It is with great sadness that I report the passing of another great master. Mohammed bin Chik, better known as Pak Mat Kedidi, passed on peacefully at his home in Endau, Johor at 1.05am this morning.
Silat Melayu: The Blog, Silat Melayu Community and SMC Innovations wish to convey their deepest condolences to his family, students and those who gained benefit from his knowledge.
Al Fatihah.
The late Pak Jaafar was the nephew of Mahaguru Yahya Said, source of all Silat Kalimah and Silat Cekak strains currently existing today. Pak Jaafar himself claimed to have inherited 4 different variants of the Cekak style, of which he was in the midst of propagating since the middle of last year.
Unfortunately for the rest of us, we have lost a gem, who was just about to be discovered again. The first and last time I met him was during the TekpiWorks Seminar organised by SMC Innovations and Whyfit Sport Adventure last year. He was a humble and quiet man, but one who shared his knowledge selflessly.
We shall miss him.
Al Fatihah.
The Malaysian silat scene has suffered greatly these past few months and today, it is my sad duty to report another gem has been called to the hereafter. Pendita guru utama Anuar Wahab, founder of Pertubuhan Seni Gayung Fatani Malaysia, has passed away today at 4.15pm at the Kajang Hospital. I have only personally met Pendita Anuar once in my lifetime, which was at the Kuala Lumpur Silat Tournament several years ago when he sat on the Dewan Pendekar.
My introduction to him was facilitated by Pak Guru Sani Zainol Abidin, guru utama of Silat Kuntau Tekpi, one of his admittedly best friends. I was privileged to listen to them chat and joke with one another. I was star struck.
The only other time I got to speak to him was a two-hour phone call when I was translating the Seni Gayung Fatani episode of GELANGGANG (a local martial arts documentary) into English. Not having studied Gayung Fatani, I found it difficult to catch several of the terms he used, much less understand what they meant.
Those two hours, when a true master of silat elucidated on the totality of silat to a total stranger (he barely remembered me from the tournament) was precious to say the least. In those 120 minutes, I understood more about silat than I had in the last four years of my sweating and bleeding on the grass. I only wish I had taken the opportunity to go further with him.
His contributions to the silat world will never be forgotten. When Malaysia needed a national silat body to represent it to the world, Seni Gayung Fatani under his then-young leadership (compared to the older masters he fraternised with) helped form the steering committee for the Malaysian National Silat Federation (PESAKA).
He also helped to induct Malaysia to the newly Indonesian-created sport, Silat Olahraga by studying their methods and finding ways to adapt Malaysian silat to the ring. When others sought to distance themselves from the sport, he found ways to incorporate silat around the strict rules that almost killed the art.
From this, he contributed two underappreciated tomes from his research: 'Silat Olahraga' published both in Bahasa Melayu and English and 'Teknik Dalam Seni Silat Melayu' (Techniques in Seni Silat Melayu) which sought to document the unique methods and techniques within silat.
His writings appeared throughout Malaysian martial arts magazines and he remained, to this day, one of the few silat masters with a Masters degree and had the ability to conduct academically qualified hoplological and anthroplogical research into silat. Because of these stark achievements, guru Azlan Ghanie of Silat Melayu Keris Lok 9, through SENI BELADIRI magazine, saw it fit to anoint him 'Pendita' (high scholar) of silat. And trust me when I say, guru Azlan does not shower such praise lightly.
Pendita Anuar also created a standardised silat syllabus which he planned to teach at schools across Malaysia under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, which he called Silat Malaysia. Unfortunately, dissenting voices from within PESAKA and elsewhere summarily put a stop to that, leaving his dream unrealised.
Through his students, he also recently set up the Pakar Silat Melayu Sebenar ('True Silat Melayu Expert' - not a boast, according to guru Azlan) website hosted at http://silatmelayu.com.mymelayu.com.my/ which distributes his ebooks and reading material. Unfortunately, man plans but Allah disposes. He was due to launch his latest book when he passed away. It is unknown if the book will continue to go on sale as scheduled.
I have no doubt, thousands, if not millions of Malaysians will weep if they ever knew what wisdosm Pendita Anuar brought to his grave. Al Fatihah.
Al Fatihah
Pak Muslim Haji Nordin, guru utama of Silat Kalimah Amin has passed away today in the afternoon. He will be buried tomorrow morning in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.
I first met Pak Muslim several years ago when I was the editor of SENI BELADIRI magazine. I interviewed him for the cover story and found his life an interesting one. He studied directly under Mahaguru Yahya Said and had an innovative approach to developing Silat Kalimah.
He began his life in Silat Kalimah under Pak Guru Redzuan Long's tutelage, which saw him gaining the affectionate title of Champion Instructor. Later, he continued his studies with guru Redzuan's master, Mahaguru Yahya Said when he moved to Sungai Petani.
As a result of organisational issues, he was forced to reregister the Silat Kalimah state chapter in Negeri Sembilan as Persatuan Seni Silat Kalimah Amin as the principal of that organisation.
Another star is snuffed, taking all his years of knowledge and experience with him. We will miss him. Al Fatihah.
We at SilatMelayu.Com and Silat Melayu: The Blog would like to express our condolences to Cikgu Md. Saad Ismail of Silat Kalimah on the passing of his loving wife, Allahyarhamah Normi Ibrahim. She passed on in Ampang, Selangor at 10.05am on the 17th of April 2008.
May Allah bless her soul and reunite them on the Day of Judgement. Al Fatihah.
Al-Fatihah
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of, Allahyarhamah Che Puan binti Matdin, the wife of Allahyarham (late) Pak Guru Zainol Abidin Endut and mother of Pak Guru Sani Zainol Abidin of Silat Kuntau Tekpi at 4:35pm today.
She was the pillar that supported two generations of masters and she will continue to be so in our hearts. The Tekpi family will miss her greatly.
