The Perseverance of Silat Beksi Warrior

KOMPAS/SEKAR GANDHAWANGI

Muslih

For more than five decades, Muslih has been delving into and teaching silat beksi (traditional martial art) typical of Betawi or Jakarta. The title of chief instructor accorded to him is assumed as a mandate he has to execute. He is determined to raise the dignity of his students while handling down the cultural heritage of Betawi.

At a glance, Muslih looks like most people. Of medium build, he has a wrinkled face. As he was waiting for Kompas in front of the padepokan or training compound on Friday (19/6/2020), he was not different from other residents of Pondok Aren, South Tangerang.

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Such an appearance seems deceptive. At his comparatively old age, the physical power of Muslih has not declined. He moves fast, is strong and accurate. He was quick to grab an opponent’s hand, twisting and pulling it. When the opponent was shaky, Muslih’s elbow was right before their eyes and was ready to hit the opponent’s face.

His hand grasp left a hot sensation on the skin. He wasn’t kidding when he demonstrated the parrying move. In fact, he displayed the feat while sitting in a relaxed posture on the floor. The prompt reaction has resulted from his constant training since 1966.

In 1971, Muslih for the first time instructed over a dozen village youths. Since then, Muslih has taught the basics of silat beksi. It takes 3-4 years to learn the 12 basic forms of this art.

Not all students have finished their silat practice.

After some decades, Muslih’s compound was formally named Perguruan Silat Selempang Betawi, in 1997 to be exact. The club name was derived from the last form of silat beksi, called Selempang 12. The compound center is located in Pondok Aren, South Tangerang, Banten.

“Not all students have finished their silat practice. I have once taught 42 people but only four of them managed to complete the entire training,” said Muslih

The fact didn’t dampen his spirit. Through his perseverance and dedication to silat, Muslih’s instruction was expanding. Silat exercises that began in his house yard have now grown into 33 compounds spread over South Tangerang and Jakarta. His students originally just over a dozen have now run into the hundreds.

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Muslih

“My vision is to raise the dignity of students. They are prepared to become instructors someday rather than only disciples. So far around 60 students have taught silat as my successors,” said Muslih with pride.

He added that the title of instructor was given after he had succeeded in training the students to teach. These successors later acted as Muslih’s trainer substitutes. Muslih is now fostering and monitoring his 33 training compounds.

Unifying means

The process leading to his silat instruction was accidental. One day in 1971, Muslih got involved in a fight as a resident’s ceremony in the yard of his village. The fight occurred when a man strode over Muslih, who was squatting. As the action was considered impolite, Muslih approached the man and warned him.

The warning just ended in a brawl that later involved other people. Muslih was mobbed by 11 men. Some of them attacked with long bamboo sticks, one of which had a knife attached to whip Muslih. Luckily, only his shirt was torn.

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His opponents were defeated one after another. Of the 11 people, seven were beaten, two of whom sustained serious injuries. Then they all were begging for mercy. Muslih won without any physical injury.

“A few days later over a dozen youths watching the brawl came to my house to seek instruction. They witness the fight and my silat action,” he said. Muslih didn’t reject their visit. Since then, he has felt the call to practice as a silat instructor.

Formerly, nearly all the students of Muslih were young people in his previous village, Pondok Ranji, South Tangerang. They were gathered and taught how to behave with courtesy and responsibility.

According to him, silat is not a weapon of fighting, but rather a means of unification. This is in conformity with the history of silat beksi, which was taught by Lie Ceng Oek, a chief instructor of Chinese descent in Dadap village, Tangerang. Silat beksi used to serve as a medium of Islamic propagation.

Muslih“Silat today is no longer for the glory of Islam, but rather for unification. Wherever we are, whoever people are, they are fellow humans so that we should never be fighting,” said Muslih.

In 1998, when riots prevailed in Jakarta and its vicinity, the youths of Muslih’s silat compound took to the streets. They were safeguarding their respective areas from rioters. The compound members were still in high spirits at the time, because their training ground had just been renamed Perguruan Silat Selempang Betawi.

Muslih and compound students heard reports that rioters would wreak havoc in Bintaro Plaza, South Tangerang. They immediately moved to the location. A truck carrying people and gasoline was blocked. An imminent mishap was thus successfully prevented.

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“Many residents of our village worked in Bintaro Plaza. If the building had been burned, many of our fellow villagers would have lost their jobs, So we went there to protect the location,” he said.

The rioters later turned to another place. Muslih noted that a shop close to Bintaro Plaza was the rioters’ new target. They set the shop ablaze.

As time goes by, Muslih hopes his silat training will continue. Silat beksi and its lofty values is seen as the cultural heritage of Betawi. It should be passed on to future generations so as not to vanish with the lapse of time.

To this end, compound members are demanded to maintain good behavior. He never gets bored with appealing that youths should keep good company and avoid fighting, let alone illicit drugs. Members who are found involved in drug abuse will be expelled.

“I hope silat beksi can be further handed down to coming generations. In essence, the four principles in silat beksi are silat, shalat (five obligatory prayers), shalawat (prayer to praise the Prophet), and silaturahmi (friendly gathering),” added Muslih.

Muslih

Born: Tangerang, 19 November 1949

Education:

- Primary School, Pondok Ranji (1967 graduate)

- Hidayah Islamic School, Kampung Utan (1973 graduate).