Le Festival des Arts Martiaux 2015 FRANCE : "From Zero to Pro"

PSSGMUMP team for LFAM

Alhamdulillah.

We are taking a little rest after almost 2 months after the demonstration at Le Festival des Arts Martiaux (LFAM). That big event was organized on 8th March 2015 by the EuropMag at Le Palais de Congres Paris, France. It was indeed a much-consuming preparation but a very beautiful experience. It started when the Karate Bushido magazine set us a meeting in Paris when I was there for Gayong seminar during the "Toussaint" holiday for a week. It was Octobre last year. Our meeting, me and Cikgu Stephane Leplus, with the Director and crews of the magazine at their office in Champs Elysees turned to be an interview for an article. I was asked to show some videos of our demonstrations all around Malaysia, Singapore and Australia. They were convinced and invited me to prepare a team to represent Pencak Silat (or Malay Silat precisely) for the next event of LFAM.

   

                                                                      

In honoring the coming of our team, Karate Bushido made an article in their February 2015 edition in the first page of an exclusive interview about Silat Seni Gayong Malaysia, the history, the lessons, the philosophies, the weapons and even our activities in France (AFSSG) and also Naga Rantau in Universiti Malaysia Pahang. There is also the history how Silat Seni Gayong came for the first time in France in the late 80's with the coming of Master Mufti Ansari and the permission from the late Founder Grandmaster Dato' Meor Abdul Rahman of teaching Silat Seni Gayong in France. 

The initial 11 team members Naga Rantau for LFAM'15
From left behind: Hilmi, Bad, Nabil, C.Hakim, Maus, Achoi, Zulpaka, Luqman
From left front: Cik Ya, Pinat, Wahida

All of the students are so committed for the training. Study week, exam weeks, semester break, weekend... as long as we have a little place to train, eventhough in the middle of the donation boxes for the flood victims! 

 tried best to avoid. but it happens

Pusat Aktiviti Pelajar, KK5

Rumah Srikandi Kecik Ummi @Kuala Kangsar

The theme for this demonstration is not only "Silat Seni Gayong". I intend to present something different than normal demo of Silat Seni Gayong. Something very "Gayong" but rarely or never shown before. I thought about the special weapons. We were given only 5 minutes and 30 seconds, and must perform 5 "Pentas". After a very complicated and long thought I decided that the Lembing (Spears), Parang Gila (Machete 3) and Tekpi (Sai) are the good ones. Another 2 "Pentas", I categorized as "Pentas Kreatif" of the "Pelajaran Tambahan" (additional lessons), showing the mix-weapons combats of Kris Sundang (Moro), Ibu Tekpi ('mother of Sai'), Pedang (Sword), Perisai (Shield), Kipas (war fan) and Kerambit (Curved blades). That was how at the end we have 5 choreograph Combats to be demonstrated. 

Again we had some obstacles. After 2 months intensive training, one by one Pesilat was facing some problems which ended us with only 7 students + Me for the demo. And the question of 'budget' frankly speaking, worried us most! ;) The most important thing a part than enough training and materials preparations, was the blessings from the old Masters. I would like to express my gratitude to all of my teachers, my Jurulatih, my Gurulatih, my Cikgu, my Masters, who had taught me well this art and elegantly whose skills are integrated into those 5 pentas performed in Paris. All of your advices, guidances, knowledge, and everything I in debt with. Cikgu Nasir, Pak Ngah Izahar, Cikgu Muzairi, Cikgu Sazali, Dato' Adiwijaya, Cikgu Mufti Ansari, Dato' Ismail Jantan, Pak Andak Majid, Pak Su Awang, Cikgu Adi, Allahyarham Tok Ayah Sor (Hj Mansur Othman), Cikgu Nordin, Ayahanda Amin Hamzah, Cikgu Sani Morni, Cikgu Ezhar Abbas, Allahyarham Ayah Ku (Pak Ku Bukit Awang), Guru Andi Halilintar, Ayahanda Dr Kamal, Allahyarham Pak Jab, Cikgu Wadi, Cikgu Suhaili Che Soh (Ayoh Li), Tuan Sanusi (Ayah Si), Tuan Rashid (Ayah Sik) and others who I indebted directly or indirectly.  Alhamdulillah we managed to solve those problems and we arrived safely in Paris on 4th March 2015. We are all 7 students and 2 accompanying staffs (including me), and my wife with our 2 kids. Our team was welcomed by the officers from the Malaysian Embassy in Paris, Mr. Shahir and Mr. Aron. We was honored to be invited by His Excellency Tan Sri Ismail Omar, the Malaysian Ambassador in France to a welcoming dinner, giving us precious advice and motivation for the next big day. 

Team UMP with En Shahir

Team UMP with H.E Tan Sri Ismail Omar, Mme Anil Minister Counselor and Mr Shahir

warming up in the repetition room

With the Uzbekistan martial art team

With the Korean martial art team

Dragon dance

Silat Seni Gayong FRANCE

 Double sword Korea

Shaolin Monks from China

The weather was quite OK, since it was the end of the winter season. Our task began early in the Saturday morning. We had a rehearsal at 9 a.m, and two demonstrations each at 3 p.m and 9 p.m. This year for the first time, there will be two sessions of demonstrations. One in the afternoon and another one in the evening. We have to make  an exactly same demo each other. For that reason we are in the whole day stayed at the Palais de Congres. Training, eating, praying, resting, etc. That was the moment we met the other 33 groups (if I'm not mistaken) from the best martial art clubs all over France and also the world. Different martial arts, different culture, different people and technique, with the same purpose: make the best demo ever for the love of martial art! Alhamdulillah our group's demo had been a success and done smoothly.

  *Pentas Kipas-Kerambit : Wahida - Amira

*Pentas Kipas-Kerambit

*Pentas Kipas-Kerambit

*Pentas Lembing : Bad - Achoi

*Pentas Lembing

*Pentas Lembing

*Pentas Parang Gila : Luqman - Hilmi

*Pentas Parang Gila

*Pentas Senjata Campur (Pedang Perisai - Kris Moro Ibu Tekpi)

Cikgu Hakim - Zulpaka

*Pentas Senjata Campur

*Pentas Tekpi 3 Penjuru

*Tekpi 3 Penjuru

*Tekpi 3 Penjuru

*Gerakan Tekpi (Jurus)

*Tari

*photo credits to Brother Azam Ashaari UK, Aurelie LEPLUS, & Stephane LEPLUS

The only thing that make me laugh was that our 'Perisai' (shield) had broken every demo we made. 3 times; one during the rehearsal, 2nd time during the 1st session and lastly during the 2nd session. (It was never broken during our intensive training in Malaysia! Other that "Perisai Bugis" , I bring along 2 of our "Perisai Patani" in case any of them broken) The shield apparently cannot withstand the sharp strike of the Tekpi. I should take that seriously for our next demo using the Perisai. We also bring 4 Tombak for the Pentas Lembing. One was broken during the training. Luckily we got 'spares'... ;)

Perisai ambo dalam kenangan.... dah boleh masuk Arkib ni hehehe

After the demo in the 2nd session, we are finally "Tutup Gelanggang" (tangguh) our intensive training since Novembre. Alhamdulillah thanks to Allah for the permission. Masya Allah. It is a good relieve and I find that the chance for my students to perform in such of great international event permits everyone of us to learn many things. I am sure that these Pesilat of Universiti Malaysia Pahang had achieved and shown a great discipline, lot of sacrifices, being multitask, and determine to succeed. Just for information, 5 of the students are our Jurulatih (instructor) with the Red Belt (Pelangi Merah), while the other 2 students are the Penolong Jurulatih (instructor assistant) with the Green Belt (Pelangi Hijau).

 I was in debt with Prof. Dato' Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin, the Deputy Vice Cancelor of Student and Alumni Affairs who had given his approval for letting me train and bring the UMP students a this world event. Nor to forget my counterparts, Cikgu Razhan, Cikgu Zaki, Cikgu Hafizi, and Cikgu Fahmi, who had given a big support since the beginning. And surely for Dato' Daing Nasir, the UMP Vice Cancelor who had approved this program and the budgets for participating students and staffs. Many thanks to Karate Bushido (EuropMag), Director Mme Ghislaine Barissat and crews for sponsoring and inviting me and my team to be part of this 30th Festival des Art Martiaux. Hope to see there again in the future. InsyaAllah. MANY THANKS TO ALL OF ANAK GAYONG FRANCE, from Silat Seni Gayong France (SSGF) - Association Francaise de Silat Seni Gayong (AFSSG) for the big support and help since the beginning to the end!

Bersama anak-anak Gayong France

Mohon maaf dan ampun buat semua seandainya apa yang telah dipersembahkan tidak sebaik mana. Ramai lagi Guru2, Cikgu2, mampu buat persembahan yang lebih baik. Kami hanya termampu buat dalam ketetapan qudrat yang diizinkan oleh Allah swt. Yang baik yang buruk hanya datang dari Allah swt.  Harapan kami atas usaha yg sedikit ini dapat menyuburkan Seni Silat di kalangan orang-orang Melayu sendiri dan juga berkembang ke serata dunia. Doa dan ingatan buat Allahyarham Dato' Meor Abdul Rahman bin Daeng Uda Mohd Hashim, Mahaguru Pertubuhan Silat Seni Gayong Malaysia dan Serantau. Juga kepada semua Mahaguru. Guru Utama, Guru, Guru Besar, Pendekar, Panglima, Pahlawan, Pendita yang memperjuangkan Seni Silat di seluruh pelusuk nusantara dan dunia. 

Al-Fatihah. 

Kami bukan "pesilat professional", kami hanya "professional yang bersilat"! huhuhu. Mohon ampun dan maaf juga pada guru2 ambo yang tak sempat untuk ambo jumpa sebelum bertolak ke Perancis. Terima kasih, jazakumullahu khair, hayyakumullah.