Seni Gayung Fatani

Seni Gayung Fatani is one of the most artistic types of the Malay martial art silat, which some mistake for a traditional dance.

The steps and hand movements each contain their own meaning and can easily lock or disable an opponent.

This style is claimed to be one of the most ancient styles in peninsular Malaysia which still maintains its traditional lessons, besides the addition of the modern system.

It is also known as silat patani, gayung patani, gayung fatani, gayung and silat pulut. Pak Andak Embong taught this style to Tuan Haji Anuar in 1965. Tuan Haji Anuar now is the Guru Utama (Grandmaster) Pertubuhan Seni Gayung Fatani Malaysia (PSGFM).

Origins
Seni Gayung Fatani originally came from the state of Patani, a Malay State in the south of Thailand. It was first brought to Kedah in Malaysia in 1840 by Syeikh Abd. Rahman, a Malay man from Patani. Later his son Tok Yah Ramli expanded this style. Another student from Syeikh Abd. Rahman was Pak Teh Mat Ali who taught this style to Pak Andak Embong.

When it was registered in 1976 as an association under the Government's Club Act, the name was formalized to Seni Gayung Fatani (in Arabic, fatani means wise or having wisdom). This style is the combination of the seni(art) that consists of movements that are soft and holds its own meaning practiced together with muzik silat baku or traditional silat music and also beladiri(self defence) techniques against weapons.

Syllabus
The new syllabus outlined by Tn. Hj. Anuar has five different levels for the exponent to master. Each level teaches techniques of its own while maintaining the same basic form. Some of these are:

1. Bunga Sembah
It contains 16 steps and in each lies its own meaning or technique. The bunga sembah is considered as bunga or artistic form.

2. Buah Pukulan
Buah Pukulan are sets of combat in which the techniques an exponent learns at each level are meant to be applied.

3. Tapak Empat
In the Tapak Empat, the steps of the bunga sembah are performed in a square. It is meant to teach the exponent fluidity of movement whilst the silat pulut performed at the end is meant for the exponent to apply the techniques learnt.

4. Jurus Olahraga
The jurus olahraga is the offensive from of the bunga sembah in which the steps are either blocks, repelling of attacks or attacks.

5. Silat Pulut
Silat pulut is the slow, technique-infused version of combat played out between two opponents. It is meant for the exponent to display his/her adeptness at silat by using techniques. It is also so that the individuals who are playing it out to gain insight on how their techniques can be deflected or used against them in combat.

Grandmaster
Tuan Haji Anuar bin Haji Abd. Wahab AMN is the current grandmaster of Seni Gayung Fatani Malaysia. Since 1957, he has studied several silat styles such as Silat Harimau, Silat Cekak, Silat Sendeng, Silat Kuntau Betawi, and Seni Silat Helang Sewah at Kampung Kota Hutan Melintang, Perak from members of his family (but they did not teach him Kuntau Cimande).

In 1965, he learned Seni Silat Gayung Fatani in Sabak Bernam, Selangor. The year 1976 marked his foundation of the Pertubuhan Seni Gayung Fatani Malaysia as Chairman and Grandmaster.

In 1983, through his efforts, PSGFM became a founding member of Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan Malaysia (PESAKA), the National Silat Federation of Malaysia. He played an active role in the development of silat at school-level by his active involvements in PESAKA and PERSILAT (International Silat Federation) and has various literary works in his name such as the book he wrote on Silat Olahraga.

He is responsible for developing the new revised curriculum for Gayung Fatani. He is also the founder of "silat olahraga" (the combative sport of silat). In his effort to develop the silat curriculum came "Silat Malaysia". It is the first curriculum to be recognized by the government and taught in schools all over Malaysia.

This article was sourced from Wikipedia. The official website is http://pusatcemerlang.com