Pendekar or Pendita?

Based on what little I know, Pendekar is claimed to source from three phrases, depending on who you ask, the popular 'Pandai Akal' (Intelligent Mind), 'Pendek Akal' (Conclusive Mind) or 'Pendek Akar' (The Conclusive Root). Pendek means short. The two terms are different, simply because the word pandit, which is Pundit in English also exists as a separate term in Bahasa Melayu, 'Pendita'. A Pendita is someone of high esoteric knowledge, usually non-combat related, a thinker, a scholar and is a much older term used to describe sages and saints before the coming of Islam. Today, Pendita is used to socially anoint great Melayu thinkers. A famous example is Pendita Zaaba, our late father of the modern Melayu language, who was active in the mid-20th century. Recently also, the Malaysian martial arts community, through the SENI BELADIRI martial arts magazine, have unofficially titled guru Anwar Wahab with Pendita, the founder of the modern form of Seni Gayung Fatani, who is known as a scholar of silat in general.

SABAH EMERGE OVERALL CHAMPIONS IN SCHOOL SILAT MEET

SEREMBAN, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- Sabah emerged as overall champions in the Malaysian School and International Invitational Silat Championship which ended here today

They were overall champions in the primary school category and won four events including primary and secondary school women's silat dance

Terengganu won overall champions in the secondary school category while hosts Negeri Sembilan won the secondary school men's silat dance event

The tournament began on Aug 19 and involved 570 participants from 17 contingents including from Brunei and Indonesia

Kelantan will host the championship next year

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