Pagar Nusa (or more formally Lembaga Pencak Silat Nahdatul Ulama Pagar Nusa) is the only acknowledged Pencak Silat under Nahdatul Ulama, abbreviated as NU. NU is one of the largest Muslim organizations in Indonesia with membership estimates ranging from 40-90 million. According to the NU Encyclopedia, Pagar Nusa Fence is tasked with exploring, developing and preserving Indonesian martial arts. The name Pagar Nusa means “fence of NU”, pagar meaning fence and Nusa being an abbreviation of Nahdlatul Ulama dan bangSA, translated as Pencak Silat Insitution Nadhlatul Ulama for Safety of the Nation.
History
Pagar Nusa was formed on January 3, 1986 in Lirboyo Islamic Boarding School, Kediri, East Java. NU endorsed its establishment and management through a decree dated July 16th 1986. The birth of Pagar Nusa began with the concern of the NU about the decline of Pencak Silat in the pesantren (Islamic boarding school). One of the main founders was the late K. H. Maksum Jauhari. He created the foundation from the philosophical thought of the Wali Songo, the nine Muslim representatives and spiritual leaders who spread Islam on Java. The kiai or the cleric in the pesantren was always an expert in martial arts, especially the aspects of inner power or wisdom combined with martial arts.
Other Pencak Silat schools began to develop with different belief systems that were different from the NU. These schools were sometimes exclusive and claimed to be better. The Silat masters of NU felt uncomfortable with this development.
KH Suharbillah, a Silat master from Surabaya, told the problem to other members of NU. They then met KH Agus Maksum Jauhari (Lirboyo) or Gus Maksum, who was also known as a martial arts figure. On September 27, 1985 they gathered at the Tebuireng Islamic Boarding School, Jombang. The aim is to form a forum under the auspices of NU which specifically develops Pencak Silat martial art.
The name “Pagar Nusa” comes from KH Mujib Ridlwan from Surabaya, son of KH Ridlwan Abdullah, creator of the NU symbol. KH Suharbillah proposed the symbol for Pagar Nusa, which is a pentagon with a green base and a globe in it. In front there is a ribbon that reads Laa ghaliba illa billah which means “no one wins unless he gets help from God”.
Techniques of Pagar Nusa
The standardized Pencak Silat curriculum of Pagar Nusa is composed by a team of experts, consisting of members of the board of elders and other sources from the different authentic Pencak Silat styles of aliran. These are styles of tendencies from the Malay Archipelago that are considered the styles and heritage of the Wali Sanga such as the following”
- Betwaen
- Cikalong
- Cikampek
- Cikaret
- Cimande
- Minang
- Mandar
- Mataram
The Jurus of forms of Pagar Nusa took several years to compile and are still studied and revised till today in order to create good physical and non-physical Jurus.
Standard physical training curriculum include:
- Gerak Desar, basic movements
- Paket Kanak-kanak – children’s program (elementary school level)
- Paket I A&B, primary school level
- Paket II A&B, secondary school level
- Paket III A&B, high school level
- Paket Beladiri, college/university level
Weapons training include Keris, Celurit and Pendang. To qualify to advance in Paga Nusa, you must study seni or art, beladiri or self-defense, olahraga or sport and health massage, breathing exercises and herbal healing.
Information for this article was obtained from page 198 from the book Pencak Silat – Self-Defense Arts of Indonesia by De Groot, George F, and Notosoejitno, published by Warisan Budaya Indonesia Foundation
