Student of the Month : April

Silat Student of the Month for April is Aiveen Ford. Aiveen has been a fantastic student and in the 15 Months in Training she only missed one Thursday class. Always helpful, she now can be seen helping the beginners settle in. Aiveeen always keen to give everything ago and now beginning her next stage of training in the Cimande System.

Aiveen will be a great asset for the future of Silat. Well done Aiveen

The Combat Principles of Silat

There are 11 Combat Principles that make up Silat. No one principle is any more or less important than the others and in order for a system to work, all principles need to be present. Over the next term we will spend time each week focusing on one particular Principle and understanding it better, and how it benefits us in developing the core of the art.

Week Commencing

25th April - Penetration

2nd May - Continuous Flow with Camouflage

9th May - Adhesion

16th May - Bamboo

23rd May- Off Timing

30th May- Compacting

6th June - Thorn

13th June - Decoying

20th June -Trapping

27th June- Destruction

4th July - Body Armour

Each week we will describe the Principle we working on in greater detail, if you like a free copy of this report, than you can receive this two ways either join our mailing list, or join our facebook page. All can be done with a simple click at top of this blog page.

Urban Silat - Combat Kali Clothing

Next week we launch at the camp new Urban silat gear, this is a new black design t shirt with urban combat ape design on front and Indonesian / Malay silat logo on back alongside training bottoms with keris design down side with "Urban Silat Combat Kali" written. This is exclusive new gear and if you like to be first with the new gear let me know. The urban silat t shirts and training bottoms is €45 and if you pre order it, you can have it at the spring camp. Liam

Why Kilrea?

One of the questions I've been asked recently is why did you pick Kilrea for the Spring Camp? Kilrea is a small town up in the far North, situated alongside the River Bann. The answer I give to students is very simply... Kilrea is the birth place for Silat in Ireland !

When I open the first silat club in Ireland, I had just left school, due to a family situation where my father had suffer a heart attack, I took over the family business at 15, and open up the first silat club, when I brought over Guru Jak 17th May 1985 to teach his first seminar. The Silat club in Kilrea was establish and it had around 8 members (two school mates and 6 local lads) and we met every Monday and Thursday in the local School. Guru Jak visit us every 2 to 3 months and to help finance this I along with my sister ran local kiddies discos on a Friday evening and use the money from this to pay for Guru Jak visits to us from UK. I will always be grateful to my family, who always supported me throughout the very difficult stages of helping to introduce Silat to Ireland. My parents hosted Guru Jak in my house, and look after him when I was at work, and he always called them Mum and Dad as he was along way from home and was always look after. My sister throughout the period I live in Kilrea, was always there to help me raise money, or supported me emotionally, and was a rock for me.

People sometimes forget through the 80's and 90's the situation in the North was a extremely trouble times with a civil war basically going on, and all through that time the Kilrea club kept going and was a mixed religion club, which was extremely rare, and never once during its 13 years did ever a cross word or row start in that club. We knew we had something special in silat and from our common goal we kept that spark alive. This spark ended up new clubs in the North and when I move to Dublin I established clubs.

This is why ever two years we honour the birth place of Silat in Ireland, and why I will always be grateful to the support my Late parents and Late sister Sharon give me, my school mates and friends in Kilrea who help me, my long term students in the North who been with me since the beginning and with out these people, there would be probably be no silat in Ireland. I don't mind new students not showing respect to me, for what I did as I given that freely and wanted to, but the sacrifice that others including my family, give so people can now train in Silat should be respected. Some teachers in Ireland like to change history to fit their egos, but fact is fact and without Respect, Tradition and History we do not know our roots and so are like lost boats in the ocean, floating aimlessly.

I wrote this as a mark of respect for my family, if anyone would like more details or like to visit some of the locations where silat took place in Kilrea at the camp or for reference let me know.

Student of the Month

Congratulation to Mathis Hasle who is our Student of the Month for March 2011. Mathis originally from Norway is

one of our top students and will be a great teacher for the future. His attendence in both Cimande Silat and Lameco Eskrima is second to none and he can be often seen in class pushing the art to its limit. Proud to have someone like Mathis in Class and as a student.

Hi Guys
There are a few changes next week in the classes due to St Patrick's Day

Thursday Class Sheldon Park is Cancel 17th March (gym closes at 6pm)
so anyone who normally trains on that Thursday can come along next week either Mon/Wed 7.30pm Firhouse or Tues 8pm Lucan
if you attending please let me know by email or text 087 9956569
Try to make another class if you can.

Sat 19th March Class in Fitness Dock is move to Sheldon Park Leisure club
and there is a time change its 11am - 12.30pm This is due to the studio in Fitness Dock
Been revamp and its close for 5 days. This class is extended, and at the end of the class we will have a "Spartacus" Stick and Shield sparring session, inc special section for complete beginners. The fee for the extended class is €15 but for the Sat Lameco group there is no extra charge. There is only 8 places left so make sure you get your name down.

Classes resume as normal from Mon 21st March

Intro to FMA

Nice clip and Intro to FMA and if this inspires you to learn, than gives us a shout, and let us developed you in the funa nd exciting art.

Website

New Club design website is up and running. Over the next week or two we be updating the finishing touches to this. A big thanks to Guru Dan and Guru Gavin for all their help in setting this up. Well done guys. Have a look at http://www.urbansilat.com/

Spring Camp 2011 Lameco Eskrima : Gayong Harimau: Cimande Silat: Mande Muda Silat

Combat Silat - Kali

National Spring Camp 2011

Sat 9th - Sun 10th April

Kilrea Sports Center, Co. Derry, N.Ireland

Come along and experience the Fighting Arts of South Est Asia from Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia in the unique Intensive Two Day Training Camp. Training will cover Stick and Knife Disarms, High Speed Take downs, Ground Fighting, Empty Hands, Locking, Grappling, Striking, Muscle and Nerve Destruction, Sword Application, Introduction to Mande Muda Silat, Early Morning Indonesian Yoga / Dalam Training.

Training Fee - €95 / £80

2 Days Full Training, inc Early Morning Outdoor Session beside River Forest.

Excellent Accommodation, en suite mod com Rooms and Full Breakfast.

Choice of one Sat Afternoon Activity (Golf/Fishing)

Day Tickets Available (Training Only)

One Day €45 / £35

Both Days €60 / £45

To Book your place contact your Teacher or contact Guru Liam Direct.

email guruliam@hotmail.com

Tel 087 9956569 / 00353879956569 (international)

For more info check out http://www.guruliam.blogspot.com/ / http://www.urbansilat.com/

Accommodation Places Limited Book early to avoid disappointment

Gradings Dates

Next Dublin Student Silat Gradings will take place Sat 14th May 12pm.

Bela Diri 1 - €30
Bela Diri 2 - €30
Monjet Silat - €50

If you're grading please registered by 21st April 2011

Black Belt Gradings and Re - Valuation of all Guru Levels will take place
Sat 19th Nov 2011 Dublin 12pm to 3pm

Re Valuation €65
Grading €100

Fighting for Lives

We have been ask and have agree to put on a Dublin Seminar later in 2011 for a great charity call "Fighting for Lives" which help develop projects for street kids and orphans in Kenya, Sierra Leone, Malaysia and Ghana. This event will be World wide where over 100 Instructors will host seminars on the same day. We will host a Dublin event and more details will follow shortly

Guru Felix Seminar

Guru Felix Valencia will be teaching a two day seminar in Dublin Sat 25th June / Sun 26th June 2011. Level 1 and Level 2 Knife Gradings will take place during the grading. Going to be a great seminar so don't miss out.

UK Training Group

Our second training group in the UK, is now up and running and at Claverham Village hall. Claverham, just outside Bristol and training is on Sundays 9.30am - 11am . Training group leader is Kevin Dorrington, if you like more details email guruliam@hotmail.com All welcome.

Student of the Month Jan 2011

We are please to select Paul Nally as the Student of the Month for Jan 2011. Paul has been a great student and has excellent attendence. Recently Paul has updated his training by taking in a extra class each week when he can, and that has already begin to show his development improving quicker.

Every class Paul attends, he bring with him a open mind and a willingness to get stuck in and have a go. I 'm proud to have students like Paul in the class and look forward to see him developing over the next year.

Well Done!!

Combat Umbrella

A short instructional clip in the use of the Umbrella in place of Eskrima Stick. Shown are two basic Locks and takedowns.
Classes now enrolling for Spring 2011

When faced with violence and words fails, you have 6 options:

Ignore/leave: The vast majority of violent encounters have a lead up time of some kind. It can be by using threatening behaviour, verbal abuse etc. If you sense tension that could develop into violence, a reliably good option is to simply leave. You should only ever deal with aggression physically when it is thrust upon you and you no other practical alternatives.

Comply: If you are faced with a potentially violent situation and for whatever reason you can’t negotiate a non physical solution or you’re unable to leave the scene, then the wisest and most appropriate course of action may in fact be to comply. Do what they want. If there is a reasonable chance that complying will work and you think and feel the cost of non compliance would be too great, then do it. Comply.

Dominate: Another option available to you in a hostile situation is to dominate your opponent by demonstrating that you are not easy prey. Use you LOUD voice, your attitude and your body language to let your attacker know that you are not going to passively cooperate. Predators can read non combative attitude. If you’re not prepared to fight when attacked then that attitude will be reflected in the way you move, the way you stand, look and speak. A predator will read these signs and interpret them as a weakness. To dominate, it’s not always necessary to get physical, but it is necessary to let the attacker know, by whatever means available, that you are not easy prey and if push comes to shove “you will fight”

Stun and Run: If circumstances dictate that you should leave as quickly and decisively as possible, stun and then run! The distraction-the “stun” is vital for success, because you need to cause your attacker to experience a brain blink! You need to do something that has them thinking “what the hell was that” This is the most difficult option as you are required to physically overpower you’re attacker with brute strength/skill. This option should only be used when there is urgent need, if you must pursue this course of action, it is imperative that you precede with a “brain blink” and you should also accept in advance that you are more than likely going to get hurt in the process.

Incapacitate: This is the last of you’re options because it’s the last resort. You have been back into a corner where there is no escape. The cost of complying is too great. And all other options have failed or where not appropriate. If you are face with a situation where the most appropriated option is to incapacitate your attacker, the actual mechanics of what you do will depend on you as an individual. Are you capable of gouging an attacker’s eye out to stop him assaulting you/loved one? Or does the prospect of blinding someone override the welfare of that? The answer is something that only you know and in all probability you wont know for certain until you are unfortunate enough to be in that situation.

Guru Jak

This is the latest photo of Guru Jak Othman. This man is a legend in the silat world and is truly one of my greatest inspirations in why I do silat. When I was just 15 he first stayed with me and my family, sharing his knowledge of silat and friendship. If you ever get the chance to train with him, you should as one moment with him can generate a life time of memories.

New 10th Anniversary Jak Othman Seminar dvd

To mark the 10th Anniversary of Guru Jak Othman Visit to Dublin we are re launching a Special Limited Double Dvd Set with over 2 and half hours of top quality silat footage from the Dublin Malay Silat Seminars. Training covers, Buahs, Grappling, Striking techniques, Locks, Sweeps, Knife and some Keris Application, many of these techniques cannot be found elsewhere. This is a unique opportunity to learn and to see the techniques on dvd format. The Double Dvd set is €30 and includes free postage worldwide.

Also now available is the 2008 Valencia Lameco Eskrima Seminar Dvd. This is the footage from the first Seminar Guru Felix Valencia taught in Ireland. The material covers the fundalmental and core or Valencia Lameco Eskrima in Empty Hands, Knife and Stick. Ideal for anyone wanting to get the core of the Art. Price is €25 and includes free postage world wide.

New Training Group : Bristol UK

We are please to announce we are in the advance stages of setting up a New Combat Cimande Silat Training Group next month in Bristol. The Training group Leader is Kevin Dorrington, and we wish him great success. If you living in the area and like to experience the Art, than email me guruliam@hotmail.com and I will forward your detail.

We look forward to developing the nextwork in the UK in 2011 and look forward to seeing the art grow now in Bristol.

Thurles Co. Tipp. Workshop

Guru Liam will be teaching a second Workshop following last year successful Intro. The workshop will be hosted by Terence Kearney and will be held on Sat 29th Jan 2011 7pm - 10pm.

Workshop will divided into 3 Training and Applications sections

7pm - 8pm Malay and Indonesian Combat Staff

8pm - 9pm Valencia Lameco Eskrima

9pm - 10pm Malay Silat Locking and Groundfighting

To book a place contact Terence 087 2058820 or email guruliam@hotmail.com Cost is €30 and discounts available if you bring a friend or for groups. This is a great opportunity to experience the Combat fighting Arts of South East Asia. Event is open to all.