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Malay Culture

Silat Kumango (West Sumatra)

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1. Background

West Sumatra is one of the provinces in Indonesia in which people of “Minangkabau” tribe live. This tribe is famous for their matriarchy system (a society in which women hold all power). People of Minangkabau love arts, including martial art that they call pencak silat. According to Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (Big Dictionary of Indonesian) quoted by Maryono (2000:5), silat is a skill of self-defence with the ability to resist, attack, and defend with or without weapon. More specific, silat is “a game based on the ability/agility to attack and defend, with or without weapon”, while doing silat (bersilat) is “play a game of agility in attacking and self-defending” (Kompas, 1996: 18). There are many groups of pencak silat in Minangkabau, such as: Silat Starlak, Silat Bayang Buayo Lalok, Silat Harimau, and Silat Kumango. This article only discusses Silat Kumango.

The silat group, Kumango, was named after a village (located in Tanah Datar regency) in which the silat was born and grew.

The creator of the silat was Syekh Abdul Rahman Al Khalidi whose nickname was Alam Basifat. He was an ulama (religion (Islam) leader) who spread Samaniyyah and Naksyabandiyah path in Minang. Before becoming an ulama, he was a pawera (hoodlum) for 15 years. He met Syekh Abdurrahman and studied Islam, and then became an ulama.

From his experience being a hoodlum who often fought, he mastered martial art, which he combined with Islam teachings. The combination resulted a martial art called Silat Kumango, which made people call him “Syekh Kumango”. As the path that Syekh spread –about love and the generosity of Allah that prophet Muhammad taught-, the movements of this silat are closed to the teachings. The silat is not for hurting/attacking the opponent, but for self-defending. And it is only when there is no other choice.

The steps of the movements form Alif-Lam, Lam-Ha, Mim-Ha, and Mim-Dal. These movements make the silat kumango different from other silat groups whose movements resemble animal movements, such as Silat Bayang Buayo (crocodile), Silat Harimau (tiger).

2. The Development of Silat Kumango

Ibrahim Paduko Sultan and Syamsarif Malin Marajo were two heirs of Silat Kumango that people of Minang respected. They were the direct descendents of Syekh Abdul Rahman Al Khalidi. Because of their hardwork, Silat Kumango was spread all over West Sumatra, even all over Indonesia. In 1952, Syamsarif Malin Marajo became the pencak silat champion in PON (Indonesia`s national sports event) 11 in Jakarta.

Silat Kamango became one of the factors that determined social status. People who mastered the silat would be respected and had a high social level in the society. Many parents urged their 5-10 years old sons to learn and master the silat so that they would be respected in their society.

The development of this silat group was stopped when Syamsyarif Malin Marojo was kidnapped by Partai Komunis Indonesia (Indonesia Communist Party) and believed finally killed because he was considered dangerous and had a big influence to the society. Nevertheless, his students kept developing the silat, so that it still exists until now.

The name of the silat group is already famous in silat world in Indonesia because many big silat groups such as Beringin Sakti and Satria Muda Indonesia (SMI) that use and develop silat kumango movements.

3. Special Movements of Silat Kumango Martial Art

There are 11 basic movements in Silat Kumango, they are: (1) dodge (left inside and outside), (2) dodge (right outside and inside), (3) sambuik pisau movement, (4) rambah movement, (5) cancang movement, (6) ampang movement, (7) lantak siku movement, (8) patah tabu movement, (9) sandang movement, (10) ucak tanggung movement, and (11) ucak lapeh movement. Almost all of the 11 basic movements and their tens of branches movements are to defeat opponents with locking technique.

Before learning the branches movements, one must master the 11 basic movements first. After mastering them all, one will be called guru tuo. Above that level, is guru gadang. Guru gadang is the highest level, and when one is a guru gadang, one must create new movement to be taught to the successor.

All the movements above came from Islam teachings and Minang philosophy: “hiduik nan ka dipakai, mati nan ka tiumpang”. It means: “Whatever one`s behavior and custom are in everyday life, one must do good deeds, because the deeds –good and bad- will be counted in `the after life`.”

In silat kumango teaching, if a someone is attacked by an opponent, the first attack is considered as a mother who is angry/ giving advice to her child, so the child must listen/ understand, not fight. The manifestation of movement for this teaching is a dodge.

If the opponents still attacks, the second attack is considered as a father who is angry/ giving advice to his child, the child cannot fight, so a dodge is still used. The same thing happens for the third and fourth attacks. The attacks are considered as big sister/brother or teacher who is giving advice. For the fifth attack, one must attack with locking technique so the opponent cannot move. The technique must be done fast and hard so that if the opponent has a weapon, without hurting anyone the opponent can be defeated.

The interesting thing from the silat kumango group, especially which is in the Tanah Datar, is the sarong that is wound around their waist. Beside the function to keep a weapon, it also protects stomach from opponent`s weapon. If the sarong is on the shoulder, means the person belongs to the middle class. The sarong on shoulder can also be weapon to lock the opponent`s movement.

To join the group, one must fulfill these criteria:

  1. lado jo garam (chili and salt), meaning the gained knowledge must be hotter than chili and more salty than salt;
  2. a blunt knife, meaning the knowledge/skill must be studied and sharpened over and over until it becomes sharp, and after that it has to be kept and used only when it is needed;
  3. kafan cloth (shroud), as a sign of submission to God;
  4. jarum pajaik jo banang (needle and yarn), meaning that in life we must be thrifty;
  5. bareh sacupak (a bowl of rice), meaning on the first day of training a student must not trouble the teacher;
  6. a hen (alive), meaning nutrition improvement. The teacher will take care of the hen.

4. Cultural Values

There are few values of life that can be taken from silat kumango to apply in everyday life. They are: the values of health, hard work, discipline, confidence, and sportsmanship.

Value of health can be seen from the movements and techniques for training and fighting that are created to strengthen muscles and to smooth the blood circulation. These make body strong and healthy.

Value of hard work is from the efforts to master all movements and techniques perfectly.

Without the discipline to follow rules of the group, it will be difficult for one to master the silat movements perfectly.

Learning silat kumango (and other martial art) means one prepares for any possibilities that can happen. Mastering it makes someone feel confident and not be afraid to defend oneself and other people from any harm.

To practice the students` knowledge and skill, there will be a fighting practice and competition. In fighting practice and competition, sportsmanship in attitude is needed from all of the students and contestants whether they are win or lose. The ones who are loss accept and admit the winners` better skill, and the winners stay humble.

(EV/3/12-07/TM)

Translated from Indonesian version by (DW)

Sources:

  • Maryono, O`ong. 2000.Pencak Silat. Yogyakarta: Galang Press.
  • www.devilbuddy.multiply.com
  • www.opensubcriber.com
  • www.silat.cipsid.org
  • www.silatindonesia.com
  • www.wikimu.com

Kredit foto : www.wikimu.com

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