THE FORM OF THE MAIDEN BATHING

As in any other Silat, Kilap Betawi de Thouars is presented in the guise of animals, mythical figures, elementals, in order to practice a particular combative attitude. The "form" carries the same movements, the same techniques as with any other practice of the Pentjak- what changes is the intention of concept behind the movement.

A young maiden goes to the pool and disrobes, enters the water and bathes- secure in the knowlege that she is alone. She washes her hair, soaps and rinses her body. She hears a noise and reacts modestly. She exits the pool, towels dry and puts on her clothing.

The form, "Young Maiden Bathing", is a practice of the Sicar Dalem 'Inner Circle' or 'Close Guard' aspect of KunTao Silat Betawi. It is primarily focused at the skeleton of the practitioner. It trains the tight spacial awareness needed to combat an ambush. In an ambush, one reacts to the opponents violent attack already launched; long distance defences are already breached. The first movements receive the attack, redirect or defeat the attack, defeat the opponent.

The muscles protect the body at distance. The muscles deliver the skeleton out away from the body and pull it back. At close ranges, the muscles don't have the contraction distance or the extension range. The skeleton takes over as the delivery system for offence and defence.

The form teaches use of the skeletal shield; the cloture of the abdomen by retracting the pelvis, closing the shoulders and dropping the arms naturally in front of the body. The maiden brushes her hair, protecting the head, raising the elbows. She sweeps the front of the body, pivoting out of targeting direction.

How can you run with the wolves if you don't eat red meat?

Living just down the street from Boulder, Aspen and the New Age Centre of the Universe, (Shirley MacLaines' house), I often have had occasion to hear about the New Mens' Movement. I have been assailed by naked, chanting, drum beating, wolf-howling 'seekers of themselves' like you wouldn't believe. They deplore the loss of responsible men; honour, duty, country, the family. They see the decline of the power of men; the internal substance of strength and tenacity, the acceptance of morality and the duty to teach it to our youngsters. Well, search no longer Guys, that New Man you seek is down at the dojo- has been for years. (Dojo: jargon, martial arts study place, orig. Japanese. See: kwoon, dojang, kendang, backyard)

Since forever, the Warrior has been the highest expression of any culture. Great Warriors have been also the great philosophers, great poets, great sculptors and painters, leaders and statesmen. The Warrior has been the saviour of his family; the protector of his religion, culture, treasures and the land. He alone, of any other class, stands ready to present his integrity to his Maker on a moments notice. He alone, of any other class, stands ready to present your integrity to your Maker in defense of his people and to answer for his actions with his life and eternal soul. The Warrior is answerable for all his actions, instantly, with his own death. The sacrifice of life is arguably the supreme gift; whether that life of the enemy or ones' own.

Want to learn self-discipline, humility, dignity & reserve, tenacity, tradition & honour, assertion and self confidence? All schools of martial arts teach honour to the Family, duty to our country, brotherhood of all good people, obeying the law, resisting oppression, the freedom of the individual, personal responsibility, and respect for the Creator of us all. The practice of martial art teaches us to conquer fear, to step forward for unpleasant duty, to honour deep learning and practice, to respect age and character, to constantly expand our learning and to test its' worth.

No one values Life more than the Warrior, no one wants Peace more than the man who practices War. (Remember, if War was fun, they'd call it Fiesta) It is the Warrior that pays the first price of War. We hide the casualties away in hospitals or 'veterans' homes', we hide the hideous price that we pay for our privilege of freedom and safety. Dilletantes, secure in their own decadence, sneer at the concept of duty and 'abhor violence', as if that would make it go away. They value the opportunity to taste new fruit or enjoy sound and light and dance, but not enough to fight for it.

It is constantly amazing to me the perversion of the dogmas of religions, philosophies, 'ways' of being, to exclude the necessity of martial training and expression. Christians, Muslims, the Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Shinto, Tibetan all exhalt the Warrior; his training, character, expression in battle, prayers for his success. The Modernist expression of religion; the hope for Peace, the value of Life, the posture of ones' spiritual being, has grown in Europe and America because of their wonderfully protected status. They cling to the idea that their example will change the bandits and barbarians of the world, when all it does is excite contempt. There is no Nerf-World- whatever your spiritual posture, you will be called upon to deal with those that don't share it.

Mr. Clements is a forty year practitioner of martial arts. For the last seventeen years he has studied in the grace of the DeThouars family of champion practitioners.