SSPMSA is committed to building a safe and responsible community by providing accessible Silat martial arts training to all South Africans
Silat is an important lifeskill, and helps with character building through the Pesilat Code (Ikrar Pesilat) and teachings of Islam and incorporates training of the Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects.
RESILIENCE & CONFIDENCE: Silat helps young girls & boys gain confidence and self defense abilities. We teach them how to identify and deal with bullies.
South African Pencak Silat Team to World Champs in Phuket 2015
SELAMAT DATANG - WELCOME
Since the arrival of Malay people in South Africa in the 1600's, their culture and ways have not survived in its entirety. Silat was an integral part of their lives and its preservation was imperative to their survival and struggle for freedom of colonialism which was present in South East Asia for hundreds of years.
The Portuguese, Dutch, Spanish and English caused the Malay World (Nusantara) to be split into chuncks which we now know as Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Southern Thailand, Southern Philippines, and Cambodia. Malay warriors gave these colonialists a tough time as they were equipped with their deadliest weapon i.e Silat.
Many Silat warriors were killed and others had to flee to the jungles, mountains and caves. The knowledge of Silat was slowly disappearing from the Malays, as the colonial masters made sure to stop the spread of its knowledge wherever possible. The true pendekars (masters) made sure to preserve the art teaching Silat in secret and during the night only. This is why black is the uniform colour of silat schools around the world.
In honour of our fallen heroes who have suffered and endured the injustices of European Colonialism, we are reviving the art of Silat. In doing so, we teach necessary life skills like self-defense and character building according to the teachings Islam and of our Guru Tuan Haji Mohtar bin Hj Yahya. Our Silat school (PERSATUAN SENI SILAT PUKULAN MELAKA) connects us with the headquarters in Melaka, and with the International Silat Federation (PERSILAT) through our national Silat body known as SAPSA (South African Pencak Silat Association).