SENI SILAT CAPE TOWN
  • Home
  • What Is Seni Silat?
  • Training Venues
  • Registration
  • Latest News & Articles
  • Pukulan Melaka
  • Videos
  • Silat Shop
  • SILAT JOURNEY 2012
  • Silat4Life
  • Home
  • What Is Seni Silat?
  • Training Venues
  • Registration
  • Latest News & Articles
  • Pukulan Melaka
  • Videos
  • Silat Shop
  • SILAT JOURNEY 2012
  • Silat4Life
Search

Youth Silat at SEA Games 2011

11/9/2011

0 Comments

 
The Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) are upon us again! This year, over 400 athletes are representing Singapore in Indonesia. Last week, Youth.SG managed to speak to one of them, Muhd Danial Azlani, who is competing in the doubles and team categories for artistic silat.
First things first, what is artistic silat?

Unlike combat silat, which is a physical competition between two combatants, participants perform a set routine in artistic silat. There are three categories: in the singles category, participants have to perform a set of about 100 steps; in the doubles category, they perform a choreographed fight, which may involve highly stylised moves and acrobatics not unlike those you see in martial arts movies; the last category is the team category, where a team of three performs a routine set by the International Silat Federation. In all categories, participants are graded on a combination of skill, aggression and aesthetic value.

We spoke to Danial to find out more about him and how he feels about his SEA Games debut!

Y: Tell us more about yourself.

D: I’m Danial, 17, and I just graduated from Singapore Sports School (SSS). I started learning silat in primary two, so it has been about eight or nine years. (After I joined), I grew more interested in the sport so I kept training and got into the youth development program at the Singapore Silat Federation. When I was in primary six, I went for the trial to enter the SSS, and was selected (for admission).

Y: What are your other interests?

D: I’m also into acting - when I was primary six, I auditioned and got a role in a production by Suria. I’m not quite sure (if I have any plans) to pursue that interest though.

Y: So what made you pick up Silat?

D: I’m not quite sure. I guess, as a child, I just wanted to try something new. Being Malay, silat is part of my heritage and culture. I grew up watching action movies, and I wanted to (emulate their) actions (and) I guess silat allowed me to be like an action star. I actually pestered my mum to let me join a silat club!

Y: Then how did you get into artistic silat?

D: (During my time in) SSS, they trained us in both forms of silat (combat and artistic). I found that I was better in artistic silat. In our fifth year, we had to choose a specialisation and I naturally picked artistic silat.
(Danial’s forte is in the doubles category, where his small size and agility allows him to perform elaborate acrobatics. Just like an action star!)

Y: How do you feel going into the SEA games?

D: The SEA games is one of the major platforms for competitive silat and it is exciting! At the same time, I’m a little nervous because I want to perform my best on match day. It’s an odd feeling, but I guess I’m used to it because I’ve taken part in a number of competitions in sports school.

Y: What is next after the SEA Games?

D: I’ll be studying for a Diploma in integrated events management at Republic Polytechnic (RP), through the through-train programme by the sports school.
(The SSS offers a through-train programme to RP, which bypasses the ‘O’ levels. This allows student-athletes to focus more on their sports as their education is planned around their training and competitions. While he was at SSS, Danial only missed one competition!)

Y: What do you do in your free time then?

D: Silat usually takes up about four to five hours a day on weekdays, so I have more free time during the weekends. I like hanging out with my friends, just to relax or catch a movie. Sometimes, we try out different sports, like bowling or playing at a futsal court in East Coast. 

Youth.SG also asked Danial's coach, Shiekh Harun, what he thought of Danial's and the rest of our silat team's medal chances.
Shiekh: Our Singaporean representatives are quite young, about 17, while those from other countries are much older, 27 or 28. Being quite young, our representatives are more prone to buckle under the pressure or be distracted by the crowd cheering at the competition. Danial needs to work on keeping his mind on his synchronisation with his team and the routine, blocking everything else out. In their last major competition, Danial and his teammates came very close to bringing back a medal, coming in fourth. At this SEA Games, the top three countries (from that competition) will also be participating because Silat is prominent is Southeast Asia. This time, we have tightened our training schedule and I believe (Danial and his teammates) stand a good chance of bringing back a medal.  Well, that is it, we wish Danial and all our other athletes at the SEA Games all the best! Bring back some gold!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    ABANG

    What's hot around the silat world!

    Archives

    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    September 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011

    Categories

    All
    Business
    Courses
    Events
    Exercize
    Exersize
    Heritage
    Inspiration
    Kids
    Movies
    Places Of Interest
    Reality
    Religion
    Silat Warriors
    Sports
    Travel
    Women In Silat

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • What Is Seni Silat?
  • Training Venues
  • Registration
  • Latest News & Articles
  • Pukulan Melaka
  • Videos
  • Silat Shop
  • SILAT JOURNEY 2012
  • Silat4Life