Tekpi.Org Blog

Tekpi.Org is a proud sponsor of Silat.TV!

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:06:11 -0500

On September 1, 2008 Silat.TV (http://silat.tv) - the Internet's first online community dedicated exclusively to Silat - was launched. This community aims to bring together Silat practitioners from around the world in a thriving, video-centric online community. Membership in Silat.TV is free!

Some of the features of Silat.TV include:

• Videos: Members can upload original footage or share videos from popular video services like YouTube, Google Video and Vimeo.
• Groups: Silat systems can create their own sub-communities within Silat.TV. These communities allow students of the same Silat system to share ideas, discussions, videos and schedules in their own dedicated area.
• Member Profiles: Each member of Silat.TV has a fully customizable profile with their photo, basic information and everything they’ve contributed to the network.
• Event Listings: Any member can schedule events (classes, seminars, etc.), invite other Silat.TV members, and keep track of who’s attending.
• Photos & Slideshows: Post photos and organize them into albums and show off your photos in galleries or slideshows.
• Discussion Forums: Members can start a discussion on any topic and anyone can respond with posts, photos and attachments.
• Social Network Integration: Silat.TV members can share photos, videos and music from Silat.TV on their Facebook profiles. Members can display a Silat.TV network badge with pride on their MySpace profile, blog or website.

Podcast Correction

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 14:51:35 -0500

The Silat Kuntau Tekpi podcast published on March 31st 2008 contained a story of about a Silat Panglima in Sumatra. The family of the Panglima contacted us to tell us that the story contained several factual errors and was repeated without the permission of the family.

We have edited the podcast to remove the erroneous story and we apologize to the Panglima’s family for publishing the story without their permission and for any distress that this may have caused.

San Diego Seminar: May 7th 2007

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 12:12:57 -0500

Cikgu Rennie Saunders will be teaching a Silat Kuntau Tekpi seminar in San Diego, California on Monday May 7th from 10 am until 5 pm.

Silat Kuntau Tekpi is a Malaysian form of Silat from Kedah, which is across the border from Thailand. Its fast, direct entries and emphasis on combative throwing and locking made it a formidable foil to the Thai martial arts.

Silat Kuntau Tekpi was a “closed system” until 2003. This seminar by Cikgu Rennie Saunders is the first time this rare and effective martial art will be taught in California.

Cikgu Rennie Saunders is an experienced practitioner and Guru of Silat with over 26 years of experience in various Indonesian systems of Pencak Silat. Cikgu Saunders has also earned his certification as an instructor of the Malaysian system of Silat Kuntau Tekpi.

The training agenda for the seminar includes:

• Senaman Tua (Silat warm up exercises)
• Silat Kuntau Tekpi Pelebat (training form)
• Senamen Tekpi (Tekpi weapon warm up exercises)
• Buah 1: Python (Ular Sawa)
• Buah 2: Pinning the Buffalo (Pancang Kerbau)
• Buah 3: Scissors (Gunting)
• Buah 4: Slaughtering the Goat (Sembelih Kambing)
• Buah 5: Chewing the Betel Leaf (Makan Sirih)
• Buah 6: Food Crusher: Gobek Sirih
• Buah 7: Spreading the Sail (Kembang Layar)

This will be the first of seven seminars in San Diego that will teach the entire Beladiri (self-defense) component of the Silat Kuntau Tekpi system.

The one-day seminar fee is $140. Enrollment is limited and pre-registration is required.

Please contact Cikgu Rennie Sauders for more information: rennie.saunders@tekpi.org

First time seminar participants will be also be asked to pay a one-time $60 membership fee for registration with Tekpi.Org, the Silat Kuntau Tekpi training association.

Membership benefits include:

• One double-side t-shirt (M, L, or XL)
• Silat Kuntau Tekpi system logo patch
• Training Log
• Medical Martial Arts Insurance Policy ($100K coverage)

For more information on membership benefits or on the Silat Kuntau Tekpi system, please visit our website at: http://tekpi.org

Silat Kuntau Tekpi Logo Symbolism

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 09:58:57 -0600

I’ve been asked recently to explain some of the symbolism contained within the traditional Silat Kuntau Tekpi lembang (logo):

Colors: The logo is made up of three colors: white, red, black. The White stands for purity and moral values. The Red stands for bravery & brotherhood. The Black stands for secrecy. The border of the logo is surrounded by black, reminding students that this has historically been a secret art.

Shield: The logo is shaped like a shield, reminding students that the purpose of this art is to shield the practitioner from fear and sin.  Weapons: There are four weapons represented in the logo. These are the four primary weapons of Silat Kuntau Tekpi.

The four primary weapons are:

(1) Tekpi: The tekpi (a.k.a. sai) is the primary weapon of Silat Kuntau Tekpi, giving the art its name.
(2) Keris (Kris): This is a 7 lok (waves) keris which is what is worn and used by many of the Malay Panglima (Governor-Generals). The Keris of a Prince will usually have with 9 waves. The Keris of a Sultan can have up to 13 or 15 lok. In the Silat Kuntau Tekpi logo, a keris with 7 lok is shown as a symbol of Malay sovereignty and heritage.
(3) Cindai (Cloth): The word TEKPI is written on a long thin white cloth sash called a cindai (pronounced “chin-die”). The cindai is currently used in Malaysia as a belt or sash worn with traditional clothing. The cindai was originally the white burial cloth that warriors would wrap around their waists before entering battle. This practice was an element of futuwa, or chivalry. If a warrior was to die on the battlefield, he wanted to minimize the burden of his death on his compatriots - so he would bring his own burial shroud with him in case it was needed. The cindai was also useful for battlefield first-aid and - if necessary - as a last-ditch weapon if all others failed.
(4) Rantai (Chain): Two chains are shown with 13 links each. Each link symbolizes one of the 13 Federal States that make up the modern country of Malaysia. The rantai techniques are very similar to those used for the cindai, since both are flexible weapons.

These four weapons teach the principles of impact and edged weapons (Tekpi and Keris) as well as hard and soft flexible weapons (Rantai and Cindai).

There are other symbols and meanings contained with the lembang (logo), but these explanations are reserved for advanced students.

Former USAF Special Operations Commando Comments on Silat Kuntau Tekpi

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 17:54:27 -0600

Dr. Ken “Doc” Dority is a practicing physician in Dallas Texas. He’s also a retired USAF Special Operations team member with firsthand knowledge of what works and what doesn’t when the chips are down. Dr. Dority’s military experiences led him to eventually become a senior instructor of both Pencak Silat Mande Muda and Pencak Silat Harimau Minangkabau.

Tekpi.Org asked “Doc” to give us his thoughts on Silat Kuntau Tekpi:

“I would encourage any person who is sincerely seeking an effective, combat-oriented martial art to explore the martial art of Seni Silat Kuntau Tekpi. It has a compact, well-defined syllabus. It's developmental drills and training methodology are both interesting and effective. As a combat and self-defense method, it is undoubtedly efficient and brutal.

This art is definitely not for sport or irresponsible brawling - instead, this art is for those who fear, one day, their lives may be on the line.

I have trained in many martial arts over the years and this one certainly captures my attention. This art would be a wonderful first art for those who are seeking a martial art suited to self protection, but it would also be a truly excellent complement to the already established repertoire of the seasoned martial artist.”

Dr. Dority teaches Silat Kuntau Tekpi to a select group of students in Central Texas. He can be contacted for classes or seminars here.