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Pentjak Silat is known to be the best combative art of Indonesia, with Sumatra considered to be the home of this art. It was the Javanese who raised the technical level and were responsible for its wide development. It owes its unique style to a direct influence of the Sumatra combative movements, which had been greatly affected by continentle Asian patterns. There are many Western Javanese forms, Tjikalong, Tjimande, Tjimanjan, Tjikabon, all are specific systems of Pentjak Silat. Many Pentjak Silat styles are based upon animal movements, for example the Kabon is the (Bat), and Matjan is the (Tiger), within there movements they have the ability to drop to the ground then spring up to attack with visious grabbing and hitting.
The hand movements are used to parry, pull, circle, or hit to direct and disrupt the base to create openings for technique, giving the opportunity to foot sweep or throw.
Silat has many footwork patterns (Langkah), that are used. For example the (Tiga), triangle or the four points of the (Kurung), and the five points of (Lima). All are used with (Djurus), short forms used for application and are the fundamentals of body motion used for attack and defence.
Various weapons are incorporated into these systems of Pentjak Silat. The staff (Toya), the short knife (Pisau), the long blade (Parang), the heavy cleaver (Golok), and the double edge of the (Kris).
Kuntao is found all over Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, it is not directly connected with Pentjak Silat, it is a product of the Chinese settlers from centuries ago and contains Chinese fighting arts brought to those areas. Kuntao means 'fist(Kun) way(Tao), And contains the hole spectrum of hand to hand combat and embrace the use of both empty hand, and weapon fighting tactics.
