S through T

SILAT

Pentjak Silat is the Indonesian set of Martial Arts, all with diferent styles and schools (over 400 of them).

Since Silat is an umbrella term covering many styles, it is not possible to give a single history. Some of the arts are very old (1000 years?), and some were developed less than 50 years ago. Also, as with other arts, the history of Silat is somewhat unclear. There is a mixture of indigenous techniques along with techniques borrowed from Chinese Wu Shu and Indian arts such as Kalaripayit.

Pentjak Silat depends heavily on an indigenous weapons and animal-styles heritage. In the (distant) past, it was predominately a weapons system; empty hand techniques are derived from the weapons forms. As a weapons system, it was guarded jealously as a royal art; over the centuries, Pentjak Silat became a village art.

Techniques are quite varied, although kicks are not emphasized much. Foot work is sophisticated and the development of stability is of major importance. The foot and and hand techniques are so subtle and intricate that they are often taught separately, then integrated after the student has mastered them individually. There is a good balance between offensive and defensive techniques.

A great master of Pentjak Silat is referred to as "pendekar." Pendekar describes someone who is not merely a great martial artist; apendekar has also attained a high level of spiritual development.

Senior students are called "guru" by beginning students, and a proficient instructor is called "kang."

As an example, Pentjak Silat Mande Muda has a complex and rather rigorous system of training, which includes classical empty hand and weapons forms, practical empty hand, weapons, and improvised weapons techniques, stretches, physical conditioning, and breath control. Although the forms are often performed with musical accompaniment, much like a dance, they are nevertheless extremely valuable both as conditioning methods and as encyclopedias of technique.

Sub-Styles:

Kali/Escrima/Arnis, Panantukan, Sikaran, Panandiakman, Dumog, Mande Muda, and many others.

Silat Buah

A secretive style whose techniques, no matter how small, solely revolve around self-defense. This style of silat demands the highest form of dedication from its practicioners due to its severity.

Silat Lincah

Silat Lincah is the biggest Malaysian style where it is still regarded as a combat system. This makes it much more 'live' than many of the martial arts imported from the East. The style was originally called Tarah meaning 'to sever' but this was considered to be too aggressive a name. Accordingly the style was renamed Lincah; translating to fast/aggressive. The style takes its principles from one of the old Malay warriors. The tenets of the style are humility, honour, respect, dignity, brotherhood and friendship. The footwork in Malaysian silat is different to that practised in many Indonesian systems by being more alive. Some systems teach silat without the seni. One of the most respected old silat masters said that silat without the art is not silat, but is merely fighting. Malaysian silat practitioners place a great deal of importance on this aspect of the system, and on how to incorporate it into real fight situations.

Silat Kwitang

Big mans art, chinese influence on indiginous art, vicious. Mustapha Kwitang is one of the expressions (as taught by Pendekar William Ingram).

Silat Pulut

A dance-like metheod often shown in ceremonies such as weddings.

This style of silat emphacises flashy movements that have little foundation in self-defense.

SISEMBA

Indonesian form of Kick Fighting

SMALL CIRCULAR FIST

Small Circular Fist (Syau Wan Chuan or Shao Wan Chuan) - A kung-fu style originating from the Northern Shaolin Monastery. Consisting of only one known form (or kuen), it utilizes precise footwork and quick kicking techniques with circular fist movements designed to defend against one or more opponents. It is usually taught within the curriculum of most traditional Northern Shaolin schools.

SOETJI HATI

A system of Silat. Some consider this the most sophisticated system of all in that it is both close and long range. Soetji hati is very refined in terms of timing and zoning principles. A good soetji hati practitioner resembles a mongoose fighting a snake. This system is the perfect bridge between serah and tjimande.

SOJUTSU

"Art of the spear." A style of combat using many types of spear, and practiced by Japanese warriors.

SOKOLI STALINA - STALIN'S FALCONS

This System was used by Stalin's bodyguards while he was in power for almost 30 years until his death in 1953 and then later by the Special Military Operations Units for the highest risk missions in KGB, GRU and other government facilities.

Close protection has always been the most vulnerable and challenging area in martial arts. The goal of Stalin's Falcons was to have a system that combined all the best components of the Russian System on all three levels of human abilities - the physical, the psychological and the psychic. And what is most important, to develop tactics that would not look like martial actions, tactics that are so subtle, that when they were applied it would be barely possible to see what happened and how.

SOSUISHITSU RYU

Variation of Takenouchi ryu jujutsu, this branch of jujutsu was reputedly founded by a samurai named Fugatami Hannosuke in 1650. Fugatami, after a period of purification in the Yoshino mountains, named his method after the "pure flowing waters" of the Yoshino River. He taught it to Shitama Mataichi, members of whose family, whether by direct lineage or by adoption, appear to have been masters of this art for centuries. Eventually, their school joined Jlgoro Kano's successful synthesis of "ju" arts, called judo.

STAV

Stav is a traditional European mind/body/spirit training system. Its origins are lost in the mists of time but the Hafskjold clan can trace their history back to at least 500 AD when the Hoskols became established at Drammensfjord in South Eastern Norway.

Just like a crystal, Stav has many facets. Generally speaking it is the educational system of the Hoskoll clan covering all aspects that was neccessary for the clan to survive, like crafts, warfare and healing. It also encompasses things like skiing, hawking, hunting, horsemanship and sailing. Furthermore it is a philosophical system that has preserved the thoughts and religious practices of Dark Age North-European society and as such is a treasure trove for scientific study. See below for more detailed explanation.

STOCKFECHTEN

Several types of german stick fencing

SUBAK

A native Korean Martial Art that was at its peak between 1147-1170 A.D

SUMAI

One system of Japanese unarmed techniques was Sumai, that developed out of what we now know as Sumo. It was more than merely a system of unarmed wrestling techniques, and probably was similar to many mixed martial arts and no holds barred fighting systems so popular today, as this account from the Nihon Shoki ("Chronicles of Japan," an historical record commissioned by the imperial family in 720 A.D.) demonstrates:

"It is recorded during the reign of the emperor Suinin in the year 23 B.C. Taema no Kuehaya (who was described as a noble of great strength and stature) fought Nomi no Sukune of Izumo province. During the course of this ferocious battle Nomi delivered a monstrous kick to the ribs of Taema (breaking them) and knocking him down. Nomi then finished him with a bone crushing stomp on Taema's hip. An injury Taema would die from a day later." (1)

In the interm sumo played no small part played no small part in the martial development of Japan, and eventually received imperial patronage (during the Nara period 710 to 794 A.D.). Although many of its techniques were be known by imperial officials and military men, Sumai was not the type of combat method which directly lent itself to deal with the rapidly evolving and improving methods of combat, such as the armored sword wielding adversary. It did, however, likely provide a suitable platform for modification, and no doubt inspired the art of Yoroi Kumi Uchi (grappling in armor).

SUMO

Sumo is a Japanese combative sport that pits one huge, loin cloth clad contestant against another in a sand covered ring. The men push and shove each other while attempting to execute a trip or throw. There are no weight classes. The object of the match is to force the opponent to touch the ground with any part of his body other than his feet. Before a contest, referees consecrate the ring and there is much ritual before and after each match.

Experts claim sumo is derived from a more martially oriented art, but in its current form, it is purely a martial sport with little or no self-defense utility. It is perhaps the most popular spectator sport in Japan.

Sumo was originally a Shinto divination rite and it is still performed as a religious rite during festivals when it called Shinji-zumo "god-service Sumo." An ancient Japanese proverb say a crying child will thrive, so in children's contests the first child to cry-wins.

SUNMADO

There are two types of Buddhist teachings, exoteric and esoteric. Sunmudo (Zen Martial arts), a training methodic in the form of esoteric Buddhism, has been secretly handed-down through the centuries.

The training materializes an eight-fold path developed within four noble truths into a series of body movements.

Sunmudo is a way to attain enlightenment through harmonizing the body, mind, and breath. By purifying and harmonizing the three parts of karama-body, speech and thought, this training enables one to accomplish samadhi and ultimately nirvana. This training method consists of calming yoga, chakra breathing, health exercise, dynamic martial art and weapon techniques.

One can attain a peaceful mind and body through the harmonization of "dynamic but calm" movement and reach the state of emancipation. Gumgang Banyawon offers an opportunity for teens and adults to train and develop a healthy physical education program and ultimately improves a social sport culture.

This training should enhance a Buddhist's faith and the energy obtained through this training will offer a wholesome motive to purify society.

Sunmudo is a great way to unwind from a stressful. It is a training method in the form of esoteric Buddhism. this form has been secretly handed down through the centuries. Sunmudo is a way to attain enlightenment through harmonizing the mind, body and breath. The basic training consists of yoga stretches, chakra breathing health exercises, dynamic martial art and weapon techniques. It is both vigorous and calming.

The Formal name of Sunmudo is Buddhism Gum Gang Young Gwan. It is a training method to extinguish worldly pains and attain enlightenment.

The characteristic of this training is the harmonization of the mind and body united with breathing. The trainers are adopt Zen as a way of life.

Sunmudo is the Sun (Zen) martial art handed down from generation to generation by Buddhist families from the time when Buddha was alive 2,544 years ago. Sunmudo came to Korea during the early years of the Shilla Kingdom (57 B.C.

-A.D.936). And influenced Hwarangdo. Hwarang which means the flower of youth referred to the units of elite warriors,drawn from ruling class families.

The Zen martial art was then handed on to monk soldiers during the Goryo Kingdom (918-1392). Until the Gabo Gyeongjang or Reform of 1894 during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910).

Buddhist monks were encouraged to practice the Zen martial art. However, it was neglected as the modernization of the country began to proceed in late 19th century.

The Most Venerable Yang Ik Sunim, a monk at Bomosa temple revived the art by systematizing it. Then,the Venerable Jeok Un Sunim, a monk at Golgulsa temple worked to popularize it in the 1970s. The name, Sunmudo was given to the Zen martial art by Jeok Un Sunim in 1984.

'Sun', is the way to attain an intuitive illumination of mind and spirit through meditation. 'Mu' means 'martial' and 'Do' means 'way'.

Those who practice Sunmudo say one can attain a higher state of mind through both movement of body and spiritual calm. Non-Buddhists tend to think of Sunmudo purely as a martial art, but it is in fact a way to practice Zen. Along with other martial arts such Taekkyon and Gyongdang.

Sunmudo is a traditional martial art of Korea that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the National Tourism Corporation are recommending to foreigners. Sunmudo is being taught not only in Seoul, Busan, Daegu and other big cities in Korea. Also in Los Angeles and Florida as well Toronto in Canada, France-Toluse, Salzburg in Austria.

TAE KWON DO

The five original Korean Kwans ("schools") were: Chung Do Kwan, Moo Duk Kwan (the art of Tang Soo Do), Yun Moo Kwan, Chang Moo Kwan, and Chi Do Kwan. These were founded in 1945 and 1946. Three more Kwans were founded in the early 1950's - Ji Do Kwan, Song Moo Kwan, and Oh Do Kwan.

After fifty years of occupation by Japan (which ended in 1945) and after the division of the nation and the Korean War, Korean nationalism spurred the creation of a national art in 1955, combining

the styles of the numerous kwans active within the country (with the exception of Moo Duk Kwan, which remained separate - therefore Tang Soo Do is still a separate art from TKD today). Gen. Hong Hi Choi was primarily responsible for the creation of this new national art, which

was named Tae Kwon Do to link it with Tae-Kyon (a native art). Earlier unification efforts had been called Kong Soo Do, Tae Soo Do, etc. Many masters had learned Japanese arts during the occupation, or had learned Chinese arts in Manchuria. Only a few had been lucky enough

to be trained by the few native martial artists who remained active when the Japanese banned all martial arts in Korea. Choi himself had taken Tae-Kyon (a Korean art) as a child, but had earned his 2nd dan in Shotokan Karate while a student in Japan.

Primarily a kicking art. There is often a greater emphasis on the sport aspect of the Art. Tae-Kwon-Do stylists tend to fight at an extended range, and keep opponents away with their feet. It is a hard/soft, external, fairly linear style. It is known for being very powerful.

Training tends to emphasize sparring, but has forms, and basics are important as well. There is a lot of competition work in many dojongs.

The World Taekwondo Federation is the governing body recognized by the International Olympic Committee, and as a result WTF schools usually emphasize Olympic-style full contact sparring. The WTF is represented in the U.S. by the U.S. Taekwondo Union (USTU).

The International Taekwondo Federation is an older organization founded by Hong Hi Choi and based out of Canada. It tends to emphasize a combination of self-defense and sparring, and uses forms slightly older than those used by the WTF.

The American Taekwondo Association is a smaller organization similar in some ways to the ITF. It is somewhat more insular than the ITF and WTF, and is somewhat unique in that it has copyrighted the forms of its organization so that they cannot be used in competition by non-members.

There are numerous other federations and organizations, many claiming to be national (AAU TKD has perhaps the best claim here) or international (although few are), but these three have the most members. All of these federations, however, use similar techniques (kicks, strikes, blocks, movement, etc.), as indeed does Tang Soo Do (another Korean art, founded by the Moo Duk Kwan, that remained independent during the unification/foundation of Tae Kwon Do).

TAE SOO DO

Tae Soo Do was created by Supreme Grandmaster Dr. Joo Bang Lee as an undergraduate program to Hwa Rang Do(r). Like Karate and Tae Kwon Do, Tae Soo Do(r) focuses on basic human motion. Techniques are simple yet effective. Students learn proper balance, speed, power and control. Students are also introduced to principles of sparring which are highly applicable to self-defense and martial sport tournaments settings.

In addition to empty handed techniques, Tae Soo Do students are instructed in basic weaponry. Beginning belts focus on San Jyel Bong (Twin Sticks with rope/chain), Intermediate students are taught Jung Bong (Staff) and Advanced students are taught Juk Do (Bamboo Sword) and Gum Do (Way of the one true sword). Students are taught weapon forms for each of these three weapons. These forms focus on study of technique, but are also are perfect for tournament competition.

As a traditional martial art, Tae Soo Do practitioners are instructed in breathing and meditation exercises. Tae Soo Do helps individuals to build a sense of self-confidence as well as physical and mental well being. As in Hwa Rang Do, an emphasis is placed on proper ethical conduct through discipline and respect.

Tae Soo Do is designed for those individuals who have less than one year or prior experience in a martial art, and are interested in increasing their level of physical fitness while learning effective self-defense techniques. Tae Soo Do is perfect for children and adults of all ages and abilities.

Upon completion of the Tae Soo Do program a student continues their education in the Hwa Rang Do program. A Tae Soo Do black belt begins their training in Hwa Rang Do as a yellow sash.

T'AI CHI CH'AUN (TAI JI QUAN)

One of the three orthodox "internal" styles of Chinese martial art (the other two being Hsing Yi Ch'uan and Pa Kua Chang). The term "T'ai Chi" refers to the ancient Chinese cosmological concept of the interplay between two opposite yet complementary forces (Yin and Yang) as being the foundation of creation. "Ch'uan" literaly means "fist" and denotes an unarmed method of combat. T'ai Chi Ch'uan as a martial art is based on the principle of the soft overcoming the hard.

The origins of T'ai Chi Ch'uan are often attributed to one Chang San Feng (a Taoist of either the 12th or 15th century depending on the source), of Chen Jia Gou, Wen County, Henan Province, China, who created the art after witnessing a fight between a snake and a crane. These stories were popularized in the early part of this century and were the result of misinformation and the desire to connect the art with a more famous and ancient personage. All of the various styles of T'ai Chi Ch'uan which are in existence today can be traced back to a single man, Chen Wang Ting, a general of the latter years of the Ming Dynasty. After the fall of the Ming and the establishment of the Ching Dynasty (1644), Chen Wang Ting returned to the Chen village and created his forms of boxing. Originally containing up to seven forms,only two forms of Chen Style T'ai Chi Ch'uan have survived into the present.

The Art was only taught to members of the Chen clan until a promising young outsider named Yang Lu Chan was accepted as a student in the early part of the 19th century. Yang Lu Chan (nicknamed "Yang without enemy" as he was reportedly a peerless fighter) modified the original Chen style and created the Yang style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, the most popular form practiced in the world today. Wu Yu Hsiang leaned the Art from Yang Lu Chan and a variation of the original Chen form from Chen Ching Ping (who taught the "small frame" version of Chen T'ai Chi Ch'uan) and created the Wu style. A man named Hao Wei Chen learned the Wu style from Wu Yu Hsiang's nephew and taught the style to Sun Lu Tang, who in turn created the Sun style (Sun was already an established master of Hsing Yi Chuan and Pa Kua Chang when he learned T'ai Chi Ch'uan. He combined his knowledge of the other arts when creating his style). Yang Lu Chan had another student, a Manchu named Ch'uan You, who in turned taught the Art to his son, Wu Jian Ch'uan. Wu Chian Ch'uan popularized his variation of the Yang style, which is commonly refered to as the Wu Chian Ch'uan style. In recent times (this century) there have been many other variations and modifications of the Art, but all may be traced back through the above masters to

the original Chen family form.

Complete T'ai Chi Ch'uan arts include basic exercises, stance keeping (Chan Chuang), repetitive single movement training, linked form training, power training (exercises which train the ability to issue energy in a ballistic pulse), weapons training (which includes straight sword, broadsword, staff and spear), and various two-person exercises and drills (including "push-hands" sensitivity drills). A hallmark of most styles of T'ai Chi Ch'uan is that the movements in the forms are done quite slowly, with one posture flowing into the next without interruption. Some forms (the old Chen forms for example) alternate between slow motion and explosive movements. Other styles divide the training into forms which are done slowly at an even tempo and separate forms which are performed at a more vigorous pace. The goal of moving slowly is to insure correct attention is paid to proper body mechanics and the maintenance of the prerequisite relaxation.

Training exercises can be divided into two broad categories: solo exercises, and drills which require a partner. A beginner will usually begin training with very basic exercises designed to teach proper structural alignment and correct methods of moving the body, shifting the weight, stepping, etc. All of the T'ai Chi Ch'uan arts have at their very foundation the necessity of complete physical relaxation and the idea that the intent leads and controls the motion of the body. The student will also be taught various stance keeping postures which serve as basic exercises in alignment and relaxation as well as a kind of mind calming standing meditation. A basic tenet of all "internal" martial arts is that correct motion is born of absolute stillness. Once the basics are understood, the student will progress to learning the formal patterns of movement ("forms") which contain the specific movement patterns and techniques inherent in the style.

Traditionally, single patterns of movement were learned and repeated over and over until mastered, only then was the next pattern taught. Once the student had mastered an entire sequence of movements individually, the movements were taught in a linked sequence (a "form"). The goal of training is to cultivate a kind of "whole body" power. This refers to the ability to generate power with the entire body, making full use of one's whole body mass in every movement. Power is always generated from "the bottom up," meaning the powerful muscles of the legs and hips serve as the seat of power. Using the strength of the relatively weaker arms and upper body is not emphasized. The entire body is held in a state of dynamic relaxation which allows the power of the whole body to flow out of the hands and into the opponent without obstruction.

The T'ai Chi Ch'uan arts have a variety of two person drills and exercises designed to cultivate a high degree of sensitivity in the practitioner. Using brute force or opposing anothers power with power directly is strictly discouraged. The goal of two person training is to develop sensitivty to the point that one may avoid the opponent's power and apply one's own whole body power wher the opponent is most vulnerable. One must cultivate the ability to "stick" to the opponent, smothering the others' power and destroying their balance. Finally, the formal combat techniques must be trained until they become a reflexive reaction.

Modified forms of T'ai Chi Ch'uan for health have become popular worldwide in recent times because the benefits of training have been found to be very conducive to calming the mind, relaxing the body, relieving stress, and improving one's health in general.

Modern vs. Traditional training methods

Traditionally, a beginning student of Tai Chi Chuan was first required to practice stance keeping in a few basic postures. After the basic body alignments had settled in, the student would progress to performing single movements from the form. These were performed repetitively on a line. After a sufficient degree of mastery had been obtained in the single movements, the student was taught to link the movements together in the familiar long form. Now, it is not uncommon for a student to be taught the long form immediately, with no time being spent on stance keeping or on basic movement exercises. Since the Long Form trains all of the qualities developed in the basic exercises, this does not really produce a dilution of resulting martial art. It does however make it more difficult for beginner to learn. The duration of the basic training depends on the student and the instructor; however, it would not be unusual for a relatively talented student, with good instruction, to be able to defend themselves effectively with Tai Chi after as little as a year of training.

Chen Wang Ting's original form of Chen style T'ai Chi Ch'uan is often refered to as the "Old Frame" (Lao Chia) and its second form as "Cannon Fist" (Pao Chui). In the latter part of the 18th century, a fifth generation decendant of Chen Wang Ting, Chen You Ben simplified the original forms into sets which have come to be known as the "New Style" (Hsin Chia). Chen You Ben's nephew, Chen Ching Ping, created a variation of the New Style which is known as the "Small Frame" (Hsiao Jia) or "Chao Pao" form. All of these styles have survived to the present.

The Yang style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan is a variation of the original Chen style. The forms which were passed down from the Yang style founder, Yang Lu Chan have undergone many modifications since his time. Yang Lu Chan's sons were very proficient martial artists and each, in turn, modified their father's art. The most commonly seen variation of the form found today comes from the version taught by Yang Lu Chan's grandson, Yang Cheng Fu. It was Yang Cheng Fu who first popularized his family's Art and taught it openly. Yang Chen Fu's form is characterizes by open and extended postures. Most of the modern variations of the Yang style, as well as the standardized Mainland Chinese versions of T'ai Chi Ch'uan are based on his variation of the Yang form.