Styles of silat

This is a list of the styles of silat. They can be divided into pencak silat from Indonesia, silat Melayu from the Malay Peninsula, styles from the Philippines and other styles. Because Indonesia was historically made up of separate kingdoms, pencak silat can be further divided into regional categories, notably silek tuo created by the Minangkabau of West Sumatra.Pencak silat
Bakti Negara

One of the most prominent schools in Bali,[1] it emphasises functionality and self-defense over competitive sparring.
Bangau putih

White egret style founded in Bogor in 1952. It is a combination of pencak silat and kuntao. The head organisation, Persatuan Gerak Badan (PGB), has branches in Indonesia, North America, the Middle East and Europe.
Cimande

A West Javanese style founded by Embah Kahir in the 18th century, along with the kera (monkey), pamachan (tiger) and stick-fighting styles. Around 300 variations of cimande exist today, and are practiced primarily in villages along the Cimande River.
Harimurti

A traditional style developed in the palace grounds of Yogyakarta. It was first taught outside the palace by RM Harimurti (Raden Rio Tedjonegoro), and the school was formally organised by his student Suko Winadi.
Inti ombak

Based on old styles from Mataram and Madura, it focuses equally on internal and external training.
Merpati Putih

White dove or white pigeon style, allegedly founded in 1550. Outside Indonesia, branches exist in the USA and the Netherlands.[2][3]
Mutiara Panca Rasa

A modern style founded by Bapak Haji Tengku Fuad Alzakiyat Azhar. It is the national silat of Indonesia.
Paguron Penca Silat Nampon

A defensive style which mixes self-defense with internal training, founded by Nampon in 1932.[4] It consists of ten steps that focus on redirecting the opponent's attack to leave them open to a counter-attack. The movements are combined with bursts or waves of the senses.
Perguruan Pencak Silat Padjadjaran Nasional

A Sundanese style from West Java.
Pencak Silat Pertempuran

A combination of Pencak Silat Pamur and Silat Teralak, with influences from Silat Jati Wisesa and monkey king silat. The name means "combat silat" because of its focus on sparring rather than demonstration.
Perisai Diri

The national silat of Java founded by Pak Dirdjo. Also known as PD, it combines pencak silat with Chinese techniques which Pak Dirdjo learned from Yap Kie San in Parakan.
Pukulan Bongkot

A style based mainly on cimande, Derosemo and Sera silat with some elements of pancha bela.
Pukulan Pencak Silat Serak

Founded by Pak Sera and expanded by Mas Jut. Several regional variations exist.
Silat Bali

The traditional Balinese style, influenced by 15th-century Javanese immigrants.
Silat Wali Songo

A modern style based on traditional techniques centered around the kembangan, similar to the wai khru ram muay. Includes comprehensive groundwork, strikes, grappling and weapons.
Silek harimau

The Minangkabau tiger style. One of the oldest silat systems in the world, it is also called silek kuching or cat silat. It is unique among other tiger-based styles because practitioners fight while crouched down. This tactic is believed to have been developed to avoid falling or stumbling during battle in West Sumatra's wet paddy fields.[5]
TADJIMALELA

A Sundanese style from Bandung, West Java.
Tapak Suci

A modern system based on Muslim philosophy. It combines several West Javanese methods with karate and Chinese martial arts. It is one of the most well-known schools in Indonesia and the Netherlands today.

Silat Melayu
Gayong Sri Rama

A traditional style based on the movements of Seri Rama, the hero of the Ramayana.
Keris lok-9

An old weapon-based style used by Melakan warriors against Portuguese conquistadors. First taught publicly by Azlan Ghanie in 1997, the school focuses on fighting with the kris. Training centres around the learning of forms or lok, of which there are five altogether (the word lok also refers to a curve on the kris' blade). Two years are required to complete the basic syllabus.
Lian padukan

An offensive style combining the Chinese art of lian or buah pukul with silat sunting, silat sendeng and tomoi. Reputed as one of the four biggest silat schools in Malaysia, it is also the most famous variant of buah pukul. Its main technique is a quick series of punches or chops. Weapons include the tekpi, stick and Chinese sword. The entire syllabus can be completed in eight months after 4–6 hours of weekly practice.
Lian Yunan

An old offensive style which some believe was taught by Hang Li Po's bodyguards from Yunnan. It is characterised by rolling punches or chops thrown in rapid succession.
Seni gayong

A modern system based on the older tiger style called sendi harimau which focuses on joint manipulation. The Gayung Malaysia organisation was among the first silat associations registered in Malaysia, and it is today one of the four most popular schools in the country.[6] A derivative of seni gayong is practiced by the Malaysian Armed Forces called combat silat or gayong combat.[7]
Seni Gayung Fatani

Originating in Pattani, Thailand, it focuses mostly on locking techniques.[8]
Silat angin

Founded by Yap Mat in Kedah in 1977, the name means wind silat. It combines the weaponry of seni gayong, the hand strikes of Wing Chun, the energy drills of yiquan and the elbow and knee attacks of tomoi.
Silat Cekak

An aggressive style created in Kedah. Unlike other systems, silat chekak doesn't include evasive side-stepping or dance-like routines and is never performed with musical accompaniment. Instead, it focuses on sparring so students learn to confront hostility directly.[9]
Silat embo

A traditional style from Penang combing silat and tomoi with influences of Burmese bando. It is often mistaken for Muay Thai. Weapons include the chain, knife and tekpi.[10]
Silat Kalimah Panglima Tangkas

A somewhat controversial style purported to have been descended from an older method called Silat Kalimah. This system was supposedly taught exclusively among the Kedah royal family before being opened to the public by the late Pak Yahya Said in 1963.[11] Sceptics who doubt this claim believe that either Pak Yahya Said or his guru founded the style themselves.
Silat kuntao tekpi

A weapon-based style focusing on the tekpi. It was founded by a panglima (governor-general) of Kedah in the early 19th century, whose daughter was known as the serikandi Kedah or heroine of Kedah. The syllabus is divided into five levels. The first two levels teach self-defense, the third and fourth introduce the use of weapons while the final level emphasises spiritual and mental development. When students have completed the syllabus, the graduation ceremony is held at the peak of Gunung Ledang.
Silat Lincah

Originally called silat tarah, the name was changed because it was considered too violent.[12] The word tarah means to sever or cut off while lincah means quick, agile and ever-changing. The grandmaster of the style is Mahaguru Omardin bin Mauju.
Silat Medan

"Battlefield silat", an old weapon-based style said to date back to 14th century Majapahit. Unlike most other systems, it doesn't contain any pre-arranged routines, but relies on sparring with sticks and blunt blades.
Silat Pattani

Also known as silat tua ("old silat"), it was developed by Hindu-Buddhist ascetics and hermits in Pattani, Thailand. Traditionally credited as the earliest system of silat Melayu, its age is evident in several aspects. For example, it does not include any preset forms so students learn techniques mostly through silat pulut and freestyle forms. Unlike later methods, the kris is considered the least lethal of silat Pattani's five primary weapons. The art contains three main Ramayana routines based on Seri Rama, Sita Dewi and Hanuman in addition to the deer, snake, monkey, bird, tiger and naga (dragon) styles.[10]
Silat Telapak Nusantara

Supposedly founded by a Muslim scholar named Tuan Sheikh Ali who helped introduce Islam to his homeland of Sumatra. As he gained more experience, his system went through seven major stages of development. The final development, called silat bongsu, is the core of all the other stages and is thus called the mother style. Because Tuan Sheikh Ali's method requires at least seven years of consecutive daily training to master, each level was taught as a separate style until all were re-merged under a single school in Malaysia.[13]
Silat Teralak Asli

One of the most popular styles in Kelantan. It is said to have been founded in 1865 by Ulud Bagindo Chatib in Kamang, West Sumatra. After spreading to peninsular Malaysia, it was altered by the grandmaster Tuanku Syech Habibullah. Silat teralak is not used in competition but rather for character-building. Thus it is straightforward without aesthetic movements. The footwork uses fast movements designed for self-defense.

Other styles
AMOK!

A system grounded in eskrima, silat and Filipino martial arts. AMOK! was created, refined and developed by Tom Sotis, the head of the International Blade Fighters' Guild.
Bukti Negara

A modified variation of the Sera style, designed by the current lineage holder Paul de Thouars.
Bunga Cantik Pencak Silat

"Beautiful flower silat" created in Sacramento, California. The group performs four annual demonstrations statewide. Bunga Cantik Pencak Silat belongs to the Suwanda Academy, the Association of Pencak Silat America, Liahona Warrior Arts, the Napal Pencak Silat Organization and the Indonesian Pencak Silat Society, located in Bali.
Maphilindo Silat

Founded by the Jeet Kune Do master Dan Inosanto to honour his silat teachers. It is composed of styles from Malaysia (Ma), the Philippines (Phil) and Indonesia (Indo). There are only 18 instructors in the world who are certified in this style.
Silat Sharaf

An extremely aggressive modern style which teaches primarily military applications of the martial arts that are practiced in Muslim communities around the world, synthesised into a slim curriculum.[14] The system includes on empty-handed combat, gunplay, knife fighting, wrestling, and Muslim chivalry called Futawa. There are also body culture development exercises which help develop the correct body mechanics for close-quarter fighting.
Poekoelan tjimindie tulen

A fusion of pencak silat and Chinese martial arts brought to America in 1956 by the Dutch-Eurasion Willy Wetzel as Poekoelan Tjimindie. The current grandmaster is Barbara Niggel who studied with Willy Wetzel from her childhood, and under whose guidance fourteen schools actively teach this art around the world.
Pukulan cimande pusaka

A synthesis of four sources developed by William Sanders. It draws primarily from Poekoelan Tjiminde, Tarik Kolot cimande, combination cimande and an esoteric system of mysticism taught by Untung Surapati. The style is organized around the use of five primary animal techniques - monkey, tiger, snake, crane and dragon. It includes weapons, grappling, fighting while in a grounded position, and fighting multiple opponents. It also incorporates a system of metaphysical development which includes meditations designed to draw the four elements into the body for various combative and spiritual purposes, and the practice of animal spirit possession, in order to aid fighting skill. Mantra and magic circles are used, along with visualization and breathing.

Silat Qutuz

The combat technology of Pencak Silat Qutuz is precise and extremely aggressive. Using battle tested strategies, tactics, and techniques of military application, Pencak Silat Qutuz utilizes the best of the old world fused with the modern science and research of the new one. Pencak Silat Qutuz[15] is made up of 9 core components that enable the student to become proficient in all ranges of combat, in various levels of force, and dealing with armed and unarmed engagements with or without weapons.