Selamat Mas Loki,

Do you know if you are learning Guru Inosanto's "Maphilindo Silat" or the silat blend that he includes in his Filipino MArtial Arts system?

I am far from knowledgeable on the subject, but as I understand it the Maphilindo system is a good system and is based on a number of the "traditional styles" of silat Guro Inosanto has studied over the years including various Malaysian Bersilat styles, Filipino Kuntao Silat, as well as Indonesian Pentjak Silat Cimande, Pentjak Silat Mande Muda, Pentjak Silat Bukti Negara and Pentjak Silat Serak.

I haven't seen too much of the Maphilindo style but Guru Dan is well known for picking out the best portions of many styles and finding what works well. He trains once a week with my instructor Maha Guru Pak Victor de Thouars and Pak Vic has nothing but respect and nice things to say about Guro Inosanto.

Don't know if that answers any of your questions, but welcome to the tribe!

i love silat and was first introduced via inosanto method. i have extended my research to some of his sources and some i have picked up along the way. i find the the preference of most systems make up there system (style) and a full range of systems (styles) compliments each other in order to see all the connection to movement (the bodies limitations). the more silat i do the more i see the distiction the traditional aspect and only see them doing what he did. styles are limited to their style. his blend is a good foundation to this and a key in opening the connection to your own research from more than on type of silat.

I have'nt seen it but I know rick tucci's princeton academy located in new jersey is certified in maphilindo. I do know that maphilindo is MA- mahajapie phil- phillipino and indo- indonesian . try rick tucci's web page

If you are training with Rick Faye or an exponent, then you are in good hands, whatever it is you are training.

If you're in Seattle and are studying at MKG you'll get excellent instruction. No doubt about it. The best Silat guy I know of in the Seattle area is Bobbe Edmonds. He's probably not taking new students at the moment, but if he is he's The Man.

Guru Dan is great. I first came into Silat cause of Guru Dan's Maphilindo SIlat which is basically a blend of Muay Thai, Bukti, Mande Muda, and juanito Lacoste Silat. It was good for getting your feet wet and it certainly will work against the average Joe. But it wont work against a Seasoned Silat Player. After learning it I wanted to go deeper into one system. I found Serak having everything there and more cause its not technique based its all principle based. So usually guys end up either staying with Maphilindo and then adding to it by going deeper in to JKD or Wing Chun or Muay Thai or they supplement it by doing Serak or Wali Songo. Either way once you are doing a silat system with jurus & langkahs and actual combative principles you will probably feel more whole.

Peace

Santiago

Maphilindo Silat - A brief overview

The Majapahit Empire once included all of Southeast Asia (1292 to 1389) and spanned two thirds of the circumference of the globe.

The exotic martial arts of this region are vast and diverse. Guro Dan Inosanto, to honour his Silat instructors, founded Maphilindo Silat, basing it on the various systems of Silat he has studied under Silat masters from Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia, including Herman Suwanda and Edgar Sulite.

The "Ma" comes from the Malaysian influence found in Maphilindo Silat. The "Phil" is, from the Philipino influence and finally, the "Indo" derives from its Indonesian influences.

Maphilindo Silat is essentially a counter fighting style and incorporates empty-hand techniques along with the use of such weapons as the short stick and sarong. The general idea is to manipulate and destruct a part, parts, or the whole of an opponent's body in a minimal period of time. This goal is achieved by a flow of techniques and movement through the phases of entering, takedown and finishing. The emphasis here is on the concept of flow, which is the smooth transition through a series of movements or techniques.

The range of techniques used in Maphilindo Silat, and in the traditional / foundational styles, is not extensive and the major striking techniques include Finger Thrusts, Guntings, Elbows, Knees and Headbutts, along with manipulative techniques such as Arm Pulls, Head Pulls, Head Turns, Leg Sweeps, Knee Compressions, Arm Breaks, Elbow Levers and Chokes.

The self-defense applications of Silat are numerous, particularly in empty-hand attack situations, and its value as a "street style" is high with the emphasis on a short engagement time and strong finishing techniques

To the martial arts student, the ideas of Silat are straightforward and the techniques not overly complicated however continual practice is required to achieve the level of energy sensitivity and fluidity required for dominance in a range of situations. Training in Silat will therefore enhance the control a student has over their own actions as well as attaining a high level of control over the energy of an attacker.
Here's a list of some of the arts that have influenced Maphilindo / Madjapahit Martial Arts of Guro Dan Inosanto


MARTIAL ARTS OF THE
PHILIPPINES,INDONESIA,MALAYSIA AND
SOUTHERN THAILAND

CENTRAL PHILIPPINES
1. KALI
2. PANGAMUT (ESKRIMA)
3. KALI – SILAT

SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES
1. KUNTAO – SILAT
2. BERSILAT
3. KALI

INDONESIA
1. PENCAK SILAT
2. PUKULAN
3. SILAT
4. PUKULAN PENTJAK SILAT
5. KUNTAO

MALAYSIA
1. PULAT SILAT
2. BERSILAT

SOUTHERN THAILAND
1. SILAT
2. MUAY THAI
3. KABRI – KABRONG
4. SILAT PATTARI\

Here is a fairly accurate listing of Guro Inosanto's Silat Instructors. I would say that each have had strong influences, but, some more than others. I cannot say which, however, if you watch him move, you will make up your own mind.

Again, this is not a "be all end all" list. Just info I've gathered from him over the years.

To answer some specifc questions, yes, it contains Serak as he learned it from Pendakar Paul DeThours and Pak Victor DeThours. They taught him the Dutch / Indo Serak. Pak Herman Suwanda taught him his family system Mande Muda which contains, amoung many other things, the Serak system, without the Dutch influence.

As for Kuntaw, check the list, I know Guro describes it as arts that were influenced by the Chinese, thus Kune "fist" Tao "Way" or Kuntaw.




GURO INOSANTO’S SILAT INSTRUCTORS


EDDIE JAFRI
PANGIAN SILAT
HARIMAU
CIMANDE
SENDENG


LEO GAJE
MUSTIKA KWITANG
MAJAPAHIT


JOHN LACOSTE
KUNTAW SILAT
LANGKA SILAT
BERSILAT
KAPULUBOD


JOHN DE JONG
PUKULAN SILAT SERNANG
SERAK
MENENGKABAU


PAUL DETHOURS
SERAK
BUKTI NEGARA


NIK MUSTAPHA FAHIL MUSTAPHA
MALAYSIAN BERSILAT


HERMAN SUWANDA
MANDE MUDA

This is an partial list of the empire of the Madjapahit Empire.
I will try to get the complete list on for you guys.

Keep in mind, its the concept of the Madjapahit Empire, the coming together and sharing of information and trade, the unity, that caused the three founders of the current Madjapahit Martial Arts to use the name. Not the techniques or arts, so don't get to caught up in that idea.



THE ANCIENT MAJAPAHIT
EMPIRE



1. INDONESIA
2. MALAYSIA
3. SINGAPOR E
4. MARALIKAS (PHILIPPINES)
5. SIAM (THAILAND)
6. MADAGASCAR
7. EASTER ISLAND
8. CAMBODIA
9. INDO-CHINA
10. SOUTHERN BURMA
11. NEW GUINEA

As I understand it, the three founders of Madjapahit Martial Arts are
Guro Dan Inosanto
Tuhon Leo Gaje
Eddie Jafri

Tuhon Gaje representing the Filipino Martial Arts

Pak Eddie Jafri representing the Indonesian Martial Arts

Guro Inosanto representing the arts of Thailand, Malaysia and others.

Since Eddie Jafri hasn't been heard of (rumors abound) Tuhon Gaje and Guro Inosanto led the art.

A couple of years ago, Tuhon Gaje sent Guro Inosanto a formal letter, officially handing the Madjapahit system over to Guro Inosanto. I have seen and read this letter.

As I understand it Guro Inosanto coined the name Maphilindo, as you know from Malaysian, Philippines, Indonesian martial arts. I do not know why but it seems Tuhon Gaje is now using this term
nformation from
Guro Harley Elmore
Chief Instructor
Warriors Way International