Imagine that you were challenged by a mysterious martial artist to a battle to the death. You have three months to train before the bout. You are allowed to choose three Silat weapons of your choice. The battle will take place in the middle of a forest, with surrounding natural elements (trees, rocks, plants, logs, etc). Assuming you are crazy enough to accept the challenge, what weapons would you choose? Pencak Silat has a vast array of weapons taught by various schools. Let’s review the top 10 weapons of choice for Silat practitioners (ordered lowest to highest):
#10 – Kipas
The kipas is a fan-like weapon used in many styles of Silat, often displayed in performances and demonstrations. It is a very inconspicuous weapon that would be allowed to pass through security checks. Kipas experts use the butt of the fan in closed position in order to strike sensitive targets. A closed fan can also be used as a small stick that can inflict significant damage if used wisely. When opened, the kipas can make a loud noise, distracting the opponent and hiding incoming strikes. Many Pencak Silat styles have forms (jurus) that include the kipas. However, although this weapon would be useful when no other weapons are allowed, its not really a good choice for your upcoming battle, since the assumption is that your opponent also has 3 weapons of his choice.
#9 – Sarong
The sarong is a flexible weapon used many Silat styles. Traditionally it is worn by people from the Malay peninsula (Nusantara) as modest clothing appropriate for prayer. A Silat expert can use the sarong to choke, trap and entangle opponents. Like the kipas, it is another inconspicuous weapon that can enter places where other weapons are not allowed. With practice, one can use the sarong to a devastating effect or to block and subdue the opponent. When the situation becomes more serious, one can add rocks or other weighted items such as car keys to make it an effective projectile weapon. Some people have even been known to add small knives or fish hooks to inflict maximum damage. But, I would probably advise against this as your top 3 weapons. The sarong is not easy to master, and it can be easily cut up by a good swordsman. Plus, you can just wear it, and no one will realize it is a weapon until it’s too late.
#8 – Kujang
The kujang is a bladed weapon native to the Sundanese people of West Java, Indonesia. The kujang is a blade that has cultural and spiritual significance and there are many superstitions that surround the blade. Thus, many of the kujang blades are made for ornamental purposes rather than for combat. Kujangs usually have an inward curve at the belly of the blade, which can possibly be used to trap an opponents weapon. The hooked shape can be used to stab as well as to slice. This weapon is lower on the list because it would be difficult to master in three months and might be a bit awkward to carry depending on the size. Plus, you might spend your entire 3 months just trying to find someone who can teach you how to use it.
#7 – Keris / Kris
The kris is a traditional weapon from the Malay peninsula that also has considerable cultural significance. It is often has a wavy blade (not all), a handle that is usually made of wood and a curved, pistol grip. It is primarily used as a stabbing weapon with a wavy blade that causes more damage to the victim’s body, as serrated edges will work better than the plain edge for slicing cuts, especially through hard or tough surfaces – the serrations tend to grab and cut the surface easily. In former times, kris blades were said to be infused with poison, ensuring that any injury was fatal. The kris is a fascinating weapon, but it lands lower in the list because it is not as versatile as other weapons on this list, as it is mainly a thrusting weapon. Also, if you have access to deadly poison, why not put it on other blades on the list.
#6 Tepki / Trisula
The trisula or tepki is a Silat weapon similar to Okinawan sai (made popular by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). Many Silat organizations, including IPSI (Indonesian Pencak Silat Federation) have this weapon on their emblem. The basic form of the weapon is that of a pointed, prong shaped metal baton, with two curved prongs projecting from the handle. In addition to a striking weapon, it is effective in blocking and trapping other weapons. It is also an impact weapon used to break incoming weapon attacks or even limbs. The traditional tepki is made of metal, and senior practitioners are known to practice with heavy tepki weighing 3 pounds. The weapon can be easily flipped and the butt of the weapon also used for effective striking. This weapon is tricky to master, but is quite effective against swords and other longer range weapons.
#5 Pisau
Pisau translates to knife in Indonesian language. It pretty much can be any short straight bladed weapon. The pisau belati is a variation but any small bladed weapon could be considered a pisau. Although this weapon is not really unique to silat, its application and techniques can be. They are probably the most common weapon on this list, as you can consider even your standard tactical knife a pisau. Many Silat styles have pisau attacking and defense techniques in their core curriculum. The ease of use and availability puts it high on the list of weapons. But the likelihood that your opponent will also have one is high, which doesn’t really give you any tactical advantage, except if you know how to use it better than he/she does.
#4 Toya / Tongkat
The toya or tongkat is a staff made of rattan. As opposed to the Japanese Bo that are commonly made from wood, the toya is rigid but also has some flexibility to it. Toya techniques involve slashing, swinging, and stabbing. Toyas make an ideal long range weapon that can also be used to block attacks from longer range weapons like swords or spears. You can also whirl it around so to keep your opponent from advancing. The toya is not super easy to master, and if you are not an expert it can be a bit cumbersome. But, it is the longest weapon on the list, so it might be quite useful if your adversary shows up with a sword or some kind of spear.
#3 Celurit / Sabit
Pronounced chi-lur-ret, the celurit is curved weapon that looks similar to a sickle. Widely used for agricultural purposes, it has become popular as a Pencak Silat weapon. The question-mark shape of the celurit makes it difficult to evade and disarm. If it is sharp enough, it can split open skull or chop off a head. Curved blades are generally better at cutting than their straight counterparts. This is because they have a longer surface area of blade that generally follows the motion of your cut and is therefore in contact with your target longer – you slide the entire length of the blade against the target. By doing so, you can slice much deeper than just by hacking. The disadvantage to the celurit is that stabbing and thrusting motions are a bit more difficult (its easier to block a slash than a stab). But, overall the celurit is a good choice weapon.
#2 Kerambit
The kerambit is a small curved knife resembling a claw with a finger ring at the end. Although also used as a farming tool/utility knife, the kerambit makes an amazing weapon due to its small size and curved blade. According to Indonesian legend and tradition, the karambit’s design is based on a tiger’s claw. As mentioned before, curve blades offer superior cutting abilities than do straight blades and readily lends itself to hooking, ripping, tearing and slicing. Today it is one of the main weapons of silat and also commonly used in Filipino martial arts. The karambit’s safety ring offers its owner a secure grip and unparalleled weapon retention. Most importantly, the safety ring prevents the knife from sliding back through the user’s hand when in use. It also facilitates quick draws and deployments while ensuring the knife is optimally positioned for use without ever requiring the user to take their eyes off the job at hand. The safety ring keeps the karambit in the user’s hand while in motion, in slippery situations, or while in weird positions (source). If your hand opens in the middle of the fight, the weapon will still remand in your hand due to the finger ring. The ring also allows you to extend the range of the weapon by flipping it outwards, almost doubling the reach of the blade. Definitely a good choice.
#1 Golok
A golok is a cutting tool, similar to a machete, that comes in many variations and is found throughout the Indonesian archipelago. It is used as an agricultural tool as well as a weapon. Sizes and weights vary, as does blade shape, but the typical length is 25 to 50 centimeters or 1.5 feet (source). The golok was originally a domestic tool used in the kitchen or field for agricultural purposes. However, it is very popular in many Silat schools. Some goloks have a hooked handle, which allows the golok to to be spun around. The golok is an ideal weapon due to its size and weight that complement the natural movements of a Silat practitioner. Goloks are often incredibly sharp and able to inflict serious damage to the opponent. This weapon is so popular that the International Pencak Silat Federation chose the golok to be one of the required weapons in both tunggal and ganda categories. There are plenty of golok masters particularly from the West Javanese (Betawi) styles that it would be easy to learn and master.
So after training intensely for three months, you meet your opponent in the middle of a forest. You see that your opponent is a Karate master who came with a samurai sword, nunchucks and medium-sized knife. How do you feel about these top 3 choices now? I think the celurit could do well against the nunchucks, the curve shape of the celurit used to entangle the chains of the nunchucks – but you would have to be very careful with the whiplash. The golok is no match for a samurai sword, however, and if I had chosen a toya could keep the sword at bay. The kerambit, depending upon how proficient I was with it could probably win over the regular knife.
So all this to say, don’t accept death challenges from mysterious martial arts masters.
