Training Tip 4 - Understanding the Animals Mannerisms

"What is the purpose of the animal mannerism systems?" Is a question that is ask by a lot by beginners. In Pukulan Cimande Silat there is 4 main systems, Monjet, Ular, Blekok and Harimau now thou each of these systems is a animal name, for the moment I want you to look at it from a different viewpoint!

Each of these animal represents a range of combat for e.g. Harimau is the groundfighting range, which in this area students would learn how to fight and defend on the ground, they would learn how to lock, counter, wrestle etc.. either against an opponent who on the ground, or against a attacker who still standing. If you go to Blakok the complete opposite to Harimau, than you working in the Kicking range or the longest distance range of combat. Here footwork and striking that involves a lot of kicking and punching, which is design to either to keep the attacker at bay, or allowing you to crash into an attacker by closing the distance. It's important when closing the distance we move into Monjet (trapping range) which is Elbow and Knee range then to Ular which is very close range where you learn how to use your body to develop maximum striking power with extremely little distance (another training tip).

Each animal system is therefore name after a range of combat! But we need to aware as in Combat very few fights stay in one range, therefore for students to be successful he/she needs to learn to master how to fight in all ranges and to be able to blend all ranges together when needed. Pukulan Cimande is not when completed 4 different systems or ranges, its is one unlimited complete combat system! This system even has its own name "Raja Naga" A system which is completely your own personal system which uses your natural talents and abilities to the maximum and strengthens your weakness. This type of learning how to fight has been brought to forefront first with JKD, than Cross training and now with the rise of MMA who have been credit with given birth to this line of thought in Martial Arts, even though its been a silat concept for centuries ! Kinda like reinventing the wheel.

So next time your teacher mention a animal name, link that to the range of combat, and work on the techniques you can use in that range of combat and what you can do to make you a more complete fighter.