Of Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi...

WHAT IS SILAT?

According to Malaysia Dictionary 3^rd Edition produced by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (Kamus Dewan), Silat is martial art knowledge for Malays. It is an art of intelligence fighting by mastering skill for self defending and to attack.

MEANING OF CEKAK

Cekak has several meaning in different slangs. Among them are:

v  Makan Cekak – (Kedah local)

v  Cakak – (Minangkabau) – fight

v  Cheka –(Jawanese) – simple

v  Cekak – (Bawean) – hard

v  Cekak – Unite

Persekutuan Seni Silat Cekak Pusaka Ustaz Hanafi Malaysia is an association registered with/under Malaysia’s Registrar of Society, engaging in social welfare and martial arts activities. It is a martial art of the wisdom and knowledge behind the art of self defence that truly been practiced and made known by late Ustaz Hanafi b. Hj. Ahmad. This art of self defence is being acknowledged to have systematic learning module, concept, philosophy, and having rightful genealogy of a true Guru.

YM Sheikh DR Hj.Md. Radzi bin Hj. Hanafi Al Qadahi is the fourth son of late Ustaz Hanafi. He is the True Heir (Pewaris Mutlak) of Silat Cekak, founded by his father. There is ONLY ONE true Guru at a time. The Guru who leads Silat Cekak is called Guru Utama; not Mahaguru. The True Heir of Silat Cekak; YM Sheikh DR Hj.Md. Radzi bin Hj. Hanafi Al Qadahi has received PHD (Dr.) by Asia Pacific Open University of Martial Art (APACMA) on July 2012. YM Guru Utama also awarded 2013 Figure of Art Activist (ANUGERH TOKOH PENGGIAT SENI 2013).

OBJECTIVES

v  To uphold and instill the love of true Malay culture.

v  To expel and eliminate all kinds of superstitious believes in Silat which are against Islamic teachings.

BASIC MOVEMENT

v  Standing upright as if we are to perform solat.

v  No dodging or rearward movements.

v  Each movement is complete with locks, repelling steps, strikes and bolts.

v  No usage of legs and feet when attacking opponents. 

v  Bare handed.

v  Pure and unsoiled from superstitious believes.

v  Normal human being movement.

v  Requires no supernatural strength or excessive training.

v  Inspired from the movement of Solat.

MAIN FEATURES

v  True self defence Silat.

v  Authentic Malay Silat.

v  Lessons taught systematically (by modules).

v  Emphasises on standing upright posture (ready mode).

v  To train three times a week and able to complete within seven months.

v  Ready mode – standing upright posture (in prayer).

v  No dodging method or stepping backwards.

v  Each lesson completes with repelling, striking and locking techniques.

v  No usage of feet and legs while attacking (If any).

v  Requires no weapon.

v  Unspoiled from any kinds of all superstitious believes.

MODULE SYSTEM

v  Buah Asas (Basic level)

v  Buah Jatuh (Intermediate Level)

v  Buah Potong (Advanced Level)

v  Tamat dan Buah Serang (End stage and Attacking movement)

v  Buah Umum (Open combat)

v  Total of 21 lessons

Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi Uniform, only allowed to wear after reaching End Stage.

White belt is for all students who had reached End Stage. Red belt is for those trainers who had been acknowledge by the Guru Utama. Yellow belt is worn only by Guru Utama. 

This picture was taken during the performance by the members of Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi Malaysia during Mini Theater “Silat & Pahlawan, Cekak & Hanafi” on 6 & 7 July 2013 at Auditorium Kompleks Jabatan Kesenian & Kebudayaan (Art & Culture), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

PRINCIPLES OF CEKAK

Silat Cekak members are bound and prohibited to break the five codes as follows:

1.       One shall not go against one’s Guru

2.       One shall not disobey one’s mother

3.       One shall not disobey one’s father

4.       No infighting amongst members

5.       Respect other authentic Malay’s martial arts 

MORAL VALUES

v  Instills the belief that we are responsible to look after ourselves.

v  Instills high appreciation of good deeds mainly Guru, mother and father.             

v  Always encourage unity and teamwork among members.           

v  Instills good attitude (brave, be true, integrity and intelligent).

(Credits to Multimedia and Communication Team of Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi Malaysia)

The History, Concept and Aspiration of Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi

Silat is a collective word for indigenous martial arts from a geo-cultural area of Southeast Asia encompassing most of the Nusantara and Malay Archipelago, as well as the entire Malay Peninsula. Originally developed in what are now Indonesia, peninsular Malaysia, south Thailand, and Singapore, it is also traditionally practiced in Brunei, Vietnam and the southern Philippines. There are hundreds of different styles but they tend to focus either on strikes, joint manipulation, throws, bladed weaponry, or some combination thereof.

Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi is named in honour to its greatest master, the late Ustaz Hanafi Haji Ahmad. It is the silat that was practiced and conveyed by Ustaz Hanafi be it in terms of pedagogy, concept, philosophy, principle, integrity and spirituality.

 Ustaz Hanafi Haji Ahmad 

2012 Figure of Art

According to verbal history, Silat Cekak originates from Kedah, a state in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia, and was used by its governor-generals (panglima) to defend the land against foreign incursions during the reign of Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin (1854-1879). A trustworthy source mentions that one of these generals, Panglima Ismail successfully defeated a general of Batak descent (from North Sumatera Indonesia) by the name of Tuah (not the legendary Hang Tuah, which is dominant in the history of the Sultanate of Malacca circa 1400 - 1500). Panglima Ismail then taught Silat Cekak to another warlord, Panglima Tok Rashid, who hailed from Sungai Daun in Kedah.

A twist of event, to flee an outbreak of cholera, Panglima Tok Rashid had to relocate his family to Kerian in the state of Perak, further south from Kedah. There, Panglima Tok Rashid entrusted Silat Cekak to his student from Batu Kurau, Yahya Said to teach this silat to a worthy Kedah native when the proper time comes. Panglima Tok Rashid instructed him specifically: “If any of my progeny from Kedah wish to learn, you are to return it to them.” In 1965, as per the late Panglima Tok Rashid’s trust, Yahya Said conveyed and entrusted this silat to Ustaz Hanafi.

After 40 years of being hidden away from the eyes of the public, Silat Cekak was reclaimed by Ustaz Hanafi as his Kedah birth right from Yahya Said (who was the trustee). At that point of time and prior, no one had successfully completed their lesson in Silat Cekak. It was only when Ustaz Hanafi started teaching Silat Cekak that students managed to complete their studies in the syllabus. This was done under the auspices of an association called the Perkumpulan Sari Budaya Sri Kedah (The Glorious Kedah Cultural Essence Group). Since its rebirth at the hands of Ustaz Hanafi, a new era has begun for Silat Cekak. He introduced a new spirit and a new approach, all the while succeeding in raising the status of Silat Cekak as a movement that is respected by friends and foes; one that is continuously able to contribute positively to society.

Since then, Silat Cekak has succeeded in attracting thousands of members from all walks of life including the intellectual and professional realms.

The fourth child of Ustaz Hanafi, Sheikh Dr. Hj Md Radzi Hj Hanafi is presently the True Heir cum Honourable Principal Master and President of the association.

Sheikh Dr. Hj Md Radzi Hj Hanafi

2013 Figure of Art Activist

Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi is a truly Malay art of self-defence and is not a silat for leisure or sport (Silat Olahraga, which is contested professionally at the biannual South East Asian Games). Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi has set methods with strike forms and complete locking techniques. The

movement and system of this silat is based on the natural movements of the human being grounded in healthy thought, a calm soul and is clearly compatible with the principles of Islam.

Its studies place emphasis on self-defence to inculcate courage, not violence or violation. Only when absolutely necessary and for the sole purpose of safety, then Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi practitioner will attack first. Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi awaits attacks in a straight-backed high stance (the stance used in solah or solat) and does not employ evasions to the left of right; but moves forward in a single intercepting movement.

In reality, Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi is a silat based on the study of movement (Silat Gerak). Most surprising and best of all is, when Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi attacks, the opponent would find it difficult to evade, and if he/she were to parry the attack would lead to a devastating counterattack. This is due to the practitioner’s ability to attack and trap the attacker in one move. (Cekak menyerang, Cekak menangkap).

Practitioners are taught to defend themselves against non-weapon and weapon attacks with only their bare hands. When attacked with weapons, the objective of Silat Cekak Hanafi is to counter the attack and to disarm the opponent.

Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi is taught to completion in a systematic course package. Normally, the package may be completed within 6 months to one year. This duration may also be adapted to coincide with the semester schedule of public schools or higher learning institutions.

After completion, the practitioners may increase their level of skill personally or by attending skill classes organized from time to time. As a silat based on fine movements, it does not need to employ a great deal of strength or force to defeat an opponent. The method of study is systematic, is not detrimental to the practitioner and allows the practitioners the ability to defend oneself even in quarters as narrow as a plank. Like other silat, Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi also has its own official weapon which is the Lading, a type of traditional long dagger famous in the state of Kedah. This weapon is used by practitioners of Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi to defend against all manner of non-weapon or weapon attacks. However, the Lading is only presented to those practitioners who have reached a certain level and whose loyalty to the association has been proven. Most of these recipients are those who have been actively involved in the movement for more than ten years. The size and shape of the Lading depends on the user since each practitioner has a different proportion and body measurement.

Now, the Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi is operating under the name of Persekutuan Seni Silat Cekak Pusaka Ustaz Hanafi Malaysia (The Federation of Seni Silat Cekak Pusaka Ustaz Hanafi Malaysia) and has 11 state chapters and organizes silat classes in most universities and higher learning institutions in Malaysia. Moving forward, this Non-profit organization plans to break the Guinness World Record for the Largest Martial Art Display which is scheduled in 2015. This organization is the current record holder of Malaysian Book of Record in Largest Participant Category 2010 that succeeded its own records in same category in year 2001 and 2005 respectively.

Beginning 18 December 2011, members of Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi in the UK initiated the effort to globalize this Malay martial in the United Kingdom. This is in line with the aspirations and advices given by the Honourable Grandmaster, Sheikh Dr. Hj Md Radzi Hj Hanafi. The global expansion is followed by the first international Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi class officiated in Melbourne, Australia on the 8th January 2012. Later on the same year, 15 December 2012 marks the official launch of Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi Club UK during the visit of the honourable principal master to London.

Until today the club has two sessions of classes held every week at the Malaysian Hall, Queensborough Terrace W2, London and at Tuk Din Flavour of Malaysia Restaurant in Paddington.

We intend to promote this Malay heritage martial art further to the local Muslim community in London, as the main prerequisite of learning this martial art is only specially catered for Muslim.

(Credit: Multimedia and Communication Team of Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi Malaysia)

So the journey begins...

Assalamualaikum w.b.t,

Alhamdulillah, with God's bless, our club has been running for almost 2 years. This blog was created as a further attempt to introduce our sacred yet precious culture uniqueness to the entire world. As a group of Malay community staying and studying in the European countries for several years, we still believe that the culture diversity needs to be shared as it will promote more understanding as well as for us to continue practising the teaching and good morality that had been passed through several generations. We believe that it is still practical to have a depth of understanding of our own culture and at the same time, enhancing our knowledge in the advancement of science and technology. 

Like the Koreans with Taekwondo, the Japanese with Karate, the Indians with Kalaripayattu, the Chinese with Wushu and Kungfu; we Malays have our Silat. Here, we would like to introduce to the world our type of silat called Silat Cekak.

          
Silat Cekak is a Malay martial art that was established by the Supreme Leader, the Honourable (Allahyarham) Ustaz Hanafi Bin Hj Ahmad on 28^th of December 1965 (5^th Ramadhan 1385). Silat Cekak was established from Kedah, Malaysia. This martial art was used by the Malay leading warriors of the palace during the legacy of Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin II. It has been passed through several generations until it reaches the current righteous successor, DR. Hj Md Radzi bin Hj Hanafi which is also our current grandmaster of Silat Cekak Pusaka Ustaz Hanafi Malaysia Organisation.

Silat Cekak is a martial art of 99% defence and 1% attack; which mean that this martial art is created essentially for self defence. It suits not only men but also women, old or young as it does not use too much energy. The movement or what we called as ‘buah’ is very simple and practical and can be used in any situation or place as it did not need any equipment or weaponry. In our syllabus, there are 21 ‘buah’ (movement). It is divided into 3 stages to complete all the movement.

 This is just a brief explanation of who we are. We hope that our passion in learning this martial art help us not only to protect ourselves (with God’s will) but also to preserve this sacred knowledge and continue to pass it on to the next generation.