So what would you do in London… watch the Big Ben eh??

It’s a breezy Sunday morning. The sun tucked under the clouds. That’s the usual skies in London during autumn. I was full of energy, as I walked through the gates of Tottenham Sports Center. At last the moment had come. The day I start my Escrima lessons had come. The class was to begin at 10:30. As I didn’t want to be late for my first day, I was at the gates by 9 waiting for almost what seemed to me an eternity. Then one of the care takers, whom I had already emptied my frustration of not having a casual conversation for a while, told me that the escrima classed were not happening on a regular basis , as it was a holiday season. After sometime, I saw a totally unassuming man with glasses, walk in. I was introduced to him. Stephen was his name. Little did I know that he was my gateway to the world of Penchak Silat.

stephen @ work

We had a brief conversation, the caretaker, Steve and I. I had already made up my mind to try this class. I walked in with an empty mind, into this average-sized room, the floor all green with the thick mats, used for Judo sparring. Steve asked me to warm up if I wanted to. So I started my warm routines and stretching which I usually do before a class. Then I saw Steve doing some postures for warm ups. I already realized, this would require a lot lower body strength. I had seen some videos on Penchak Silat, and here I was seeing a practitioner, in action. He told me that he was expecting the guru to walk in anytime. “I don’t wanna do an advertising here. You’ll see”- he smiled.

Enter Guru Besar Randolph Carthy. By this time, lots of practitioners had arrived for the class. All were happy to see him. Guru just smiled all of them greeted them by folding his hands in the classic “Indian Namaste” posture. Steve introduced me to the Guru, and explained how I ended up in the class. “Is this your first time to England” – he asked. “First time, sir. This is my 4^th day in London” – I replied. That brought a smile to his face. Probably that would have removed the possibility that I really wanted to study, and not bluff. “Welcome to the world Penchak Silat” – my welcome words to this awesome system of Harimau (The Tiger).

with fellow practitioners

We started the class with a posture based salutation and pledge which initially made no sense to me. Later on, seasoned from the concepts, I think I was able to figure out the meaning in those postures. How it conditions you physically and mentally. Lumpat Harimau Pechcak Silat is an Indonesian art form, born in the roots of Sumatra. You will find a lot of similarities between Silat, Capoeira of Brazil, and Kalaripayattu of Kerala. Some might even say that, some concepts looks similar to Wing Tsung principles. I believe that all martial art forms have the same soul, and that this would vary and take different form based on its practitioners and the terrain it is practiced on. On the first glance, the postures and the execution of it would make it appear that a Harimau practitioner is dancing. I found some of the stances similar to postures in some of the Indian dance forms. Grace and humility is the mark of a Silat practitioner. However, once the first punch is thrown he would unleash hell at you. Unlike other art forms which may advocate that the practitioner would also be considering his safety, a LHPS practitioner would take you to hell, walk you through it and leave you behind there in agony. It was more of a mental conditioning concept. I recollect a similar principle that Sifu Bruce Lee had mentioned:

“Let your opponent graze your skin, you will smash his flesh.

Let your opponent smash your flesh, you will break his bones.

Let your opponent break your bones, you will take his life.”

… which does not mean that you go breaking bones everywhere. It just means that a Harimau practitioner is mentally conditioned to go through pain, if he has to.

The class was never filled. We had about less than 10 practitioners. There was nothing commercial about the class. Unlike the western outlook on martial arts and classroom concepts, ours was an Indian-like Gurukul system. We had time after classes to discuss personal problems, philosophies, brain storming on problems we face in our daily lives, countries etc. My initial thoughts of conditioning were soon shredded down the drain, as we would start our posture training. After every class, I wouldn’t be able to walk. I would limp back to my Hotel, initially. After a month of limping, I started walking back home, and then gradually running. The Harimau or the tiger emphasizes on strong roots and explosive movements. We would have mock sparring sessions in class, as a sparring which involved even a bit of intent would cause some serious damage to people. I used to practice with powerhouses like Neil (trust me you’d never even think of messing with him). He would emphasize on foot works, postures, alignment and power, even executing them with perfection during a sparring session. Yet, you would find him to be the most humble of the lot. There were others like Jameel, who would define a new level of grace in movements. Sparring with Jameel would always be an experience. You would be so much fixed in his graceful movements that you’d forget that he is going to strike you any moment. Even the ladies who used to come to the class for that matter (Debbie and Jules) were full blown human weapons.

my silat guru Randolph Carthy

I still remember the last few classes where Guru Randolph would say “We’re going to do a bit extra for Surej”. Then, he’d make us do the postures for painful hours. When I start to give up, he would say “I want you to go back to India as a full practitioner”. Then I’d focus out of the pain by recollecting Ash’s words: “PAIN IS WEAKNESS LEAVING THE BODY”. Those words often work wonders for me. Finally after the last class, as I was running back to the hotel, I started to realize how I was able to understand the concept of our pledge and salutation. For the first time I was able to recollect the entire salutation, which I usually would miss out somewhere:

“Serenity, Humility, Serenity

I extend my hand in friendship. This is from the depths of my being

My mind is open to all aspects of this art.

Knowledge being infinite power, I will do my utmost to adapt and protect the hallmark of this art.

I present my self to the earth below in submission. To the heavens above in praise.

In the presence of the unification of these forces, I will remain very humble.”