Once Upon A Time at Kelantan....

Ramadhan arrives, and I find myself occupied with the university's project. While being busy typing, crashing my brain with what words should I put in the report, I took a look a my photo album. Many photos bring memories of my primary and secondary school. Friends, family, school. But I am surprised to realize that I've some of my Gayong photos kept in my possession. Ah... Gayong memories. For my Gayong brothers and sisters of SMK Kamil, Pasir Puteh (1996-2000) who are reading my post here, this memories should make you come again to Gelanggang!!! ;)***I am still searching our photos of Mandi Minyak with Pak Jab in 1997, demo in front of vice education minister 1998, keris demo at Silat Tongkat 1999 ceremony and many more.....

Kursus Peningkatan Bengkung Peringkat Negeri Kelantan
at Kem Kijang (1996)

I swear to God, this was my first lompatan! I was told to jump over a fire first before jumping over my friends!!!

With my very first Gayong partner, Colonel Sabri.


14 years ago .... and still learning Gayong! ;)

PSSGM SMK KAMIL 1996
KAMI ANAK GAYONG! ZATT!!!


Gayong Competition at Kota Bharu (2000)

I was trying to pose as Dato' Meor. But I missed lot of kilos indeed. lol
*The "finger" thing was a trend among teenagers at that time... it was hollywood's fault!


Gayong Competition at UiTM Machang (2000)


Pentas Tongkat (simbat) with brother Amir

Pasir Puteh Team

Training at Jeram Linang waterfall (2000)

One whole day "pernafasan" training....

Gelanggang Kamil Secondary School (1996-2000)

PSSGM SMK KAMIL (sesi pagi)
in front: Fadhliah, Alam Shah, Amir Black, Thajirine, Zanoramin, Pok Dek, Cikgu Mat Yassim,Tuan Sanusi, Shaiful Hakim, Safuan Awang, Abd Rahim, Faridah

PSSGM KAMIL (sesi petang)

Cikgu Mat Yassim and students

Demo Simbat with brother Amir Black
at Damai Beach Resort (2000)

di tepi pantai yang indah...

Imam-Imam Gelanggang & Naqibah-Naqibah Gelanggang PSSGM Pasir Puteh
Hafizi, Me, Zanoramin, Alam Shah, Amir Black, Faridah, Thajirine, Zati Fadhilah, Noni (stand)
Salbiah & Fadhliah (sit)

Demo Pisau with brother Thajirine
at School Sport Day (1999)

Training Parang and Tekpi
at Gelanggang Gong Serapat (1999)

Demo Parang with brother Amir Black
at School Sport Day (2000)

Cikgu Tuan Sanusi was observing...

Amir Black, Hafiz, me and Thajirine

Demo with brother Mazhan
at Jeram Pasu (1998)

SELAMAT MENUNAIKAN IBADAH PUASA....
RAMADHAN MUBARAK KARIM!!!

Experiencing the Voyage of Khatam Lembing

Master Cikgu Ismail Jantan

Khatam Lembing is one of the tradition that Anak Gayong must undergo. After learning and training the art of spears, it is the time to be tested by the teacher. Master Tok Ismail Jantan (Tok Mail), the Gayong master of PSSGM Malacca, organised the Khatam Lembing at the waterfall Jeram Toi, Negeri Sembilan. The participants came mostly from universities and schools all around Malacca, but there were Gurulatihs came from different regions like Johore, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, and even Singapore!

The ceremony started at night with the spiritual training. It is important to complete the spiritual requirement of Doa and Zikir all along the night before being tested in the morning. There was also the Mandi Tapak, as a group of beginners being blessed by the Master to enter the Gayong family. For the students who had already taken their Mandi Tapak, they gathered to take their Mandi Seni. But it is not a normal Mandi Seni. After shaking their hands with Tok Mail, we were allowed to witness a paranormal view. Everyone of the students were laying their hands on the water container, and Tok Mail hit the hand with a sharp sword (strictly verified by me!) with a continuous 5 to 7 strikes. But not even a trace nor the cuts left on the hand. It reminds me a lot to the Mandi Seni of certain senior Masters. It is said that in the old days, it is normal to do such of the test during the Mandi Seni to build up the confidence among the students.

Pakcik with his grilled Ramly burger and hot "air akar kayu"

Well, a good sleep will guaranty an active day tomorrow morning! So every student went back to their tent to sleep....except some stubborn "KeluangMan" Gayong students who preferred to go out and get some hot Ramly burger and fresh herb drinks from the 24 hours "Pakcik"'s Kedai Kopi! hehehehehe. The owner, Pakcik, was also a Gayong student. We spent all night long to discuss and even to take some "petua" and "doa". After that, (almost 5 o'clock in the morning!) everyone spent the night in the car.

one of the Otai Keluangman, Cikgu Zahar.... hehehehe

We were 4 slept in three cars. The car of 2 brothers was chosen to be "greeted" by a "man". I was told by Pakcik that the forest is resided by two big family of "orang Bunian". Their car was shaken and that woke them up. They said that they see one of the brother passed by their car and accidentally pushed the car. But the brother that they were talking about denied it and told us that he didn't come out from the car after entering it to sleep. Who was exactly came and pushed the car to wake them up remains unanswered. Hehhehehehe... ;)

Keluangman lagi...

muka blur di pagi hari. tak percaya dengan apa yang berlaku di malam semalam. heheheh

In the morning, after completing our Fajr prayer, we were told to prepare. We took our breakfast lightly and I knew that was the time to get known each other. It was the first time for me to meet the Gayong students of Melaka and other groups under Master Tok Mail. As I expected, the ice was broken easily and quickly! As long as we hold the name of Gayong, everyone is like brothers and sisters. Surprisingly I met one of my ex-Gayong student Munaji from SMK Kamil. He now continues training and learning Gayong with Puan Mariam and Tok Mail. Alhamdulillah, once you are Gayong, never leave it!!! :)

Jeram Toi

I dare not to disturb him! ;)

amboooiii... panjangnye senyuuuummmm... ;p

Puan Mariam prepared the "kuih-muih" (patisseries)

Peace peace peace, kamu jangan nakal...! ;)

Cikgu Ramli from Gayong Singapore

waiting for the breakfast

"Ibu-ibu Gayong"... :)

Cikgu Azhar Daeng

She preferred taking her morning bath with her Gayong uniform... ;)

The Khatam Lembing ceremony began with the "opening bath" for those who didn't do it yet before. It was a bath with flowers with the waterfall water. After that, the ceremony began. Anak Gayong made a line, and walk under the waterfall, which had been tied a Lembing and had been stretched a yellow cloth, to signify that Anak Gayong is honored to take his "spear's water" under a Royal blessing. After walking for several times, each student than stood up on the rock, while the Master, Cikgu Ismail Jantan threw as powerful as possible the javelin to the student. As he said, to be a Hulubalang (Knight), one must now just avoid the javelin, because it risk to hurt the person at our back. How could a knight avoid the javelin and let it hit the Sultan? A knight must catch it. A knight must use it to attack the enemy back. So every student during the Khatam must catch the Javelin. Alhamdulillah.... everyone managed to catch the "sacred" Javelin! ;)

Master Tok Mail observed the area...

began with briefing..

concentration: Cikgu Zainal at right of Tok Mail

the javelins...

passing under the waterfall..

throwing and catching for everyone

After that, all students were feasted with 7 types of sweet Malay patisseries, and White and Red Bubur Nasi, and Yellow Pulut with Chicken Curry. One must finish all of it. A symbol of gratitude and how much do the "art of spears" we received. The ceremony than finished by the Doa Selamat and a nice beautiful photo of the participant! ;)

doa selamat...

the patisseries.... yummy! ;)

enjoying the patisseries after a stressful test! ;)

Cikgu Hairol: I've seen him doing the Lembing's Tapak Pecah Empat since many years. Now grateful to meet the actor! ;)

listening to the advices...

Master Cikgu Mad

Posing in front of camera

karenah anak-anak Gayong... ;)

all together... ZATTT!!!

Thanks a lot to Master Cikgu Ismail Jantan and Puan Mariam for the invitation to this lovely ceremony, Cikgu Zainal, Cikgu Hairol, Cikgu Azhar Daeng, Cikgu Azhar, Ustaz (from Johor) Cikgu-Cikgu of PSSGM Melaka, PSSGM Johor, PSSGM Singapore, and all of the Cikgus, Gurulatihs and Anak-Anak Gayong who were present there. This is Gayong. Silaturrahim is our pillar, and searching the Ilmu is our mission! ;)

Master Cikgu Sazali: The Dato's Son

Cikgu Sazali with the Dato's "small brother" Sundang Lipas

Cikgu Sazali is the son of Dato' Meor. Although he was an adopted child like the late Cikgu Siti Kalsom, he was raised and taken cared by the late Dato' and Datin since at the early age. It is indeed a great pleasure to have a chat with him, although I spent only a "tea-time" at his house. It was not difficult to find him as everyone at Taiping should know the every Gayong family there.


Before coming to visit him, I stopped by and took a look at the Dato's house. It's sad to view a great Mahaguru's house and Gelanggang where most of the senior Gayong Masters nowadays came from in such a pity condition. I wish I could see it when it was still "beautiful". Cikgu Sazali indeed revealed his sad feeling about the house. The Dato's mural painting is still in the house. I am not sure exactly what is happening, but I think all of the member and disciple of Silat Seni Gayong should do something. Everyone of us Anak Gayong must think and help. How could the great Gelanggang of Ayer Kuning could be "degraded" in such of horrible condition? But no one seems to care, even though for certain, they cry for the situation but helpless and unable to do alone.

I wish I could help. But if I am allowed to ask the Gayong leaders, I wish that our federation could do something to make the house at least as a memorial or a museum. InsyaAllah with the help, contribution and prayer, we all can do it!

Rumah Dato'

Mungkin sesetengah berpendapat membaik pulih rumah arwah Dato' atau menjadikannya sebagai satu "muzium" dianggap remeh berbanding projek-projek Gayong yang lain. Tetapi hati kecil ambo tetap berharap dapat melihat gelanggang ini "gah" kembali, sebagai jejak warisan bagi muda-muda baru bagi mengenal asal-usul Gayong. Wisma Gayong, Pusat Latihan Gayong, Akademi Gayong, Kedai Gayong, Restoran Gayong, Kilang Gayong, semua telah dirancang. Memang sukar untuk merealisasikan semua perancangan dalam masa yang sama, tetapi diharapkan adanya kemajuan dalam melaksanakan idea-idea ini.

Kerana itu, tanya diri kita sendiri. Jangan sesekali tanya "Apa yang pertubuhan boleh beri pada kita, tetapi tanyalah apa yang kita boleh beri pada pertubuhan?" Silat Seni Gayong adalah hak pusaka Allahyarham Dato' Meor, bukan hak kita (ambo bukan anak-beranak arwah pun! huhuuhh). Kerana itu perlunya kita tunaikan "HAK" Allahyarham, dan "HAK" pertubuhan yang kita berdaftar. Hanya peringatan pada barisan cikgu-cikgu yang terlupa... sampaikanlah pendaftaran ahli, sijil gelanggang, sijil gurulatih, sijil pembantu gurulatih, dan lain-lain pada pusat. Itu hak pertubuhan. Dan berlaku adil dan baiklah dengan guru-guru kita, bantulah mereka semampu kita dengan wang ringgit, masa dan tenaga. Itu hak guru. Jangan lupa salurkan wang adat perlimau tapak, seni dan lain-lain untuk waris keluarga Allahyarham. Itu hak Arwah Mahaguru....

WaAllahua'lam. Tersaloh kato, terkasar bahaso, mitok maaf deh cikgu-cikgu sekelie.....

Al-Fatihah to the Teachers...

The old mosque of town Taiping

Alhamdoulillah, I had a chance to visit the burial sites of Dato' Meor, his wife Mak Datin and Cikgu Siti Kalsom at Taiping. It is situated at the Masjid Lama grave site. It was lightly raining, and I arrived before the Maghrib prayer. Spending a little bit time to say Salam and reciting the Yasin to them, I made the Doa so that they are all "taken good care" by God. Hopefully, all of their effort of teaching us the knowledge of Silat Seni Gayong will be considered as the Pahala (Hasanah).

We all love you!

Tengku Daeng Meor Rahman Bin Tengku Daeng Uda Hashim: The Dato's Tomb

Datin Faridah Binti Mohd Yusope: The Mak Datin's Tomb

Siti Kalsom Binti Naning@Meor Abdul Rahman: Cikgu Siti's Tomb

From Him we came, to Him we return. As the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once said: "Everything will leave us when we dead, except three things. Our sincere donation to the needy person or situation, a knowledge that we taught and brings the well being, and a religious child that always prays for us". Aukamakola Rasulullah s.a.w

And the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also said once: "The wisest man among you is the one who always thinks about the death (to prepare to meet the death with the good merits)". Aukamakola Rasulullah s.a.w.

TRACING THE ORIGIN OF GAYONG KELANTAN: ALLAHYARHAM CIKGU ZUL

Photo ihsan Saudara/Cikgu Zarilla Zamani :

The late Cikgu Zul at the right of the late Dato' Meor

I am one of the new generation of SSG in Kelantan. Many of the senior Gayong Masters nowadays in Kelantan have decided to take a break due to some obstacles. But there are still the "strongest" left that keep teaching and "turun Padang" (participating) so that there will be a continuous group of "Cikgus" taking their responsibilities in spreading SSG.

Every Gayong Master that I met and with whom I learned with since 1996, will mention one name. The one Master that probably "arranged" and made the Kelantan PSSGM syllabus, from the beginning level until the black belt. But he didn't put every Gayong lesson in the syllabus. Many other Gayong art and technic was taught without being asked during the belt grading.

The Master that I meant is the late Cikgu Zul.

I personally didn't had that great chance to learn from him. But I start to realize that there is a close similarities of what I learn from Pasir Puteh and Machang, with what I learn with Masters from Kota Bharu and Bachok. Since everyone of them mentioned the Master's name, it makes me curious to know better about him.

Hopefully, this "opening" will make those alive Masters will tell us who is him exactly, and what did happen actually that made this Master went away and rather moved alone than developing Silat Seni Gayong under official Kelantan Gayong federation...

So please Cikgu-Cikgu, Guru-Guru, and all Gayong Masters, tell me more about the late Allahyarham Cikgu Zul, the one among the right man of Dato' Meor in Kelantan, and the previous Khalifah Besar of Gayong Terengganu... (Correct me if it's wrong)

So the quest is begin. Let us trace back the history.

MENJEJAK KASIH AT MELACCA...

Family's photo of the late Ayoh

This one is the sentimental heritage of our family. The person in the photo was the late Ba, my Ma's ex-husband, my brother Abe Joe, my sister Kak We, my grandma Mek and my grandpa Ayoh. I was not exist yet at that time!!! My grandma is the second wife of Ayoh. The late Ayoh is Malaccan, and his first wife was in Malacca. Eventhough Ayoh was the step father of my Ma, (my blood grandpa named "Che' Kodir") but my Ma was raised by the late Ayoh since the early age. He was the one who taught my Ma to read the Quran, Malay language, English and Mathematics. Ayoh had many children at Malacca with his first wife, and I still remember of our family being visited by the Malaccan families. But it was dated long long ago. The first and the last time I went to see them in Malacca at "Nenek"'s house when I was still in primary school. And after the death of my grandpa Ayoh, the relationship with our Malaccan families seems buried with him. No address left, nor the contact numbers.

But "air dicincang tak akan putus" (the family relationship won't never lost). I kept a promise every time I come back to Malaysia, I'll try my best to search again the family. I was told by my Ma and my grandma Mek that the late Ayoh was born at Sungai Jerneh, and his family lived at Lubuk China. That was the only information we got. But I made a prayer so that God will make us meet again.

It happened last few days. I brought a tourist family to Malacca. After leaving them at the hotel, I sent sms to Dato' Ismail Jantan, the Gayong Master of Melacca, to visit him. Alhamdulillah I was welcomed to his home by him and his wife Puan Mariam at Kampung Ramuan Kecil even though they were really occupied with Gayong activities lately. After talking and chatting about many things, I told them that my purpose of coming to Malacca is to trace back my family.

When I told Puan Mariam that my late grandpa was Mejar Hamid bin Jalil from Tentera Melayu who married a Kelantanese woman, she was surprised and asked me "Chamid??? (Ayoh's surname in Malacca) You are Chamid's grandson??? Chamid the one who this and that???" I said "Yes, I am". And subhanallahalazim, my prayer was accepted by God. To' Mail and Puan Mariam brought me to meet my uncle whom I'd never met before! He is the step brother of my Ma. I was then brought to meet my aunt and her husband. I was welcomed with a warm hug and our eyes didn't stop from pouring tears. 1987 was the last time they came to Kelantan. The early 90's we went there just for a night in our passage to Muar. And after years, I finally met my aunt and my uncles..... (~_~) sob sob sob...! I called my Ma and my Mek to tell them the good news and to let them speak in telephone. It was a sentimental moment. What could we talk after more than 20 years separation?


And me, feeling happy, satisfied, relieved and proud, promising them to come back again to Malacca. This time I'll come with my family from Kelantan for sure!!! I am feeling so well that I could say "Family is everything".

Ayah Ngah, Makcik Samsiah and Ayah Busu

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

Kenangan Cindai...

photo from Cikgu Nasir blogspot

It was a seminar organized by Gayong Bachok under Cikgu Nasir, Cikgu Muzairi and Cikgu Roslan. The course was directed by Pak Ngah Izahar. Many of the senior students of Gayong Bachok were present during the seminar. But every time I look at this picture, it makes me smiling alone. It happened when we were asked by Pak Ngah to make a Tengkolok Bugis. We tried it very hard and were asked to wear it proudly on our head for a photo session. But I suddenly heard a funny comment from one of the Masters about our Tengkolok which looks like a Monkey's private part. That made us laugh like crazy! Well Pak Ngah, at least we did it! hehehehehehee..

thanks a lot to Pak Ngah, Cikgu Muzairi, Cikgu Nasir, Cikgu Roslan, Abe Di and brothers who came to the seminar. May Allah bless our sacrifice for searching the Ilmu... Amin! :)

Finding the Keris's "Final Buah"

Master Mufti Ansari was playing the Keris with Cikgu Wan Kancil

"Khatam" means Finish. Khatam Keris means a ceremony we undergo after finishing learning the Keris technic in Silat Seni Gayong. Khatam Keris only could be done at the sea, with every Gayong practitioner must master and remember the technics and skills. We learn the technic (Buah) from the 1st until 20th. The 21th is the "Buah Khatam" (the final technic/the conclusion). The interesting fact about the 21th technic is that this Buah is "hiding" in the 18th, 19th and 2oth Buah......

I heard that there are certain Masters, who has the "Buah Tuah Lima Bersaudara". They are Buah Tuah, Buah Jebat, Buah Kasturi, Buah Lekir and Buah Lekiu. I'm sure that I'll find those Masters who know about this. Please Master! Teach me!!! ;)
I was told that every type of Buah is the speciality of every Tuah brothers. It used to be their secrets and the most fatal technic that they use to "end" the fight.... WaAllahua'lam...

Meditation Moment...

The higher you climb, the harder you fall. But it's not how painful you will feel. It's how you will stand up again, and defend your dignity and the truth. Many thanks to all Masters who gave me many guidance and advice to overcome the crucial moment in my Gayong life.

Life must go on. The anger will cause to our destruction. The worries will bring us to no where. The fight will spare us from the blessing and peace.

A bald man was meditating under a table at a propulsion lab in UPM. Tensen project tak siap ni heh heh heh....! But one thing is true, I miss la France!!!!! ;)