In his YouTube video titled “I Tried the Most BRUTAL Martial Art”, martial arts instructor, content creator, and YouTube sensation Sensei Seth takes his 400,000+ subscribers on a wild ride into the world of Silat—an ancient and deeply layered Southeast Asian martial art known for its fluid movements, devastating effectiveness, and hidden complexity.
Right from the beginning, viewers are greeted with a yoga-infused warm-up led by instructor Guru Jeremiah Lovejoy, setting the tone for a martial art that’s as much about health and mobility as it is about combat. Skeptical but intrigued, Sensei Seth remarks, “I’ve only had to do yoga before classes that required extreme amounts of flexibility—is this going to be one of those?” Spoiler: Yes, yes it is.
What is Silat?
Before diving too deep into the techniques, Seth asks the critical question: What is Silat? Guru Lovejoy explains that Silat is an umbrella term, not a singular style. It originates from the Malay Archipelago—encompassing modern-day Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and beyond. Over centuries, Silat evolved into numerous regional variants, many of which were influenced by Hindu, Buddhist, Chinese and finally Islamic martial philosophies.
Some styles are named after animals (like the popular Harimau, or tiger style), while others are attributed to specific warriors or families. It is both a fighting art and a cultural tradition—preserved through ritual dances, storytelling, and spiritual practices.
The Movements: A Dance of Destruction
Once warmed up, the lesson quickly dives into movement patterns that are both beautiful and brutal. Seth learns nine variations of kicking and takedown sequences, including spinning sickle kicks, rocking-chair transitions, and movements pulled straight from the S stance—a low, grounded posture that mimics the fluidity of a tiger.
Despite their elegance, these movements are part of a health system and a combative practice, designed to build coordination, mobility, and combat effectiveness. Seth notes, “My spine’s gotta move over… this switching is tricky—that’s hard.”
But Silat doesn’t stop at kicks and stretches.
Enter the Karambit
The real brutality of Silat comes into play when Guru Lovejoy introduces the karambit, a curved blade weapon traditionally used in the region. What starts as gentle, dance-like movements quickly evolve into devastating techniques involving slashes, stabs, joint manipulations, and grappling finishes. Seth describes it with equal parts awe and horror: “Little did I know that it was soon about to be my bits that would be chopped.”
The karambit, with its fluid use and deceptive mechanics, becomes a natural extension of the hand. It turns takedowns into lethal finishes and locks into joint-tearing submissions. “That thing is a tool of pain,” Seth declares, “Not love or joy.”
Ground Game and Cultural Context
What makes Silat especially unique is its grounding—literally. Many of the techniques begin or end on the ground. Seth explores how this makes sense contextually, considering the wet, muddy terrain of Southeast Asia, where fighting while standing could be impractical. Grappling, submissions, and even strikes are adapted to a slippery, grounded environment.
He tries triangle chokes, octopus-like locks, and even a muscle lock that attacks pressure points in strange, unexpected ways. “This looks like advanced Southeast Asian jiu-jitsu,” Seth observes—though with the added twist of groin strikes and weapon use.
The Dances: Preserving History Through Movement
Toward the end, Seth explores performance-based movements derived from actual battlefield experiences. Traditionally performed after battles, these dances retold war stories without words, using movement and rhythm as a living oral tradition.
Seth is challenged to create and perform his own dance based on his training experience—an awkward, hilarious, and touching tribute to a martial art that is equal parts deadly and deeply cultural.
Final Thoughts
Sensei Seth wraps up the video with admiration for the complexity of Silat and gratitude toward Guru Lovejoy. “10 out of 10 teacher. 10 out of 10 experience,” he says. “Some of the craziest joint locks and chokes I’ve ever seen.”
Whether it’s spinning kicks, karambit finishes, sarong-based chokes, or celebratory battle dances, Silat reveals itself to be an art rooted in cultural pride, brutal efficiency, and beautiful chaos.
For viewers interested in uncut versions of sessions like this, Sensei Seth offers them via his Yellow Belt membership—bringing even more raw, educational martial arts content to his ever-growing subscriber base.
Watch the full video here: I Tried the Most BRUTAL Martial Art
