History

The History of Silat Gayong

  Silat Seni Gayong

               Silat Seni Gayong is an art of self-defense. It is a defensive art, an art for stopping wars not creating them. Silat Seni Gayong is not merely about self-defense; it is also a way to develop the self - Belajar Mengenal Diri - ( becoming a better person so that one may serve humanity). Silat Seni Gayong is a tool strengthen relationships among mankind. It is a great way to develop and to increase physical fitness, flexibility, mental conditioning, discipline and self-confidence.

            The Philosophy of Silat Seni Gayong is strongly related to the Malay adat istiadat ( Malay cultures  and  traditions ), morals, adab (respect) and the teaching of religion. Religion is the inspiration, motivation and guidance for high-quality behavior. It is a mark of peace and harmony.

             At one time, Silat Seni Gayong was taught only to select people. It was not until early 1942 when, on the Sudong Island village of Singapore, inhabitants were worried about an attack by the Japanese army and the secret of Silat Seni Gayong become more widely known. The incident was the first step in making Silat Seni Gayong available to the public. From the Sudong Island, Silat Seni Gayong spread to other vicinities such as the island of Seking, Bukum, Sebaruk, Sekijang, Sembilan, Semakom and Damar island. It spread throrughout the Indonesian islands as a way to protect the villages from pirates.
               

History of Silat Seni Gayong

               Seni Gayong Silat, or more correctly pronounced in the Malay language Silat Seni Gayong, is believed to have originated from the Bugis tribe in the Sulawesi island (also known as Celebes Island).  The  original name of Silat Seni Gayong was Silat Seni Sendi Harimau. It is believed that Silat Seni Gayong has existed since the era of the Malacca's Sultanate in the Malaya Peninsula in the late fourteenth century during the empire of the Sultan Mansor Shah. In 1511, during the intervention of the Portuguese in Malacca, Tun Biajid, son of Laksamana (Admiral) Hang Tuah and his followers employed silat to protect the Malay empire and its people.
                Silat Seni Gayong continued to spread from one generation to the next and later to the grandfather of Meor Abdul Rahman, Syed Zainal Al-Attas, who lived in the era of Pendekar Dato Bahaman and Mat Kilau in 1700. Malaysians considered Dato Bahaman and Mat Kilau as freedom fighters during the British occupation of Malaysia. At that time, mostly the Bugis people of Makasar studied Silat Seni Gayong. There were the people that brought Silat Seni Gayong into the Malay Peninsula.
               The Mahaguru/Grandmaster of Silat Seni Gayong was Dato Meor Abdul Rahman. He was the descendant of Bugis and Arabs. His great grandfather, Prince Daeng Kuning (Daeng meaning Prince of Royal Bugis), was a famous warrior also known as Panglima Hitam (The Black Warrior). Daeng Kuning was recognized as a descendent of the family of warriors identified as Pahlawan Gayong.
               Pahlawan Gayong was a famous warrior, highly intimidating and respected by the public in Makasar, Riau, Siak and all of the surrounding islands. History indicates that the Malay legendary warrior Hang Tuah inherited Silat Seni Gayong, which was ultimately passed down to Dato Meor Abdul Rahman.

Reference from the official book of Silat Seni Gayong
Title:- The Malay Art of Self-Defense
Author:- Sheikh Shamsudin
Website reference:- http://malayatiger.webs.com/history.htm