A Man of Two Owls: Cikgu Nik from Merapoh

Two guardians : The owl is always known as a bird of wisdom. It represents a symbol of knowledge, wise, rational and justice.

There was one night, where all around the road was filled with the mist. I was driving my Kancil from Kuala Lumpur going back home at Kelantan. The watch showed the time was 5 o'clock in the morning. Even I've switched off the air conditioner, I was still shivering of the cold outside air. I maintain the speed of my car at 80km per hour. My wife was still sleeping. I can't see nothing where were us. What I could see was just thick forest and hills. I felt strangely tired and sleepy. I nodded sometimes but managed to force my eyes to look at the road.

After hours of struggle, we arrived at a destination. We stopped at Merapoh. I was invited by one brother, a Pusaka Gayong Cikgu, who is a student of Cikgu Awang Daud and Cikgu Majid. Even though it was too late, they welcomed us gratefully. We talk about many things. From Gayong, lessons, Masters, wirids and petua until the Fajr prayer.





A simple and religious man, Cikgu Nik Iznan sat in front of me while drinking hot coffee with "biskut". Like me, he is a pure Kelantanese blood and raised like other "Orang Kampung". He is also the owner of the blog Aku & Gayong, one of the best blog about Silat Seni Gayong. His blog is much appreciated by many Gayong students and always full of teachings and advices.

In the morning, we prepared to move, but were surprised to found two little tiny creatures making a sound at the back of his house. Soubhanallah, two beautiful owls in a cage, widely opened their eyes to greet us. The last time I saw the owl when my late grandfather was still alive, as he kept an owl and fed him with fresh meat in front of our house under "Ketapang" tree. I forget how did Cikgu Nik get this birds but really, it was exciting to "talk" to these creatures.


Ambo berpesan kepada anak-anak Gayong sekitar Merapoh atau Gua Musang, boleh lah datang bertemu Abe Nik kita ni. Orangnya merendah diri, cakapnya berlapik, penampilannya juga menarik. Beliau bukan orang baru dalam Gayong. Malah, antara anak Gayong Kelantan yang berpeluang belajar Silat Seni Gayong dengan Guru ternama di Perak, Kedah dan Kelantan. Kalau ikut dari segi silibus, tak silap ambo ini, sudah berbengkung hitam dalam Pusaka Gayung. Sanadnya sahih, antara anak didik Cikgu Jebat, Pak Andak Majid dan Pak Su Awang. Daripada adik-adik semua belajar Gayong yang "tak betul", marilah jumpa Cikgu Nik ni. Dia sentiasa merendah diri kata "ambo tak pandai, tahu sikit-sikit jah".....

Comel teh sijil hitam pusaka gayung. ambo saja letak ni, minta izin abe nik deh. suka tengok kepala singa tuuu... hhehehe