Tribal History

Last Updated on Saturday, 10 September 2011 15:20

Archaeological evidence reveals that the origins of Indonesia’s fighting system known today as Pencak Silat dates back to the sixth century. From the two kingdoms of Srivijaya in Sumatra and the Majapahit in Java, this rare combative system was used consistently throughout Indonesia’s history. Many scholars suggest that the first known silat system was formed in the mountain’s of west Sumatra by the feared and respected Minangkabau tribes.

Traditional Minangkabau House

The Minangkabau’s fighting system was called harimau silek or tiger silat, based on the Sumatran tiger. As tribal tradition is mostly oral, having been passed down almost by word of mouth in the absence of written records, much of its history is known only through myths and archaeological evidence.

The Minangkabau harimau silek system known today as ‘harimau pencak silat’ is rarely seen through Indonesia’s peninsula, the art has become much like its inspiration and teacher the endangered Sumatran tiger. The combative style relates closely to the Minangkabau’s seni budaya (cultural artistic aspect) and the tribes adat (laws and ethics).

The development of harimau silat was in accordance to the terrain of the Minangkabu nagari or hometown. Due to the extreme marshland left by the monsoon and rain forest the style adapted a low ground hugging position where the pesilat or silat player will be able to attack and defend just like the tiger.

The influence of the Sumatran tiger is apparent in the dynamics and commitment to sufficiently destroy ones opponent but its general appearance remains graceful and hypnotic.

Sumatran Tiger

The last known documented pencak silat ancestry within the Minangkabau warrior tribes is the Lubuk Ngantungan clan.

From Guru and Pendekar or teachers the art sometimes refereed to as the dark gift has been handed down keeping the numbers few and the system alive.

This warrior lineage directly links to today’s modern Black Triangle Silat tribe, spreading from South East Asia across the globe.

• Poyen Lebeh (1610)
• Depati Nata Raja (1714)
• Depati Gya (1739)
• Setai Raja (1765)
• Jumadil Depati Raja Khalipa (1791)
• Depati Pangeran layang Negeri (1820)
• Pangeran Adi Mulia
• Merah Husin (1884)
• Neko Radjo Api (1892)
• Merah Kabri pasirah
• General (ret) Anak Marhaen Hanafi
• Maha Guru Adityo Mataram Hanafi
• Maha Guru Richard Crabbe de-Bordes
• Guru Besar Randolph Carthy
• Pendekar Paul Bennett
• Guru Scott McQuaid

Poyang Lebeh is said to be the founder of Marga Anak Lebel Bengkenang Nama. The system devised into Silek Harimau known today as Harimau Silat. He became active within the study of this fighting style in the sixteenth century and passed on this tiger design of combat to the next generation.

It would not be until the late eighteen hundreds when harimau silek would be first seen by the West. Pendekar Suci Neko Radjo Api was a feared silat warrior nicknamed "the Old Fire King" by the Dutch rulers of Indonesia due to his mystic and combative abilities. Together with the Patai Silek warriors on the Sumatran islands, he led a rebellion against the Dutch rule and the introduction of the poll tax ordinance. Refusing to pay poll tax for their own land, the infamous words 'patai', meaning no pay, would later become associated with Sumatran Silat styles.

The Sumatran Silat such as Silek Harimau is often referred to as rebellious silat, for this art can not be contained and will not conform to the IPSI (Ikatan Pencak Silat Indonesia) structure. Its legacy spans over 400 years and continues today.

Pendekar Suchi Neko Radjo Api is the great grand father of Maha Guru Adityo B. Mataram Hanafi. Minangkabau datuk (clan leader) Maha Guru Adityo Hanafi remains heir to this warrior combative system. He learned Silek Harimau from his father General Anak Marhaen Hanafi and he practiced in the Setai Hati style under the guidance of his mother Ibu Hanafi. He would further his Silat study under Guru Kiayi Hadji Komar.

The Harimau Pencak Silat system Guru Adtiyo Hanafi introduced to the West in the late 1960's was made up from three Indonesian fighting systems. Through its travels and evolution, the traditional Silek Harimau Minangkabau was combined with Seterlak which was originally designed to combat the Harimau fighting style. Influence of his Javanese mother's Silat, Setia Hati, is apparent in the more up right kudas (stances). Guru Hanafi would teach the Cuban military this conjunction of Harimau Silat in the late 1960's. After finishing his tour in Cuba, he later relocated to France where he founded the Palero Pencak Silat Association. This was the first documented introduction of Harimau Pencak Silat on European shores.

Maha Guru Adityo Hanafi

Maha Guru Hanafi’s core students were Guru Farid Mohammed, Guru Francois Pugary, and Maha Guru Richard Crabbe de-Bordes. After many years of instruction and guidance Maha Guru Hanafi’s student Guru de-Bordes brought the art to London, England. Guru de-Bordes specialized in the bela diri or self defense aspects of the system evolving and adapting the style to the urban jungle, later renaming the art Lumpat Harimau Pencak Silat.

He brought harimau pencak silat to the fore front of the martial arts world spreading the message across France, England, Spain, America and Africa.

Guru Scott McQuaid with one of his students, Pesilat Ian Llewellyn

The lineage and tribal adat continues with senior instructors Guru Besar Randolph Carthy in London, Pendekar Paul Bennett in Essex, Guru Kelly Smith in Dallas, and Guru Scott McQuaid in Kuala Lumpur.

In 2006, Guru Scott McQuaid founded the association of Black Triangle Silat that is dedicated to securing the art's legacy and deciphering the Minangkabau fighting systems.  Over the last ten years, he researched, studied and restored the Minang Senjata (weapons) bolt-on styles. The secrets and lost information of Silek Harimau continue to be uncovered.

The Minangkabau warriors are now found all over the earth, not through ethnic or native blood ties, but through a message that is an art form that continues to grow.

Black Triangle Silat Tribe Lineage Tree

Click on the image for a full-scale version.