Malaysian Martial ArtsWhat are specific Malaysian martial arts? There are so many different types of martial or warrior arts that people often forget that nearly every culture and country around the world has their own form. Malaysian martial arts are used in countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines and Indonesia. However, their popularity has spread to other continents, including in Europe and the Americas. Another name for Malaysian warrior arts is a more common word known as Silat. It is also known by many other names, but for the purpose of this article, we'll stick to that one. Silat, were the main form of defense training throughout southern Asian and Indonesian countries. The King's troops, as well as the princes and children of dignitaries from Malaysia and neighboring countries learned it. The main purpose of Silat is to learn how to defend oneself. Students are generally taught step-by-step movements in various techniques that proved the foundation of many of the forms of both attack and self-defense moves. Many styles of Silat include a spiritual aspect in the search for an enlightenment and harmony. Today, such warrior techniques continue to involve the values and cultural aspects of the form accumulated throughout history, including the use of clothing and music. This type of warrior techniques requires physical and mental skill as well as agility. Size has nothing to do with the effectiveness or power of any warrior art form, and such holds true for Silat as well. This form of warrior art combines a variety of moves, including blocks, strikes and maneuvers that teach students how to combine fluid forms of movement in both striking, and self-defense stances. Self-defense continues to be the main reason for learning this type of martial art in Malaysia. Various weapons are also employed in this ancient warrior art form, including daggers, swords, machetes, spears, as well as sticks and staffs made of wood, bamboo, or steel. Special formed claws and trident knives are common, as are sickles and walking sticks. Silat is learned around the world today and has grown quite popular in European countries. While Malaysian martial arts may not be the most common type of warrior art that is engaged in and taught around the world, it is a part of ancient history that is still practiced by a majority of its inhabitants to this day.
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