Cikgu Zahlan Man was a well-known master of Silat Kalam Utama a Malaysian style of Silat based in based in Selangor, state on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Cikgu Zahlan was born on January 14, 1947 in Arau, Perlis, Malaysia. Cikgu Zahlan became the first Malaysian Silat master to be inducted into the World Hall of Fame by World Head of Family Sokeship Council (WHFSC) from the United States. He was 40th generation grandmaster that has over 40,000 students world wide.
In July 2018, 12 Americans to travel to Malaysia and participate in the first Malaysian Silat Summer Camp. They were honored to meet and train with Cikgu Zahlan and learn from some his martial art philosophy. The recorded some of his words on video.
Cikgu Zahlan’s words of wisdom in this video are as follows:
We have three types of thinking. We don’t think one, but we think three. [The first] one is clever. You think clever. When you think you become clever. If you never think you never become clever. You teach how to do a good things to become successful, you will be clever. Number two is to think smart. Be smart at thinking. The third is wise. It is very simple to be a wise man. Think wise, think smart, think good, don’t think bad. You think bad things, it becomes bad and goes to your body.
This [next] philosophy goes to defend ourself. Pakai tap taki. (If your opponent uses it, don’t use it!) Tap pakai, pakai. (If your opponent doesn’t use it, use it!) Makka selagi pakai, itula tap pakai. (If your opponent keeps using, don’t use it)
Nobody is going to give to you what you yourself [can] achieve. This is what my teacher taught me, so at the age of 72, I thank God that I can still come here to meet you all.
Although these words were technically not his very last words, it would be one of the last recordings of him before his death in 2019. As a martial artist, one can gain much wisdom from these words.
In the first statement Cikgu Zahlan focused on being a tactical, “clever” person. In many instances, a fighter relies on brute force or adrenaline in a match, rather than being more tactical. In a recent MMA match between Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns, Burns admitted that he made a mistake of getting too excited in the match. “I made the same mistake when I fought Dan Hooker, and I got over excited”, Burns commented in a post-fight press conference. Cikgu Zahlan’s advice is to be clever and wise, not only in the match but also in everyday life.
The second wisdom Cikgu Zahlan presented in the video focused on understanding the advantages and disadvantages of your opponent. Many martial artist are focused on their own particular set of techniques that they have acquired over time and don’t understand the proper timing and usage of the techniques. A good example would be if a Silat practitioner was to fight a boxer. Usually boxers are good with their hands, so don’t try to beat them at their own game. Use other techniques that the opponent does not use (kicks, sweeps, throws, etc).
These wisdoms can now live on through his students and all viewers of this article and video.
