Lian padukan
Encyclopedia
Lian padukan is an offensive style of silat Melayu that specialises in close-range striking. It is one of the biggest silat schools in Malaysia and also the most well-known variant of the Hui fighting method
known as lian or buah pukul. Because of their shared Yunnan
origin, lian padukan is very similar to Chinese Wing Chun
.
The origin of the term lian padukan is uncertain. The word lian can either be translated as "game" or "way". Padukan is usually said to derive from paduka meaning royal because the art was originally only taught to palace guards and other nobility. Another theory is that it is a combination of the words pukulan (hit) and aduk (mix). Yet another theory is that it is a compound word meaning fortified strength.
(Muslim Chinese) trader from Yunnan
, China
usually called Abdul Rahman Yunani. There are a few variations of his name. Some give him the title of Sheik, asserting that he was a missionary. Others precede his name with Syed claiming that he was half Arab, but such later details weren't present in the original story and had only been added during the Islamisation
of the 1980s and 90s.
While in Singapore
, eight dock-workers attempted to mug Abdul Rahman but he defeated them easily. News of this incident reached the palace of nearby Johor
and the royal bodyguard Awang Daik, a silat sendeng exponent, wished to test Abdul Rahman's skill. Knowing that he couldn't beat the Chinese trader by himself, Awang Daik asked his friend to accompany him. His friend was Pak Long Yasin, the Muar
police chief and a practitioner of silat sunting. The two pendekar
talked with Abdul Rahman and requested that he spar with them. After their repeated entreaties he agreed and fought the pair of them at once. Both Awang Daik and Pak Long were bested by the trader and became his students to redeem themselves.
Singapore
at the time was a British colony, and the island's small size made it too tightly-controlled for martial arts
to be practiced openly. Instead, Abdul Rahman was invited to teach in the Mersing district where Awang Daik was High Commissioner. He and Pak Long completed their training a few years later, after which Adbul Rahman Yunani left Mersing. His whereabouts are unknown but many believe that he was the same Chinese Muslim credited with bringing a similar style to Sarawak
during the same period. Awang Daik and Pak Long continued teaching lian which became known as buah pukul Mersing meaning "Mersing striking techniques".
Derivatives of this style were passed onto the descendents of those who learned it. As buah pukul spread outside the palace, its variations were known by several names including gayang lima, lian Yunan and silat senjata lapan. Lian padukan was founded by Pak Mat Kedidi who first began learning buah pukul from his father. He went on to train under several other masters, including Pak Teh Mat Yasin Kubung and Pak Cik Sani Abu Samah. Under the tutelage of Chu Aman, he became the lineage holder of buah pukul. Pak Mat Kedidi continued training in other martial arts, specifically silat sunting, silat sendeng and tomoi
. In the 1970s he tried to adapt traditional lian to modern street-fighting by combining it with these other methods, thereby creating the more direct and aggressive lian padukan.
is much the same as in tomoi
.
After learning all the jurus, students begin training in preset forms
called lian. Lian are divided into four "chapters", each of which contain four routines, making a total of sixteen forms. The lian allow students to learn strategies and applications of moves. Primary tactics include the following:
Muslim Chinese martial arts
The Hui started and adapted many of the styles of Chinese martial arts such as Bajiquan, Piguaquan, Liu He Quan, and other styles.There were specific areas known to be centers of martial arts, such as Cang County in Hebei Province....
known as lian or buah pukul. Because of their shared Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
origin, lian padukan is very similar to Chinese Wing Chun
Wing Chun
Wing Chun , also romanised as Ving Tsun or Wing Tsun, ; ; is a concept-based Chinese martial art and form of self-defense utilizing both striking and grappling while specializing in close-range combat.The alternative characters 永春 "eternal spring" are also...
.
The origin of the term lian padukan is uncertain. The word lian can either be translated as "game" or "way". Padukan is usually said to derive from paduka meaning royal because the art was originally only taught to palace guards and other nobility. Another theory is that it is a combination of the words pukulan (hit) and aduk (mix). Yet another theory is that it is a compound word meaning fortified strength.
History
The art of lian was brought to Southeast Asia by a HuiHui people
The Hui people are an ethnic group in China, defined as Chinese speaking people descended from foreign Muslims. They are typically distinguished by their practice of Islam, however some also practice other religions, and many are direct descendants of Silk Road travelers.In modern People's...
(Muslim Chinese) trader from Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
usually called Abdul Rahman Yunani. There are a few variations of his name. Some give him the title of Sheik, asserting that he was a missionary. Others precede his name with Syed claiming that he was half Arab, but such later details weren't present in the original story and had only been added during the Islamisation
Islamic revival
Islamic revival refers to a revival of the Islamic religion throughout the Islamic world, that began roughly sometime in 1970s and is manifested in greater religious piety, and community feeling, and in a growing adoption of Islamic culture, dress, terminology, separation of the sexes, and values...
of the 1980s and 90s.
While in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, eight dock-workers attempted to mug Abdul Rahman but he defeated them easily. News of this incident reached the palace of nearby Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
and the royal bodyguard Awang Daik, a silat sendeng exponent, wished to test Abdul Rahman's skill. Knowing that he couldn't beat the Chinese trader by himself, Awang Daik asked his friend to accompany him. His friend was Pak Long Yasin, the Muar
Muar
Muar may refer to* Muar District, a district in Johor, Malaysia* Muar , a town in the district of Muar.* Muar River * Muar River...
police chief and a practitioner of silat sunting. The two pendekar
Pendekar
Pendekar or pandikar is a Malay word used to refer to or address masters of the martial arts, particularly silat. Not all masters carry the honorary title; it must be either officially bestowed by royalty or unofficially by commonfolk. The latter is most common today, especially outside Southeast...
talked with Abdul Rahman and requested that he spar with them. After their repeated entreaties he agreed and fought the pair of them at once. Both Awang Daik and Pak Long were bested by the trader and became his students to redeem themselves.
Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
at the time was a British colony, and the island's small size made it too tightly-controlled for martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
to be practiced openly. Instead, Abdul Rahman was invited to teach in the Mersing district where Awang Daik was High Commissioner. He and Pak Long completed their training a few years later, after which Adbul Rahman Yunani left Mersing. His whereabouts are unknown but many believe that he was the same Chinese Muslim credited with bringing a similar style to Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
during the same period. Awang Daik and Pak Long continued teaching lian which became known as buah pukul Mersing meaning "Mersing striking techniques".
Derivatives of this style were passed onto the descendents of those who learned it. As buah pukul spread outside the palace, its variations were known by several names including gayang lima, lian Yunan and silat senjata lapan. Lian padukan was founded by Pak Mat Kedidi who first began learning buah pukul from his father. He went on to train under several other masters, including Pak Teh Mat Yasin Kubung and Pak Cik Sani Abu Samah. Under the tutelage of Chu Aman, he became the lineage holder of buah pukul. Pak Mat Kedidi continued training in other martial arts, specifically silat sunting, silat sendeng and tomoi
Tomoi
Tomoi is an unarmed martial art from Malaysia. It is closely related to other Indochinese boxing styles, such as as muay Thai in Thailand, pradal serey in Cambodia, muay Lao in Laos and lethwei in Myanmar....
. In the 1970s he tried to adapt traditional lian to modern street-fighting by combining it with these other methods, thereby creating the more direct and aggressive lian padukan.
Training
Unlike most styles of silat, lian padukan is offensive and teaches students to advance before the opponent makes a move. Once the fighter closes in on the opponent, they attack with a continuous combination of hand, foot, elbow, and knee strikes until the enemy has been subdued. All styles of buah pukul contain four main techniques called jurus which introduce the use of punches, kicks, elbows, and knee strikes. Lian padukan further includes the knife-hand as one of its primary attacks. The most basic strike is the polek, a hand-strike in which one hand attacks while the other pulls down the opponent's blocking arm. This is delivered as a rapid series of "rolling" punches or chops aimed at the head or upper body. This rolling action, called gulung, is the most fundamental technique in all variants of buah pukul. The gulung in lian padukan typically consists of only three strikes so that more power can be concentrated into each one. Kicks are mostly targeted below the waist but the roundhouse kickRoundhouse kick
A roundhouse kick is a kick in which the attacker swings his leg around in a semicircular motion, striking with the front of the leg or foot. This type of kick is utilized in many different martial arts and is popular in both non-contact and full-contact martial arts competitions...
is much the same as in tomoi
Tomoi
Tomoi is an unarmed martial art from Malaysia. It is closely related to other Indochinese boxing styles, such as as muay Thai in Thailand, pradal serey in Cambodia, muay Lao in Laos and lethwei in Myanmar....
.
After learning all the jurus, students begin training in preset forms
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
called lian. Lian are divided into four "chapters", each of which contain four routines, making a total of sixteen forms. The lian allow students to learn strategies and applications of moves. Primary tactics include the following:
- Charging - pressuring the opponent with a barrage of attacks
- Dotting - immobilising the opponent with locks and pressure points
- Pre-empting - attacking before the opponent gets a chance
- Following - following the opponent's movements
- Seizing - grasping or moving an opponent's defensive limbs