The Tekpi - 'Raja Senjata'




04 January 2008






For the past several months, my constant companions have been two battle-ready Malaysian Tekpis - expertly forged by the hand of guru Jamaludin Shahadan - president of Pertubuhan Seni Silat Sendeng Malaysia.


One of the most interesting aspects of this pair is that they are not identical. While one is more or less standard for Malaysian tekpi, the heavier of them could accurately be described as a “Buginese War Tekpi” having a unique belimbing (“Star Fruit”) shape to the blade. More descriptive photos will follow later. Guru Jamal renders it in English as the "Rapier Tekpi".

Following are some questions that Western pesilat ask regarding this weapon. Answers are from Brother Nadzrin:


" Is it used individually or two ? Is it used against specific weapons as a defensive tool ? "


In Silat Melayu, the tekpi has mostly followed the temperament and ideals of the art, so much so that even while the origins of the tekpi is still hotly debated, the technique employed in Silat Melayu is not, since it is accepted as mostly (if not purely) Melayu in thought and action.

The tekpi is used both as a singular and a double weapon. As a singular weapon, it is used paired with another bladed weapon. In Silat Melayu, the tekpi takes the place of the cumbersome shield in other cultures that don't employ it this way. Therefore, the dominant hand would hold a keris or a parang (I've been told) or in the case of Silat Kuntau Sendeng, a Pedang and a tekpi (this I've seen personally).

In cases where the tekpi is used as twin weapons, one tekpi held in the submissive hand, will act as the defensive (shield) while the other held in the dominant hand will act as the offensive.
In Silat terminology, this is termed Jantan (offensive position) and Betina (defensive position).

In these positions, the Betina will be held in the reverse grip, parrying (not blocking) all incoming attacks, while the Jantan will be held in the outstretched grip as a stabbing and pukulan weapon. In some cases, the Betina will be slightly heavier and the Jantan slightly lighter. It's not even a perceptive problem since most of us have 'softer' left hands than our dominant 'hard' right.

The difference in weight is to balance out the abilities of the two hands, strengthen the left. However, this is an exception and very few silat arts employ this concept anymore. Most
arts use the Jantan and Betina positions interchangeably as in the case of Silat Kuntau Tekpi and Silat Kuntau Sendeng. Therefore, when one is defending, the other is attacking.

This quick change is an extension of the hands' ability to slip between offence and defence, unlike the Keris which depends on the different parts of the weapon to facilitate a defensive or offensive mode.

In very Chinese influenced arts such as the Yunnanese-originated Lian Padukan (there's a great site on it at http://lianpadukan.com please do check it out), the tekpi is held in Jantan-Jantan position, rarely if ever receding to the Betina position. The weapons form is similar to the butterfly knife forms I've seen in Wing Chun (because they're both Southern Chinese styles).

The tekpi is flexible enough to defend against any bladed or blunt weapon. However, its speed and versatility depends largely on the user himself.


Is it used offensively ?


Yes, it is used offensively. The main methods used are Tumbuk (punch), Titik (whipstrike), Pukul (strike), Tikam (thrust), Sebat (whip), Tangkap (trap), Kunci (lock), Patah (break), Hentak (slam), Parang (slash) and so on.

According to my Silat Kuntau Sendeng teacher, guru Jamaludin Shahadan, the Bugis people used to modify their tekpi for war, sharpening the tip of the centre prong to a cone-like shape the length of one jengkal, while the rest of the tekpi remained an octagon shape.

In other cases, the last jengkal on the tekpi actually recedes into a proper blade. Both of these variations are used together with a leather armguard worn on the tekpi hand. Although he has never shown me a sample of this, a couple of years back (it's still around, I can probably get a picture of it to you) we discovered an old tekpi that had this conical shape.

It was a small pair (even I could barely use it, couldn't execute a couple of moves), which seemed strange to me because Bugis are huge-built people. This can only mean that this idea wasn't isolated to Bugis warriors, or there actually was a mini-Bugis warrior running around.


" Are the techniques similar to the use of a golok ? "


I wouldn't know if Malaysian golok techniques are similar to Indonesian style golok techniques since as I understand it, only the Jawa use the golok. Malaysian styles generally resemble Sumatran in technique and temperament.

Most Golok techniques in Malaysia conform to Arabic sword techniques. In Malay they're called Rencong Mengkuang (45 degree uppercut slash), Perpang Gantang (45 degree downward slash), Belah Pinang (a downward centre cut) and Baling Lembing (the thrust). I could be mistaken since most silat use this, but there could also be those that I haven't seen.

Additionally, guru Jamaludin also mentioned that the Madura (very hot-tempered Melayu from Madura) have very high skills in the cabang. I read that the late Donn F Draeger once commented on the Indonesian cabang skill (I don't remember which clan he was referring to) surpassed those of Japanese origin. From the way my teacher tells it, I would suspect it surpasses Malaysian skill as well.



Sources : http://silat-melayu.blogspot.com

Pedang Melayu











Credit

puaka1665 (pgx.com.my)

Pls do check out my personal collection.

http://harizant.multiply.com/photos/album/...yai_Megantara#3

my personal collection's of traditional weapon.

http://manantik.blogspot.com

http://manantik.multiply.com

nice collection...........

You know, they say stabbing weapons in general, including the Keris, is a sort of allusion to a man's phallus.

So much so that in ancient Malay culture, a man going around without his Keris does not feel like a "complete" man. That would apply to other cultures too, one would believe, regarding his dagger, sword, spear, lance etc. etc.

The waves of a Keris r a manifestation of the artistic inclinations of the people of that time. You see, guys, especially the warrior types, hv a sort of strong personal bond with their favourite weapon. They take good care of it, hold it n caress it with such love n affection like they would nothing else they own.

It's kind of neurotic, but great warriors of old maybe feel some sort of pride, dignity n pleasure in going into battle dressed in their best n prettiest gear. Sort of like a bantam cockerel going into a fight.

You know, a fight between 2 cockerels is also indirectly a contest for a female harem. Winner takes all. The winning cockerel gets all the choice hens.

So a fight between 2 men is not only a contest of strength, skill, courage n bravery, but also essentially becomes like a contest of beauty between them.

The Spartans of ancient Greece would just be preening themselves in the mirror, combing their hair, strutting their stuff, flexing their muscles, doing callisthenics, isometrics, stretching exercises etc. while waiting for the battle proper to start. It does make the blood of their enemies curdle, seeing their nonchalance n indifference with Death staring them in the face.

The Ottoman Turks would proceed into a military campaign like a veritable palace-on-the-move, their soldiers wearing shining gold-threaded (songket) military dress, carrying shining, polished weapons, playing beautiful music n singing heartily, while striking fear into the hearts of their enemies.

A beautiful weapon like a handsomely, exquisitely crafted Keris just fits in perfectly into that sort of fearless, death-ignoring warrior culture.

You r right. Every weapon needs to hv a deterrent factor. In that regard, it must make its carrier appear even stronger, even more fearless, even more indestructible.

After all, any battle will be to the death. So either side needs every advantage on his side to out-psycho or out-intimidate the other.

You want a "kind" weapon? How about a soft, tiny, furry, rubbery ball that wont bleed even an ant?

Oh, I remember now. I never forget to carry my soft, kind weapon when I hv an appointment with my gf. N she always loves it so much. He he he.

You always hv to end up talking like a little girl, dont you?

Keris is indeed Javanese culture. I guess it had been in the Malayan Peninsula since 13th C brought by Javanese themselves. Local people in Malayan Peninsula are using Parang and Golok for their weapon. Hence, Keris is still among the products of Nusantara (Middle Islands), so I don't think that it is a shame that the culture had been taught by Javanese to others. Javanese had contributed in the development of ancient literature in SEA. Even Panji Semirang had spread north to Siam in 13th C, called by them as Inao, a part of Pan-Yee Sameerang. I only know that Silat Cekak Hanafi had been developed by Kedahan in 18th C to fought Siam. I checked it in my Kelantanese ex-room mate revision paper for his optional subject test in the varsity, and I am a Kedahan only realize about it after reading the paper

Also I heard that people from Kelantan had their distinct weapon which is "Kapak Kecil" or "Small Axe." I don't know how small is the size of the Kapak because I only heard about it from my mother. She said Kelantanese are also helping Kedahans in paddy field, they had the culture of keeping the Kapak for self defence when they are in others land. Maybe any Kelantanese here care to enlight or correct me if I am wrong.

Actually, Stamford Raffles, who was governor of Betawi (Batavia) before the British exchanged it for Melaka with the Dutch, wrote in his book that the Keris was originally developed in the Semenanjung n the concept exported to Java. We dont hv to agree with everything the Javanese Indos say about everything related to this region. He he he.

If Raffles was correct, then the Keris's probable first birthplace would hv been any of the northern kingdoms of Langkasuka, i.e. Ligor, Pattani, Kedah or Kelantan.

Maybe it only reached its highest levels of crafstmanship later in Java, with the strict grading systems developed by the Empu (Javanese tukang keris).

The oldest depiction of a Keris in Java was on a 8th century wall sculpture/painting in a temple. I cant recall which one now, maybe Chandi Prambanan. Or Borobodur.

It does fit in with the history of the absorption of Langkasuka into Srivijaya, which occured in the 8th century, i.e. around 775 AD, during the time of Samaratunga of Sailendra, son in law of Dharmasethu of Palembang Srivijaya.

Hahaha, Elephant-Head god, South Thai people with some sprinkling of Brahmanical belief call it as Wiganed (Vigneshvar). The function for them is only like the guardian angel of ridding of obstacles and blooming the art skill in pre-natal child. They may chant some Phram Montra (Brahman Mantra) summoning the god.

Hidup tanpa nyawa



Oleh FATIMI NADIAH ZAINUDEEN



Kalau keris dibuat hanya sebagai senjata, tidak mungkin ia dibuat seindah ini, kata Mohd. Noordin Ab. Hamid. Apakah keindahan yang dimaksudkan itu hanya bersifat fizikal semata-mata ?





MOHD NOORDIN menganggap keris sebagai sahabat karibnya.



“WALAU ke mana pun saya pergi saya akan bawa sebilah keris bersama. Saya akan pakai pada badan atau letak di dalam kereta.

“Ia tak semestinya kelihatan pada mata orang ramai,” ujar pengumpul dan perunding keris dan senjata Melayu lama, Mohd. Noordin Ab. Hamid, 58.

Kenyataan ini bukan dilahirkan 50 tahun yang lampau mahupun pada era Laksamana Hang Tuah, tetapi sebaliknya baru-baru ini di pekarangan Muzium Negara di Kuala Lumpur. Katanya lagi, kalau tidak ada keris di sisi, hidupnya terasa sunyi.

“Keris ini sudah seperti keluarga kerana saya kenal dan selalu membelainya. Ia juga kenal saya. Bagi saya keris ialah kawan dan kami banyak ‘berinteraksi’,” kata Mohd. Noordin sambil menunjukkan keindahan kraf buatan tangan itu.

Menyedari kisah keris yang mudah mengundang pandangan negatif, terutama jika menyentuh tentang cara penjagaannya yang kelihatan seperti satu bentuk pemujaan, Mohd. Noordin pantas menjelaskan, keris diperbuat daripada besi yang mempunyai getaran sendiri, sama seperti unsur semula jadi lain iaitu tanah, air, api dan angin.

“Sudah terbukti secara saintifik bahawa unsur-unsur semula jadi ini mempunyai getaran yang kita sebut sebagai semangat.

“Kalau untuk keris semangat ini kita namakan myor. Keris-keris ini hidup, biarpun bukan bernyawa,” tambah anak jati Kelantan ini.





CARA yang salah untuk memakai keris. Bahagian sampir dan ekor cicak sepatutnya berada pada arah sebaliknya.


Mohd Noordin pernah menjadi hakim bagi pertandingan keris cantik yang pernah dianjurkan bersama Persatuan Seni Purba dan Kraftangan Negeri Kelantan dan Selangor.

Tambahnya, dalam sesebuah pertempuran, keris mempunyai keupayaan untuk memelihara tuannya daripada tercedera. Mohd. Noordin merujuk pengalamannya melihat seorang rakannya yang cuba menembak sebelah lagi tangannya sendiri yang memegang keris.

Jelasnya: “Pistol itu tidak mahu meletup, sedangkan sebelum itu pistol itu dapat berfungsi dengan baik.”

Kata Noordin, yang mewarisi sebahagian besar koleksi senjata lama daripada bapanya yang merupakan seorang hulubalang, keris yang serasi dengan pemakai mempunyai getaran yang positif. Jika dipakai ketika bersosial, maka ramailah yang mudah mesra dengannya.

Jika ada musuh menghampiri, mudah juga orang itu menyerah kepadanya. Dek kerana getaran itu jugalah keris diberi peranan melebihi sebagai satu senjata.

“Ada juga kepercayaan bahawa keris yang mempunyai getaran yang positif (serasi) dapat membantu meningkatkan perniagaan, selain menyumbang kepada kesihatan si pemakai.

“Tetapi jika tidak serasi, sama seperti kita tersalah makan ubat, atau memakai kasut saiz yang salah, ia membawa mudarat atau makan tuan,” ujar bapa kepada empat orang anak ini.

Mungkin bersandarkan alasan itu jugalah golongan bomoh menjadikan senjata lama itu sebagai bahan dalam perawatan.

Setiap kali ditanyakan tentang kesyirikan, Mohd. Noordin menyeringai tersenyum.

“Beginilah. Saya jelaskan dengan lebih terperinci. Keris dijaga dengan membersihkannya dengan limau kerana asid di dalam jus limau dapat membuang karat,” katanya.




HULU keris mewakili negeri dan negara tempat ia dihasilkan.



Keris yang sudah dimandikan tidak pula dijemur sebaliknya diperasapkan kerana karbon dalam asap daripada bara api dapat membantu mengawet matanya.

Tambahan pula bara api mempunyai hubungan yang rapat dengan mata keris kerana keris dibentuk menggunakan api.

“Memperasap dengan bau-bauan seperti kemenyan atau minyak atar mahupun aromaterapi pula hanyalah untuk memberi bau yang enak agar setiap kali keris dikeluarkan daripada sarungnya, ia berbau wangi dan menyenangkan – sesuai untuk dipakai ketika bersosial.

“Ada juga yang menggunakan minyak untuk memelihara mata keris daripada berkarat. Maklumlah, hinanya besi kerana karat,” jelasnya panjang lebar.

Sambung Mohd. Noordin, kesyirikan timbul apabila ada pihak yang melakukan proses pemeliharaan dengan hanya menurut secara membuta tuli.

Sedangkan setiap langkah yang diambil mempunyai penerangan yang bersifat saintifik.

“Ilmu keris itu penting. Jangan hanya tahu memiliki atau memakai keris. Biarlah ada ilmu yang menyeluruh tentangnya supaya tidak terbawa-bawa atau keterlaluan dalam mempercayai kelebihan satu-satu keris.

“Jangan sampai ia menjadi satu bentuk pemujaan,” pesannya yang pernah berguru dengan tujuh orang guru keris, kesemuanya di Kelantan.

Menyimpan lebih 280 bilah keris di rumah, jelas Mohd Noordin, pemakaian keris juga seperti memadankan baju dengan seluar untuk berlainan acara.

“Kalau untuk bersosial, berniaga, bertempur atau menghadiri majlis rasmi seperti pertabalan dan sebagainya, ada jenis-jenis kerisnya.

“Pilihan dibuat sama ada dengan merujuk jenis bahan dan bentuk atau potongan matanya. Keris untuk bertempur lazimnya lurus dan tidak berluk.

“Tetapi kalau pemakainya seorang lelaki yang budiman, dia akan tetap pakai yang berluk, seumpamanya masih mahu berunding dan tidak terus mahu bertempur,” jelas Mohd. Noordin.

“Ada antara pemimpin kita yang pergi ke majlis pertabalan tetapi kerisnya dipakai dengan cara yang salah. Ia hanya menunjukkan mereka tidak mempunyai ilmu tentang keris.

“Seorang raja atau sultan akan memakai keris dengan hulunya menghadap ke luar kerana ia melambangkan kedaulatannya.

“Sedangkan seorang yang pergi menghadap sultan perlu memusingkan hulunya agar menghala ke dalam.

“Bagaimanapun, bagi pengantin lelaki, hulunya sepatutnya dihalakan keluar kerana pada hari itu dialah raja,” kata Mohd. Noordin sambil menunjukkan beberapa cara keris dipakai secara salah.

“Kalau hendak bertempur, bahagian ekor cicak (pada ganja) sepatutnya menghala keluar kerana jika musuh menepis keris itu, ekor cicak itu dapat mencederakan musuh dan mungkin juga dapat mematahkan serangan musuh.

“Tambahan pula dalam ilmu persilatan, jari kel1ngking merupakan titik kelemahan dan ekor cicak dapat memelihara titik itu,” sambungnya yang menjelaskan hulu keris boleh dipusing kerana dipasang longgar.

Tujuan ia dibiar longgar adalah supaya ia dapat dicabut daripada puting untuk membolehkan kerja pembersihan dilakukan dengan baik tanpa merosakkan hulunya.





- Kosmo -

Malay weapon
The Great cannon ,Whale Summon magic and Hang aider shown in this clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGcFzQuqt0Y...feature=related

1. The klewang is a traditional single-edged machete-style sword from Indonesia. In size, weight and shape it is halfway between the golok and the kampilan. The style of the klewang differs between the various cultures of Indonesia; there are straight bladed types, but most are curved.

During the Aceh War the Acehnese klewangs proved very effective in close quarters combat with Dutch troops and the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army adopted a heavy cutlass, also called klewang, to counter it. Mobile troops armed with carbines and klewangs succeeded in suppressing Aceh resistance where traditional infantry with rifle and bayonet had failed.

-------------------------------------------------

in kelantan =klewe, use for gang fight in the old days.


http://images.google.co.uk/images?sourceid...=1&ct=title

==========================================
2. The Lading is a short stabbing spear used with an underhand thrust. It resembles a spear fitted into a dagger hilt.

use in kelantan for gang fight in the old days.

3. Seligi:something similar to A spear

2009 National Muzium (Malaysia) - Traditional Weapon Exhibition













Sources : http://gayong-polimas.blogspot.com/

>Keris

O_o

Sakha people have somehow resembling swords too, which are called "kılıs"

Wow. "Keris" n "Kilis".

That's a rather startling similarity in name, isnt it? Considering the great vastness of distance between the homelands of the Sakha i.e. Scythians, n the region inhabited by the Malayu peoples.

But the Sakha/Scythians hv also been - throughout the ages - rather quite consistently associated with the Kamboja/Cymmerians. N Kambojas were known to have immmigrated to the SEAn region in quite significant numbers in ancient times.

Could the Kamboja hv been the conveyor or carrier of an ancient weapon having its initial origins in Sakha/Scythian lands to SEAn regions peopled by Malayu tribes?

Now that is a rather interesting possibility.

Keris Semenanjung



Pengenalan & Kegunaan


Keris adalah sejenis senjata warisan budaya orang melayu. Keris melambangkan pakaian raja-raja melayu Pembesar-pembesar negeri, golongan bangsawan, pahlawan dan rakyat.













Sources : http://keris-tanjak.blogspot.com/

I dont think Dreamhunter is trying to say that the keris is a foreign weapon imported into the Malayu region.

I believe that what he is saying is that the keris could possibly hv been a souped-up, sophisticised Malayu modification of a previously relatively simpler dagger of Scythian/Shaka origin.

That's not something impossible, cos the Scythian/Shaka peoples were an ancient Iranian tribe, n the Malayu n Iranian peoples have had cultural interactions between them since antiquity. Even Iranian scholars will vouch for that.

The keris is still definitely a Malayu weapon. Or at least a Malayu-Jawa weapon. But that doesnt preclude the possibility of it being derived from a simpler weapon of initially foreign, specifically Iranian origin.

Senjata-senjata Tradisional Melayu Kedah



Badik







Beladau





Cenangkas





Gedubang Aceh





Golok Perak





Kapak Kecil





Kelewang





Keris Bali





Keris Bugis

Keris Jalak Betina





Keris Jalak Jantan





Keris Kepicit Berlok





Keris Panjang Sumatra





Keris Semenanjung





Lawi Ayam







Parang Candong





Parang Lading





Pedang (Negeri Kedah)

Pisau Sonak Udang





Tumbok Lada





Tumbuk Lada Burung Serindik





Wali Betina





Wali Jantan









Sources : http://memori-kedah.net/

What no kriss with finger print? Those are the rarest keris.

Sudilah pengunjung-pengunjung semua melawat lawan saya ini .....

Ah, didn't they used to say how Hang Tuah being a Malay martial arts expert had mystical powers with his keris?
The Chinese martial artists were known to be able to manipulate their swords with mental and energy influence or "Chi Projections" via the swords.
Now they they found out that Hang Tuah might in fact be a Chinese warrior from China, they stopped talking about him in school text books?

hmmmmm...........................

I dont see any evidence that support it????

Isn't all SEAn natives are Hindu-Buddhists with animistic beliefs although some parts had converted to Islamic religion? What is so surprising when they can control weapons when they did Tapas and certain rituals in places considered sacred in animistic belief like forests, waterfalls, etc? Those weapons were worshiped in certain days. It is animistic, when they believe there are certain guardians that guarding the weapons. Just what I have heard from mystical documentary called Misteri Nusantara.

search the web.

And check the Malaysian primary and secondary textbooks. The last time i heard, Hang Tuah is no longer mentioned as a Malay hero in there. In fact, there's no mention of him anymore.

Kalau memakai keris

Keris tersisip sebelah kiri

Keris beradat berlembaga

Kalau memakai keris telentang

Itu tanda mencari lawan

Bagai ayam kokok berdentang

Bagai hulubalang masuk gelanggang

Elok dipakai ditengah hutan

Atau belayar tengah laut

Untuk menjaga jaga diri

Kalau keris sampir terlungkup

Keris tidak mencari lawan

Keris tidak mencari musuh

Yang dipakai dalam jamuan

Yang dipakai pergi bertandang

Berbelit punca wali

Berselubung sampai kehulu

Tanda beradat berketurunan

Patut disebut keris terap




Sources : http://www.ustazsohantik.com/

2009 Muzium Negara - Pameran Senjata Tradisional












Keris Semenanjung





Keris Semenanjung (Gading Gajah)





Keris Palembang









Keris Panjang Riau Lingga





Keris Anak Alang






Sources : http://jawa27272.multiply.com/

2009 Muzium Negara - Pameran Senjata Tradisional




Keris Tajong









Keris Bugis











Keris Bugis & Semenanjung & Jawa






Keris Nago Penganten





Keris Bali







Sources : http://jawa27272.multiply.com/

2009 Muzium Negara - Pameran Senjata Tradisional




Keris Jawa







Keris Jawa & Keris Palembang





Keris Sajen







Keris Sundang





Keris Sundang Kecil (Terengganu)





Keris Sundang Melayu & Keris Sundang Sulu









Sources : http://jawa27272.multiply.com/

Pedang Melayu

Hang PC. I cant even see your Malay swords properly.

Could you get some bigger, higher-resolution pics of them?

Original Sources : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECicAduPJ_w

Any keris with finger or lip marks on them?

Pedang '' Al-sayf al-Qadaram" (Pedang Kedah)









Kedah Yang Dilawati Oleh Abu Dulaf 940 TM




Dalam tahun 940, Abu Dulaf al-Muhalhil berasal dari Bukhara singgah sendiri di Kalaha (Kedah) dan meriwayatkan bahawa:





"Apabila saya sampai di Kalah, saya dapati tempatnya amat indah dengan tembok-tembok kota, taman-taman bungan dan aliran mata-mata air dari bumi. Saya lihat lombong bijih timah yang tidak ada tolok bandingnya dalam dunia ini. Di dalam kota ada tukang-tukang membuat pedang "qala'I" iaitu pedang Hindi yang tulen Seperti di Negara China, terdapat orang-orang yang tidak menyembelih ternakan yang mereka makan. Penduduknya mempunyai sistem keadilan dan mempunyai penjara serta hukuman denda".

"Mereka makan gandum, buah kurma, sayur-sayuran yang ditimbang bila dijual dan roti yang dilonggok-longgok sahaja bila dijual. Mereka tidak mempuyai hamam tetapi mandi di sungai-sungai yang mengalir deras. Wang mereka ialah dirham perak Wang dipanggil 'fahri'. Mereka memakai kain 'al firand' (sutera) yang sangat mahal seperti orang-orang China dan menyebut Maharaja China di dalam Khutbah Jumaat dan qiblat Raja Kalah pun mengadap ke arah Maharaja itu "


(Paul Wheatley, 1961:217)





Abu Dulaf menyebut orang-orang di Kedah telah pandai menggunakan tepung gandum, buah kurma, roti dan sayur seperti orang-orang Arab. Tergambar bahawa kebudayaan Arab telah sedikit sebanyak terserap dikalangan orang-orang Melayu di sini. Mengikut Paul Wheatley dalam nota kecilnya di muka surat yang sama, dirham perak yang dipanggil "Fahri" itu ialah matawang yang digunakan di Khurasan, Utara Iran. Di Kedah dipraktikkan sistem 'barter' atau sistem hebah barang dengan barang dan "fahri" itu digunakan ketika amat perlu sahaja. Pedang "qala'i" yang ditempah di Kedah menjadi barangan eksport yang dikenali oleh orang-orang Arab sebagai "al-sayf al-Hind"

Abu Dulaf menimbulkan kekeliruan apabila menyebut bahawa Raja Kalah "Menyebut nama Maharaja China di dalam Khutbah Jumaat dan qiblat Raja Kalah pun Mengadap ke arah Maharaja itu"

Abu Dulaf keliru melihat penduduk di Kedah yang beragama Islam tidak menyebut nama Khalifah Al-Muttaqi (940 - 944) yang baru bersemayam di Damsyik pada masa itu di dalam Khutbah mereka. Berita begitu belum sampai ke sini lagi. Mungkin orang Kedah menyebut nama Maharaja Sribuza (Sri Wijaya) atau lain yang didengarnya sebagai nama Maharaja China.

Maksud qiblat mengarah ke negara China ialah qiblat Raja Kalah atau Kedah dan bukan orang bersembahyang. Abu Dulaf memungkinkan bahawa agama Islam belum lagi dianuti oleh Raja Kedah sungguhpun rakyatnya telah Islam.



Sources : http://www.mykedah2.com/10heritage/102_1_p3.htm

Silats biggest secrets finally revealed



Amir Hafizi

Thursday, August 27th, 2009 04:02:00




Word on the street has it that the silat tradition of mandi minyak or 'hot-oil bath' practised by silat exponents is a scam.

Underneath the layer of oil, as the story has it, is water. Water and oil don’t mix and each has a different boiling temperature. So, when you heat up a water and oil concoction in a big wok, the water, which boils first, gives the illusion that the oil is a bubbling hot liquid that would scald.

“That's what we thought!” said Khairun Lamb. “But Justin (Ong) and I, we were at the site of the ceremony since beginning, and it was all oil, all the way, and it was really, really scalding hot! That’s just one of the things that surprised us when we were making the documentary.”

Khairun is the director of photography and co producer for a team commissioned by National Geographic Channel to do a documentary on the traditional Malaysian martial art of silat. The result is Fight Masters: Silat, set to be premiered this Merdeka Day on the National Geographic Channel.



Joel performing the 'hot-oil bath' or mandi minyak ritual


The documentary follows American silat exponent Joel Champ who has been studying martial arts since he was seven, as he gets his next stripe in his belt — stripe being a level in silat.

The 32-year-old US Navy dry land sailor and master-at-arms fell in love with silat some 15 odd-years ago.

“In silat, it is said that the student doesn't search for the master. The master will seek the student, only when he is ready,” said producer and director Justin Ong.

“Joel was approached by Cikgu Sam — Tan Sri SM Salim's son - in the States and he never looked back, discarding all other forms of martial arts in favour of silat. Joel is in fact the highest-graded silat exponent in the western world.

“However, his training was a bit soft,” said Khairun. “He was practicing in air-conditioned gyms, and had paddings on the floor.

“He wanted to experience what it was like in the birthplace of silat, so we didn't spare him anything. It would have cheated him if we did.”

Then, Khairun added, with a mischievous grin on his face, “And this look he had when it was revealed that traditional silat practice only has sand to fall onto, and training is done outdoors, in the sweltering heat and torturous humidity.”

The project began when silat was chosen as one of the martial arts to be featured on Fight Masters.

“We went on a pitching process to National Geographic and the production company commissioned by them,” said Ong. “Then, a three-month research and two weeks of shooting, and then six to eight months of post- production. We made changes after changes when we discovered new things about silat. Overall, it took a year. And it wasn't easy. Every single line had to be verified by at least two sources.”

That's how stringent the standards are for National Geographic documentaries. And yet, it was a golden opportunity for Ong and for Khairun who even though has done numerous work for international networks such as NHK, Discovery Channel, ABC News, Al-Jazeera, Channel News Asia, has yet to do something about Malaysia.

“I wanted to do this because I have done so many things for other countries,” said Khairun. “I thought it was time I got involved with something for Malaysia.

“Doing this documentary basically taught us a lot about silat,” said Ong. “It was a martial arts that was developed for its practical uses, so we don't see any flying kicks or stylish moves. Everything has its use. Everything is effective. Even spitting at someone's face is a move that could determine the outcome of a fight.

“We also inserted a lot of CGI to show the scientific effects of some silat moves and the force of the blow. We were very lucky as Cikgu Sam convinced the masters in Malaysia to reveal some of their closely-guarded secrets and the moves they rarely show outsiders. We then put some experts to the task of taking a medical and physical explanation why it works that way. It's the science behind the art,” said Khairun.

“It's silat as you've never seen before!” interjected Ong.

However, the team does concede that the sheer scope of the documentary was narrowed down somewhat as the story of silat could not be encapsulated in just one documentary.

“We only have 47 minutes, and it’s jam-packed with as much information as we can,” said Khairun. “So it’s more of an introduction to silat. We covered Silat Gayung as it is the most established, and there are many other schools and styles out there.”

All the more reason, then, to give these guys another chance to cover silat again. This time, perhaps a whole series?

• Fight Masters : Silat will be shown on National Geographic Channel at 9pm on Merdeka Day, Aug 31 (premiere), Sept 11 and Sept 15.



- Malay Mail -

I hope they dont fight war with Kris in old times ... lose for sure.

If enemy use long swords .... hoho ..they be butcher.

If u see the real one b4 it looks kind of fragile ... and only good for stabbing.

More for show and small fights

Present of swords, tombak, lembing, parangs and even canons indicates that Malays used other weapons.

Keris were just for style and tradition as back-up weapon for close contact combat. Entering an Istana (Palace) for example...only keris are allowed and you'd have to kept-out other weapon elsewhere....while the royal guards were with tombak and lembing.

I'm surprised that The Sultans allowed subjects to carry Keris's in the palace. Most monarchies didn't allow weapons except by the kings personal bodyguards for obvious reasons.

For Adat Istiadat or Status (Prime Minister / General / Army / Orang Kaya)

I wonder/does anybody know, if any sultan was ever betrayed and killed by one of his advisors with a keris.

Pedang Jenawi & Sundang Lipas

Pedang Sungai Manik














Sources : http://ketualanun.blogspot.com/

http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3037176044452...1/posts/default

Pedang Jenawi






Credit

golokFly_30 (carigold.com)

Keris Pekaka Kelantan-Patani

The magnificent Keris Pekaka. I believe the design of this keris, done to make to make the hulu (hilt) resemble the face & head of a burung pekaka (i.e. kingfisher bird), is indigenous to the Kelantan-Patani region. If I'm not mistaken, it's also called alternatively as Keris Tajung.

Kelantan-Patani, of course, were closely related 'brother' kingdoms with much shared history between them in the past. At times, they even existed as a single united kingdom.

Another Keris Pekaka

Yet another Keris Pekaka. Now, this one is the most beautiful of them, I reckon.

I don't know why, but when I copy the pix of this kerises into my MyPictures file, they just keep dissappearing, with only the file name remaining.

Funny, or what? Maybe they've got some special power or something.

You know, I now suspect that this unique design also has an additional benefit. It enables the keris wielder to more easily shuffle the weapon around - when drawn (terhunus) - in his hand, in exactly the same way that a gunman shuffles his gun.

Keris Melayu





Keris Sumatera





Keris Jawa





Keris Bali





Keris Bugis







Sources : http://www.silat.tv/profile/Raksasa