Dr. Pauka shows that the martial arts constitute the core of the movement repertoire of the Randai folk theatre. Her third piece reports on an extended silk artist-in-residence program in the Asian Theatre program at the University of Hawai'i. The next three chapters contains some academic coverage of kuntao-silat in the Indo-Malay traditions, garnished with technical sections illustrating the martial aspects of the arts. Mark Wiley details Silat Seni Gayong's ethical foundation for self-defense and nine techniqes illustrating the art with the help of Master Shiekh Shamsuddin. My own chapter offers a glimpse of how cultural streams from India and China contributed over centuries to native Indonesian fighting arts to form hybrid systems. Examples were derived from personal observations of practitioners in the Willem Reeders lineage. The research shows the original intent and practices of any highly efficient combative art. Chris Parker's insightful chapter discusses applications of specific movements, the rhythm that can be achieved when employing them, and the space they fill as being of crucial importance for defense. Pencak silat postures form the focus of this study. All who are serious about the history and practice of Indo-Malay fighting arts will enjoy this special anthology, volumes one and two. We are very fortunate to assemble the works of these highly qualified authors. We hope reading will provide information you seek. Although the availability of studying under a true silat mater is nearly impossible, the chapters here will certainly add direction and inspiration for practitioners.
Philip H. J. Davies, Ph.D., received his degree in sociology from the University of Reading in England, and a postgraduate certificate from Brunel University in London. He is the cofounder and director of the Brunel Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies at Brunel University. Dr. Davies began studying Kuntao Matjan under Richard Kudding in 1981 and continues to train. Kuntao Matjan, from Central Java, combines Indonesian pencak silat with a form of Southern Chinese tiger-style gongfu. It was brought to the West by the late Dutch Indonesian master Carel Faulhaber and is currently headed by his closest student, Richard Kudding. The UK representative is Dr. Davies. The art is recognized with the International Pencak Silat Federation in Jakarta. Kirstin Pauka, Ph.D., received her degree from Justus Liebig Universitat in Germany and is now a professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. She has served as an associate editor for the Journal of Asian Martial Arts, and authored four articles dealing with Indonesian martial arts. Other works include Theater and Martial Arts in West Sumatra: Randai and Silek of the Minangkabau (Ohio University Press, 1999) and on CD-ROM, Randai: Fold Theater, Dance, and Martial Arts of West Sumatra (University of Michigan Press, 2002). Dr. Pauka practices Japanese taiko drumming and trains in aikido, taekwondo, and silek. Mark V. Wiley, B.a. received his bachelor of arts degree in sociology from Drexel University. He began martial arts training in 1979 and has focused on Cabales Serrada Escrima under Grandmaster Angel Cabales. As an author, Wiley's works include Filipino Martial Arts: Cabales Serrada Escrima (Tuttle 1994) and Filipino Fighting Arts: Theory and Practice (Unique 2000). He has worked in the publishing field, including Tuttle Publishing and CFW Enterprises, and now is self-employed with Tambuli Media. James Wilson, J.D., Dip. Ac./Lic. Ac., has a dual juris doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center (juris doctor and master of science in foreign service) and is a licensed graduate of the New England School of Acupuncture. Fluent in Bahasa Indonesia, he went to Indonesia to study a pencak silat style called Bima Sakti under Guru Besar Pak F. L. Siswanto in Central Java.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781893765221 |
| ISBN 10 | 1893765229 |
| Title | Indo-Malay Martial Traditions |
| Author | Kirstin Pauka |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Via Media Publishing Company |
| Year published | 2015-11-16 |
| Number of pages | 114 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |