Continuing where we left off, basically with a no bullshit discussion of Jurus-jurus (meaning plural—Indonesian language does not pluralize with the addition of an “S” but by double usage).
Part 2
So you’ve got these forms in your training and maybe there are 4 or 5 or 10 or 12? More? It doesn’t really matter how many there are. What matters is the work you put into doing them. What matters is your understanding of them. What matters is your ability to actually use them according to their designed purpose.
Let’s start by looking outside of pencak silat. And, since we are “Silat Dirty Boxing” focused let’s start there. It’s an easy example and ties together a lot of ideas. So a boxer is taught combinations that build flow and make sense for power development once they understand the basic strikes and footwork.
They start off learning the jab, then add the cross, and then the lead hook, and the overhand hook, lead uppercut and rear uppercut essentially. There are some others but that’s the basic gist. Pretty soon after that they begin to learn how to put these strikes together along with their footwork, bodywork and headwork (basically their Langkah and Ales/Elak). Over time, they work these from shadow boxing, to mitt work, to bag work, to ring work. They will use these combinations in many different ways by adding in feinting, shielding, baiting, checking, range manipulation, etc.
It’s good stuff because it’s responsive, it’s based on how people actually engage, and there’s opportunity for injecting and modifying elements to fit the needs of the situation. It helps to build flow, reaction, and action. As well as timing and about a hundred other things because you can just pressure test it and add and subtract components as necessary.
Jurus-jurus should be used similarly. They are not static drills to be blindly and mind numbingly performed. They should be very much ALIVE! So what does that mean?
Well for starters, there is a framework to all jurus-jurus that is provided by every system I’ve been a part of. They are in your foundations and your jurus-jurus will reflect them. So if you ever have questions ALWAYS refer back to your foundation methods. That will help you with the framework!
And just what is meant by Framework? Well for example, footwork, hand movements, evasions, parries, blocks, kicks, tactics, principles, movement, takedowns, locks, breaks, et alia, as they are taught. These should essentially be reflected in your jurus-jurus and they should be the framework or building blocks they are built on.
With that being the case, you can easily examine the effectiveness of a jurus-jurus by the building blocks that are it’s foundation. A jab is useful in boxing because it is a versatile strike. The footwork taught is useful because you can use it with a versatile strike like the jab. This allows for a lot more versatility with the jab because you can also modify the footwork to expand it’s versatility. The same should be true of the jurus-jurus.
Look for Part 3 Soon. Sincerely, Guru Stark
