When most people think of turtles and martial arts, the image that springs to mind is often that of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — pizza-loving, sewer-dwelling heroes fighting crime in New York City. But centuries before these fictional reptiles emerged from the sewers, the turtle was already inspiring real warriors across Southeast Asia. In the world of Silat, the traditional martial arts of the Malay Archipelago, the turtle stands as a symbol of patience, resilience, and unshakable defense. This legacy lives on in Silat Kura-Kura — the true art of the turtle — an enduring tradition that continues to teach the power of grounded strength.
Origins and Philosoph
Silat Kura-Kura finds its origins in the 1970s in Hulu Terengganu, Malaysia. According to local oral history, Tok Guru Pak Him, during a seven-day spiritual retreat and meditation in a cave at Hulu Paka, witnessed a fascinating scene: a mother turtle and her offspring engaged in a struggle over wild bananas. Their circling, sand-scraping, and slow, deliberate movements embodied qualities of strategic defense, patience, and protection. This vision inspired Pak Him to craft a martial art reflecting these turtle-like traits.
Returning to Kampung Menerong, Pak Him shared this new Silat style with his disciples: Pak Yunus, Pak Yatim, Pak Seli, and Pak Yahya. Today, the art survives largely through Pak Seli (Mohamed Razali Bin Ismail), who continues to teach it in his community, determined to preserve its legacy.
The core philosophy of Silat Kura-Kura emphasizes:
- Strong, grounded stances: mirroring the turtle’s stable, low posture, making the practitioner hard to dislodge.
- Defensive postures and retraction: shielding vital areas by coiling the body, using forearms, elbows, and knees as a protective “shell.”
- Patience and counter-attacking: waiting for the right moment to respond, absorbing and deflecting attacks before striking decisively.
- Ground work and “shell” defense: leveraging the back as a protective barrier, generating power and applying locks or strikes even from the ground.
The kura-kura (turtle) concept of resilient, compact defense is not unique to Silat; it also appears in other martial arts traditions around the world. For example, in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), practitioners often use a “turtle” position — a low, rounded posture where the limbs are tucked in and the body forms a protective shell. This position helps defend against attacks, control space, and create opportunities to escape or counter. Like in Silat, the turtle position in BJJ emphasizes patience, protection of vital areas, and readiness to exploit an opponent’s mistake. This cross-art similarity underscores how the turtle’s strategy of grounded defense and intelligent resilience resonates universally in martial disciplines focused on survival and control.
In traditional Chinese Kung Fu, the “Turtle” represents a defensive posture and a style focusing on resilience and sudden strikes. It’s not a standalone style like the Tiger or Crane, but rather an element incorporated into various forms, including the Five Animals style. The Turtle style emphasizes a strong, grounded stance and the ability to withstand attacks while waiting for an opportune moment to counter.
Techniques and Training
Silat Kura-Kura from Terengganu demands significant physical and mental discipline. Training includes:
- Core and leg conditioning, to maintain low stances and defensive postures for extended periods.
- Slow, deliberate movements during drills, allowing practitioners to internalize balance, control, and leverage.
- Ground transitions, teaching smooth movement between standing, crouching, and supine positions while maintaining defensive integrity.
- Sensitivity training, helping practitioners read an opponent’s energy and intentions through touch.
Musical accompaniment — especially the haunting melodies of the serunai (Malay oboe) and the beat of the gendang (drum) — is essential in performances, energizing the practitioners and connecting the movements to the soul of the tradition. Without this music, it’s said, the silat lacks its “jejak angin” — its vital spirit.
Kura-Kura in the Broader Silat World
While Silat Kura-Kura as a standalone style is rare, the turtle’s principles are deeply woven into many Silat systems across Southeast Asia. Rather than existing solely as a separate art, kura-kura concepts often appear as:
- Dedicated phases within animal flow systems: In modern Silat schools, the kura-kura phase teaches stability, core strength, and harmonized low movements, complementing other animal-inspired styles.
- Ground-focused styles like Silat Harimau: Particularly in Sumatra, Harimau is known for its low, ground-hugging stances and ability to fight from the ground. Despite Harimau’s aggressive name (“Tiger”), its low-line tactics and grounded resilience align closely with the turtle’s defensive philosophy.
- Defensive and counter-attacking modules in large Pencak Silat schools: Techniques such as sweeps, takedowns, joint locks, and methods for recovering from compromised positions often echo turtle-inspired principles, even if not explicitly named kura-kura.
These concepts center on:
- Rooted, low stances that provide stability and make practitioners hard to topple.
- Protective postures, using limbs as shields while waiting for an opening.
- Ground defense, including defending from a supine or prone position, presenting the back as a protective barrier, and generating power while grounded.
- Patience and precise counter-attacks, seizing opportunities only after controlling the opponent’s balance or structure.
Modern Schools Embracing Kura-Kura Concepts
The resilience of kura-kura principles is clearly evident in many modern Silat systems that bridge tradition with contemporary self-defense. These approaches integrate turtle-inspired ideals such as grounding, protective defense, and fluid transitions between standing and ground positions. They blend traditional Silat concepts with practical strategies suited for urban and modern combat scenarios, making the kura-kura philosophy highly applicable today.
In particular, some systems emphasize circular motion, harmonization, and adaptability, weaving turtle principles into a broader focus on fluidity and strategic patience. These modern interpretations reflect the turtle’s mastery of defense and timing, teaching practitioners to remain grounded, resilient, and prepared to respond effectively when the right opportunity arises.
Cultural Significance and Legacy
Beyond its combat applications, Silat Kura-Kura is a vibrant cultural tradition, often showcased at weddings, royal events, and festivals such as the Hulu Terengganu Development Expo (2018). Young voices like Nur Amira Najwa Sallehuddin, reporting through AWANIJr, have helped document and promote this heritage, ensuring its relevance for future generations.
In a world that often prizes speed and aggression, Silat Kura-Kura stands as a reminder that true strength can lie in patience, resilience, and quiet determination — values that remain timeless both on and off the mat.
✨ So, the next time you think of turtle martial arts, look beyond comic book heroes. Discover Silat Kura-Kura — a living art of defense, strategy, and the enduring power of grounded wisdom.
