12 Sikap Pasang (Ready Stances)

Silat is a martial art brimming with thousands of techniques originating from hundreds of different styles. IPSI (Ikatan Pencak Silat Indonesia) and other organizations have worked hard in standardizing techniques in order to further promote the art. One of the basic and albeit unique aspects of Silat is the Sikap Pasang or ready stances. These pre-fighting positions give Pencak Silat its unique style and form. Silat Edutainment created a video that reviews 12 common stances of Silat featuring Deslya Anggraini, who represented Indonesia at the 18th World Pencak Silat Championships in Singapore (2018).

The video emphasizes that Sikap Pasang is the positioning of both the feet and/or the hands and is always accompanied by total alertness and awareness. Tactically speaking, Sikap Pasang are divided into two groups: 1) positions of the hands and arms that do not actually protect the body 2) or positions of the hands and arms that do actually protect the body. As a tactical approach, the purpose of some of these stances are to lure the opponent in, while others are meant to provide protection while insuring maximum striking possibilities.

The 12 Standard Sikap Pasang

1. Sikap Pasang #1 requires you to have a middle stance, but facing sideway. You should be looking forward with the position of the front and back legs in line, keeping the palms open in front of the chest.
2. Sikap Pasang #2 requires you to stand slightly of-line with the position of one palm clenched (closed) near the chest and the other hand open in front of the body.
3. Sikap Pasang #3 requires a side stances, with the right hand straight, the left hand crossed in front of the chest or the other and the position of the two hands open, pointing upwards.
4. Sikap Pasang #4 requires a front stance, with the palm of the front hand clenched (closed) and the other hand open across the chest.
5. Sikap Pasang #5 requires a stance in the middle, with the position of the palm of the fist facing upwards and the palm of the other hand is crossed open in the chest
6. Sikap Pasang #6 requires a middle stance facing forward accompanied by open palms crossed in front of the chest
7. Sikap Pasang #7 requires an open stance where one leg is crossed behind the other and the eyes are in the same direction as the legs are crossed, with the palms open facing upwards
8. Sikap Pasang #8 requires a position where one leg is placed in front of the other, both hands in front of the chest with open palms.
9. Sikap Pasang #9 requires a “back-stance” weight favoring the back leg, and facing forward with open palms open, other palms clenched (closed) in front of chest
10. Sikap Pasang #10: The posture is standing with one leg open with the hand gesture, with the position of one of the palms clenched, the other hand crossed open in front of the chest.
11. Sikap Pasang #11 requires one knee resting on the floor with the other leg bent perpendicular, while the palm is open facing forward while the other palm is facing upwards.
12. Sikap Pasang #12 requires a cross-legged position (sempok) with the palms of the hands extended upwards.