Vara Jambak

Silek is the name of Minangkabau martial arts. It is popularly known in Indonesia and the Malay World as Silat. Even though it is wrongly considered as sports, it is to the Minangs much more than just mere sports. It is one of the most important aspects of Minangkabau culture and serves as methods for individual self-defence and self-development. Its training serves as an arena for entertainment, “sports” and socializing. It is usually performed at night, since it is quiet and deemed the best time for other activities other than daily work. Minangkabau dances and theatre performance (Mk. randai) are based on and largely incorporate Silek movements.

Many famous Minangkabau personalities like Tan Malaka, Gusmiati Suid and Inyiak Upiak Palatiang were trained in Silek during their childhood as part of their education. Many Minangs teach Silek in many regions in the Malay world and Europe. Many Silek students founded their own Silek schools and styles and spread the teachings to other parts of the world like United States and Africa. Gusmiati Suid, an important figure in Indonesian contemporary dance and the founder of the Gumarang Sakti dance company, used Silek movements as the basis for her choreography. Inyiak Upiak Palatiang, aged 105, is a Minang Silek mistress who is famous in the Silat world for being the world’s oldest pandeka (Silek or Silat master) and the defender of the Minangkabau tradition. And yet she still carries out her daily activities ranging from being a farmer, a midwife, a singer of Minangkabau folk songs and a saluang player (Minangkabau traditional flutes) regularly.

The first video from youtube below shows a Minangkabau Silek pandeka and teacher at the Silek school known as Silek Sentak which he founded and leads in Vienna, Austria. His partner in this performance is his daughter who is also a Silek pandeka and teacher. The second video shows Sofyan Nadar, another Minangkabau Silek pandeka of the styles known as Silek Bayang and Silek Sunua, presenting some Silek movements to some Silat students in France.