Please click on our great Flag for Pak Vic’s thoughts on the terrible 9/11 tragedy.

You are visitor number (since May 1, 1999)

The Winds of Serak

Part II

By V.I.C. de Thouars

A well known writer, "Don Dreager", wrote about Tjimande in some of his publications still sold as of today. Personally, I have enjoyed the writings of Mr. Dreager, and only wish he wrote more for all his writings to become books of the century. His work is immense, and I give my graces to this man.

Is it written somewhere the date and birth of the Founder of Tjimande, "Mas Kair", to be found  as pre-twentieth century, or before 1900. In his intense investigation by this great pioneer, Serak was not found in his writings.

When he did his close scrutiny and wrote a great historical book about the Fighting Arts of Indonesia, still when he came to the Badui lands, he could not get any information from them. Certainly too bad, for we would have more information about them as an addition to what is already written.

But why is Silat Serak not written down or even mentioned. Why not? There are well over 300 known-recorded styles, and well over 300 unrecorded styles. Does Silat Serak not exist because Don Dreager did not record that in his book.

This is of course is not true, for there are Silat Serak Practitioners, Pendekar Paul and his Tjabang, as well as thisTjabang. For that matter, the Tjabang or Golongan from Guru Besar Ernis “Ventje” de Vries, Dolf de Vries. Or the 85 year old Indonesian Pendekar, who resides in West-Java, and one in East Java. Or was it just some figment of the imagination that John and Ernis were taught Silat Sera-Serak by Mas Djut in the Old Section of Batavia called “Kramat”.

"Well it is my strongest believe that Mas Kair was born in the year of 1870 in a coastal city called Serang, a city nestled in the low- mountain region of West Java. When in his teens, his parents moved to the Sukabumi region. It is there that he could have started to teach his well know student  “Atma”.

We now know that Tjimande, the true and undaunting Pentjak Silat style, was developed prior to the start of the twentieth Century, in the Sukabumi region. Pak Atma resided in Tjiliwung and had myriad’s of Students. Although some people claiming to have studied with this great man, they can not substantiate by written records at all.  But only by the winds of this great art “Tjimande”, or now in the new Bahasa Indonesia, “Cimande”.

 And of course we would have rebuttals to what is written down, but who cares, I sure don’t.  This for information only, anyone can search themselves, and decide for them self what they wish to know.

At that time "Nederlandse Indie", the Dutch and local Indonesian officials kept accurate records. Would they have kept the birth certificate of Mas Kair?  I do not believe so, not unless someone is a true follower from Mas Kair and his remaining family or Pak Atma, and actually have this document for the world to see. And for a certainty my belief is that there is a document in the hand of his true follower in West Java. Certainly not by those who only profess to know the old Tjimande.

Silat Tjimande is an old art, and a well-known art. This we can find practiced as of today in West Java in the region or city called Tjiandjur. And for a certain, most of the folks have their folklore in this great art. And for sure they can see how Tjimande has been bastardized and watered down in Europe and the US.

It is for a certain, that the real Pendekar now in Indonesia and descendents of Tjimande may just laugh from within, and only know what the real truth about this art is.

If Mas Kair was still living, and sees the art that he created now, he probably would cringe in agony of all the misdirection Tjimande has gone.

Of course the many of claims and misdirection of his foundation. What a shame this is, and still by those professing to know this great art. Please do not get me wrong, there are real Tjimande practitioners here in the USA as well as in Indonesia, but most claiming can not substantiate their heritage other than” I learned this from my friend who was a student from Atma. Say this between many of truths in what you say, then it can be accepted as so. So those who do the real Tjimande will know what I am writing about, and those who have conjured up their existence in Tjimande will also know. For me I admire the real Tjimande and the movement of this beautiful art, as seen and performed by Juliani. I would like to learn this art, but have a handful in still understanding the art I practice, Silat Sera Serak. And for a certainty growing in age to spend many of years really understanding the Gracious art of Tjimande. So my Selamat Hormat to Tjimande.

On many of occasion our Uncle John described the beauty of movement of this art Silat Tjimande (Cimande). And for a certainty our Uncle Eddie de Vries really practices the Art of Silat Tjimande. You know, I have not heard my Uncle Eddie ever mentioning of Tjimande being older then Silat Sera-Serak as some have you believe.

Guru Besar William Reeders was a student of old and were like brothers from the Tjabang of Guru besar Ventje de Vries, and spoke about Mas Djut and Pak Serak Silat style, and were he was from. Should even Mas Djut falter and not knowing were his teacher came from. I strongly do not believe so. This for a certainty not what is a better art or which art was older, no not at all. Frankly I personally do not care at all. I like my own playground, and if you do not like my playground please play in your own.

I believe very strongly that all arts are great and regardless what art anyone would practice, it is up to the individual what he or she likes. Like the many denominations and different religions of the world. Every person chooses the one that he or she likes. Who am I to judge what is good. I can only answer what I like, and can not judge what the next person likes.

In conversation and in letters also conveying the strong message, who did what.  I ask Guru Besar Reeders of he met Pak Atma, and also ask who of the Dutch Indo’s really studied with Pak Atma. He mentioned many things in conversation to me, and really better left alone. People today can use their own discernment, and go to the Library of Congress, and read may of facts and fiction. So let the reader find these things out, so who ever wants to know, “Search thyself, and believe thyself.”

It is also a known fact that Pendekar Paul as well as Guru Besar Dolf de Vries have known Mas Djut. Specially Guru Besar Dolf, for he may have lived in Kramat in the old city of Batavia, when it was called then. It is there that Mas Djut taught folks in the Old neighborhood Silat Sera-Serak and in addition maybe other systems also. I do not know, for I was not there, and for sure was not even a twinkle in my father’s eye.

Also to be known that Mas Djut traveled a lot, and for sure even the far regions of Ponti Anak on Borneo, were he visited the Sultan of Ponti Anak.

There he taught, and was also in the service of the Sultan.

And may all who really wants to know,  really search for what is truth or fiction. Should the interest be there. If someone really wants to know bad enough, then for a certainty, that person will dig and research until his or her own curiosity is satisfied.

And if not, then play in the park of your own intense “Secret Internal System”, and smell only the fragrance of the winds of Sera-Serak or Tjimande. As for me, I have seen and participated in many of activities and sports in my life, but still feel very strong about Silat Sera-Serak, and can not speak of what others may like or dislike.

Food for thought:

“The winner of an altercation or battle looking down on the vanquished, possess the best art for that second out of a persons life”, regardless what art he or she possess”

A battle is won before it even starts, “Make sure and look what you have in your hands, never be sure of anything, for it can slip like the sand you hold”.

Like the bamboo, it will sway with a strong wind and return to it’s own.

So, also with the many of claims or non-claims, it can sway and fall in a mudpool and not having the ability to return with vigor that can be believed by many because a well know person said “that is so”. Hitting the nail on the head or the words from my teacher Pendekar Paul: “We all know, how a bell can sound, do we know the place of the ladle that strikes its sides.

Copyright VDT Communications, Inc. © 1999, all rights reserved