Pukulan Pentjak Silat Serak
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Pukulan Pentjak Silat Serak (also Sera) is one style of the Pencak Silat family of Indonesian martial arts.
It was founded by Bapak (or Pak) Serak who was born in the Gunung Kendang Region and lived in West Java.
Serak is closely related to other systems of West Javanese Pencak Silat including Cimande and Cikalong. It tends to fight at closer range than these styles.
There are Serak players in Indonesia, Europe and the Americas. Most European and North American practitioners trace their background to the de Thoaurs and de Vries families. Like many, perhaps most, of the early Silat teachers in the West the de Vries and de Thoaurs families were Dutch-Indonesians, forced to leave Indonesia in the upheavals surrounding independence.
One proponent of Pukulan Pentjak Silat Serak, Guru Stevan Plinck, who is of Dutch-Indonesian decent, and studied under Paul de Thouars has dedicated much of his life and career to teaching and popularizing the art. Part of his work includes lectures and seminars internationally, and a series of DVDs entitled The Serak Series, which Plinck has produced in association with Lexington Film, LLC.
[edit] Pentjak Silat Anak Sera(k)
A Brief History of the Style Now Known as Anakserak
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Pentjak Silat is the romanized form of the concept for "stylized lightning motion." At its roots are the preservation of the self through the harmonious movements of redirection and deflection of movement, force and energy. A true master of Pentjak Silat practices the ability to ward-off attack through the redirection of energy in and around his/her immediate environment. This takes a few years to develop and requires the help of a master. An apprentice is usually brought into the fold and taught as a member of the family. In this manner the information and training is passed on from generation to generation. Entire Pentjak Silat societies were formed and from these societies a culture was developed. It is accepted that the West Javanese Pentjak Silat style reached a level unsurpassed in the islands and became the model for other styles to mold themselves after.
In more recent times a gifted practitioner of West Javanese Pentjak Silat created a method of training enabling his students to rapidly advance in the theory and movements of Pentjak Silat. Because of his raspy voice his students nicknamed him "Pak Serak." "Pak" (respectful title for an elder) "Serak" (meaning: "one with a raspy voice"). "Pak Serak."
Pak Serak became widely recognized as a "wise person," a gifted teacher and healer. He took on two apprentices and educated each one in the finer points of "Pentjak Silat Pak Serak" until they acquired mastery. One was named, "Abang Djut." Abang Djut taught two apprentices, brothers named John and Ernest de Vries who also reached a level of mastery that satisfied the requirements of the style. These two, in turn, taught "Pentjak Silat Pak Serak" to their nephew Maurice de Thouars until he too fulfilled the requirements.
In February of 1999 Maurice de Thouars gave recognition to one of his students and conferred upon him the designation of full apprentice. Then in May of 2004 Maurice de Thouars gave Dr. Andre Knust-Graichen the title of "heir and successor" in Pentjak Silat Pak Serak. Because of the nature of the practice of Pentjak Silat Dr. Andre was assigned the task of making the art more available to those interested in learning this form of Pentjak Silat. Therefore with the approval and guidance of his teacher, Dr. Andre has formulated a teaching approach which is called "Anakserak" (anak means child of ). This new approach would allow those individuals who express a sincere desire to learn an opportunity to do so.
Serak in North America owes a great debt to the de Thouars brothers:
Paul de Thouars - Main teacher of and inheritor of the lineage of Mas Djut from Johann de Vries and John de Vries Willem de Thouars - Although he is not a Serak stylist, 'Uncle Bill' has an encyclopedic knowledge of several systems of Kun Tao and Silat. He and his students have had a great effect on the development of the Southeast Asian martial arts in North America.
Maha Guru Victor de Thouars - is the Main teacher of the first lineage line through Johann and Suzanna de Vries de Thouars and inhertior of the lineage of Mas Roen from his teacher Pak Tisari Mardjoeki.
