Many people are planning to start learning about martial arts nowadays but may not have taken into account the fact that they will need martial arts equipment to be able to practice this hobby or occupation. Here are some tips on how to get the best martial arts equipment you need:
1.Try to figure out which martial arts equipment you want to become proficient in. The uniforms in martial arts differ in design, color and use so you have to be specific about which uniform you wish to use. This also applies to your martial arts equipment since the martial arts equipment for one martial art may be unique to that martial art.
2.Find out what protective gear you need to be able to spar and train in your preferred martial arts. Protective gear as martial arts equipment is very important because the last thing you want is to get injured in a sparring session. Protective gear as martial arts equipment can be categorized either as head gear (like face masks and helmets), gear to protect your torso (like chest shields), gear to protect your groin (which is more for men than women, and may consist of a crotch guard or sports cup to shield your privates from being punched or kicked), shin guards to keep the shin area of your legs from being injured when you block a flying kick with your legs (since getting hit on the shin tends to be rather painful since there isn’t much flesh and muscle to shield your shin bone), feet gear (such as kicking boots, designed to keep your opponent from being critically injured if you should hit them with your legs or feet), and hand gear (such as punching mitts, used also to shield your opponent from the full force of your punches.) You need to invest in quality martial arts equipment as protective gear so you get the best protection possible.
3.You can also invest in practice martial arts equipment. This means getting punching bags (like those used in boxing), and martial arts dummies (which attempt to give you an idea of how to punch and kick a real human being.) Your punching bag can consist of either the teardrop bag or the bigger boxing-type punching bag. Martial arts dummies are basically like punching bags except they may be a bit bigger and shaped like human bodies. Though these martial arts equipment are no replacement for sparring and training with real-live opponents (because these practice equipment cannot dodge your blows or retaliate), they are very important to have around so you can get the feel for the sport.
4.There will be sports that require you to become proficient in certain martial arts weapons (which are also martial arts equipment.) However, you should always be careful when trying out such weapons in the first few sessions because you might hurt someone badly (such as yourself) if you don’t know what you are doing. If you are at the stage when martial arts equipment like weapons are necessary, then always pay attention to your instructor and learn how to master the weapons first. Often, such weapons were designed to maim your opponent and maybe even kill him so caution is always necessary in training with weapons.
Martial arts equipment were designed to work a certain way. Many martial arts equipment have a long history that can help you study how your preferred martial arts evolved. Study carefully how martial arts equipment are meant to be used and they can really help you become a better martial artist afterwards.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
How to Select Your Martial Arts Equipment
Monday, April 30, 2007
Persaudaraan Setia Hati “Terate” or PSHT
The goal of the Persaudaraan Setia Hati Terate is to propagate a system of personal development for the mind and the body. This Pentjak Silat style is one of the largest and most widespread styles in Indonesia.
Style Organization
The PSHT currently counts some 1.5 million members in Indonesia spread over 177 “Cabang” (Cities or Districts). The Head Office and the Central Board of PSHT organization is in Madiun located in East part of Java.
Madiun is also home to the central organizing board of the PSHT. The current chairman of the Central Board (Pengurus Pusat) is Mas Tarmadji Boedi Harsono.
The scope of the PSHT is broader than fighting arts alone. The PSHT is also a social-cultural organization, with its own educational programmed. It organizes educational and social-cultural activities for the local community. It maintains good contact with the government and other social-cultural organizations. And members of the PSHT maintain responsible positions in the community.
History
In 1903, Ki Ageng Soerodiwirjo laid the groundwork for a Pentjak Silat Setia Hati style. Previously he called the Physical / Movement of his Pentjak Silat “Djojo Gendilo Tjipto Muljo” and the Spiritual called “Sedulur Tunggal Ketjer” , in Kampoeng Tambak Gringsing, Surabaya. In 1917 Ki Ageng Soerodiwirjo moved to Madiun and establish his style named the Persaudaraan Setia Hati in Desa Winongo, Madiun.
In 1922, Hardjo Oetomo (1883-1952), a follower of the Setia Hati style, ask permission of Ki Ageng Soerodiwirjo to establish the Setia Hati School for younger generation and was permitted by Ki Ageng Soerodiwirjo, but has to be in different name. Mr. Hardjo Oetomo than establish “SH PSC” stand for Persaudaraan Setia Hati “Pemuda Sport Club”. This system was then called Persaudaraan Setia Hati Terate or PSHT in 1948 during the first congress in Madiun.
After World War II, the PSHT continued to spread throughout Indonesia. An important figure behind this growing popularity was Mr. Irsjad the first student of Ki Hadjar Hardjooetomo who created 90 Senam Dasar (Basic Exercise), Jurus Belati (Jurus with Knife), and Jurus Toya (Jurus with Long Stick). One of student of Mr. Irsjad is Mas Imam Koessoepangat (1939-1987), the spiritual leader of the PSHT at the time. His successor, Mas Tarmadji Boedi Harsono, is the current leader of the PSHT central board.
Philosophy
Each eastern self-defense art is based on a philosophy with an associated code of ethics. This also applies to Pentjak Silat. The practice of a self-defense art has the objective of helping the student develop a forthright character by living according to the fundamental norms and values of the art. The student strives for harmony in body and spirit, in intellect and emotion.
The Art of self-defense
Each eastern self-defense art is based on a philosophy with an associated code of ethics. This also applies to Pentjak Silat. The practice of a self-defense art has the objective of helping the student develop a forthright character by living according to the fundamental norms and values of the art. The student strives for harmony in body and spirit, in intellect and emotion.
Basic rules
Striving toward harmony in body and mind, the Persaudaraan Setia Hati Terate is founded on five basic principles:
- Persaudaraan (Brotherhood or fraternity)
- Olahraga (Sport)
- Bela Diri (self-Defense)
- Seni Budaya ( Art and culture )
- Kerohanian ke SH an (Spiritual Development)
The complete philosophy of the Persaudaraan Setia Hati Terate can be seen in the symbols of the PSHT emblem.
Read More......PSHT Emblem
Persaudaraan
This concept, which can be translated as “brotherhood” or “fraternity”, expresses the vision that all people are brothers and sisters. “Saudara” is translated as both “brother” and “sister”: women are also a part of the “brotherhood”. This implies mutual respect, solidarity and co-operation. Brotherhood supersedes culture, race, creed and political affiliation.
The following describes the various concepts and symbols in the PSHT emblem. It embodies the part of the philosophy of the Persaudaraan Setia Hati Terate.
Persaudaraan
This concept, which can be translated as “brotherhood” or “fraternity”, expresses the vision that all people are brothers and sisters. “Saudara” is translated as both “brother” and “sister”: women are also a part of the “brotherhood”. This implies mutual respect, solidarity and co-operation. Brotherhood supersedes culture, race, creed and political affiliation.
Setia Hati
This can be translated as “faithful heart”. It implies that one should always be true to one’s heart (emotional feeling) in all of life’s decisions. These emotions, however, must be in harmony with one’s rational cognition. What the heart feels and what the intellect reasons should be in agreement. If the two elements are not in harmony, then any decision taken is wrong.
The heart
A heart is pictured in the emblem. The rays emanating from this heart are a symbolic representation of the concept of brotherhood: one sends out good thoughts or feelings to others. The red boarder around the heart is a symbol of self-defense: one aspires to brotherhood and that which one can offer others, but not at the expense of oneself. White symbolizes love and inner cleanliness.
Terate
The Terate is a water lily (lotus flower). It symbolizes resolve, resilience and the ability to adapt. This flower can thrive in all conditions. In the air. In the water. In dry and wet conditions. The PSHT student is equally able to adapt and overcome difficult circumstances. And like the Terate, despite negative influence from the surroundings, the PSHT student maintains his or her inner cleanliness. The Terate may bloom in the mud, but it maintains its beauty and purity.
The path
A vertical red line is found on the left-hand side of the emblem, flanked on each side be a white line. This is the “straight path”, symbolizing the mental and spiritual growth to which the PSHT student must aspire. During the initiation to the First Degree, the candidate makes an oath to follow this path and conform to certain rules of behavior.
Weapons
Finally, a number of yellow-colored weapons are pictured on the emblem. These symbolize the physical path that one must follow to ultimately achieve spiritual growth.
Degrees
The path of the Persaudaraan Setia Hati Terate is divided into three degrees.
The First Degree (Tingkat Satu):
The First Degree is primarily aimed at physical development. Through a system of skilful physical movements (Pentjak), students learn to use their body effectively.
The First Degree is subdivided into a number of steps, coupled to a graduated system of belts and slendangs (sashes). Each step concludes with an exam.
Degrees
The path of the Persaudaraan Setia Hati Terate is divided into three degrees.
The First Degree (Tingkat Satu):
The First Degree is primarily aimed at physical development. Through a system of skilful physical movements (Pentjak), students learn to use their body effectively.
The First Degree is subdivided into a number of steps, coupled to a graduated system of belts and slendangs (sashes). Each step concludes with an exam.
The Second Degree (Tingkat Dua):
The Second Degree focuses primarily on the Silat, the demobilization of an attacker using the physical techniques (Pentjak) learned for the First Degree. Students learn to make effective use of inner strengths through concentration, breathing techniques and meditation.
This form of self-defense can be highly lethal. It is therefore taught only to the PSHT holders of the First Degree White Slendang, and who, after years of training in discipline, willpower and character building are capable of mastering the “real” Silat. Training for the Second Degree White Slendang is essentially 50% physical development and 50% mental development.
The Third Degree (Tingkat Tiga):
The Third Degree is only intended for the selected few: for those who can bundle all the positive powers they have learned and apply them to the benefit of humanity. The Third Degree is 95% spiritual and 5% physical development.
In Indonesia, there are currently some 300,000 holders of the First Degree White Slendang and approximately 160 holders of the Second Degree White Slendang. Unfortunately there is only one person in Indonesia has Third Degree White Slendang, the chairman of the PSHT, Mas Tarmadji Boedi Harsono, as others was already past away.
Weapons
The weapons employed in Pentjak Silat are a combination of indigenous weapons and those brought to Indonesia from the entire Asian continent. A number of these weapons were originally tools used to worked the land. Virtually every traditional Pentjak Silat style employs the following weapons.
The weapons employed in Pentjak Silat are a combination of indigenous weapons and those brought to Indonesia from the entire Asian continent. A number of these weapons were originally tools used to worked the land. Virtually every traditional Pentjak Silat style employs the following weapons.
Pisau or belati
The pisau is a short knife with no specific form or length.
Golok and parang
The golok is a short, heavy machete with a single-sided blade. The parang is also a type of machete that is used extensively. Both were originally used as farming tools.
Trisula
The trisula is a three-pronged metal fork. It varies in length from 25 to 65 cm. The trisula is most likely of Indian origin.
Toya
The toya is a wooden staff, generally made of rattan. It varies in length from 1.5 to 2 meters, but in principle is slightly shorter than the person using it. The toya is between 3.5 and 5.0 cm in diameter.
In addition to the weapons mentioned above, most Pentjak Silat styles also employ their own specific weapons. In the PSHT, the following weapons are also used.
Celurit
Celurit is the Indonesian term for a sickle, a farming implement with a short, steel blade in the shape of a half-moon. The “ant” is a smaller sickle. The cutting edge is on the inside of the blade.
Krambit
The krambit is a fist-held punching brace with a double-sided blade in the shape of a half-moon. The krambit is originally a Moslem weapon. The PSHT is the only Pentjak Silat style to employ this weapon.
