Silat Seni Gayong - Midlands and North West - UK

               The Philosophy of Silat Seni Gayong is strongly related to the Malay adat istiadat ( Malay cultures  and  traditions ), morals, adab (respect) and the teaching of religion. Religion is the inspiration, motivation and guidance for high-quality behavior. It is a mark of peace and harmony.

               At one time, Silat Seni Gayong was taught only to select people. It was not until early 1942 when, on the Sudong Island village of Singapore, inhabitants were worried about an attack by the Japanese army and the secret of Silat Seni Gayong become more widely known. The incident was the first step in making Silat Seni Gayong available to the public. From the Sudong Island, Silat Seni Gayong spread to other vicinities such as the island of Seking, Bukum, Sebaruk, Sekijang, Sembilan, Semakom and Damar island. It spread throrughout the Indonesian islands as a way to protect the villages from pirates.

                Today, Silat Seni Gayong is widely practiced in Malaysia and Singapore. The art is being taught in school, colleges, university, to the Royal Malaysia Armed Forces and to the Royal Malaysia Police. It also plays an important role for younger generations. Silat Seni Gayong has become a way to educate and introduce good character, discipline, morals and ethics. It inspires the youth of Malaysia to appreciate the lagends of the nation, the culture and tradition, and the achievement of freedom and liberty.

               Silat Seni Gayong has traveled beyond Malaysian society to Australia, Kuwait, Tunisia, Vietnam, France, Europe, United States and now to the United Kingdom.

Reference from the official book of Silat Seni Gayong
Title:- The Malay Art of Self-Defense
Author:- Sheikh Shamsudin

               Seni Gayong Silat, or more correctly pronounced in the Malay language Silat Seni Gayong, is believed to have originated from the Bugis tribe in the Sulawesi island (also known as Celebes Island).  The  original name of Silat Seni Gayong was Silat Seni Sendi Harimau. It is believed that Silat Seni Gayong has existed since the era of the Malacca's Sultanate in the Malaya Peninsula in the late fourteenth century during the empire of the Sultan Mansor Shah. In 1511, during the intervention of the Portuguese in Malacca, Tun Biajid, son of Laksamana (Admiral) Hang Tuah and his followers employed silat to protect the Malay empire and its people.

                Silat Seni Gayong continued to spread from one generation to the next and later to the grandfather of Meor Abdul Rahman, Syed Zainal Al-Attas, who lived in the era of Pendekar Dato Bahaman and Mat Kilau in 1700. Malaysians considered Dato Bahaman and Mat Kilau as freedom fighters during the British occupation of Malaysia. At that time, mostly the Bugis people of Makasar studied Silat Seni Gayong. There were the people that brought Silat Seni Gayong into the Malay Peninsula.

               The Mahaguru/Grandmaster of Silat Seni Gayong was Dato Meor Abdul Rahman. He was the descendant of Bugis and Arabs. His great grandfather, Prince Daeng Kuning (Daeng meaning Prince of Royal Bugis), was a famous warrior also known as Panglima Hitam (The Black Warrior). Daeng Kuning was recognized as a descendent of the family of warriors identified as Pahlawan Gayong.

               Pahlawan Gayong was a famous warrior, highly intimidating and respected by the public in Makasar, Riau, Siak and all of the surrounding islands. History indicates that the Malay legendary warrior Hang Tuah inherited Silat Seni Gayong, which was ultimately passed down to Dato Meor Abdul Rahman. 

               Daeng Kuning traveled from Sulawisi island to the Malaya Peninsula sometime after the year 1800. He traveled with six of his close relatives. They were Daeng Jalak, Daeng Celak, Daeng Merawak, Daeng Mempawah, Daeng Telani and Daeng Pelonggi. In search of a better life, they all went their separate ways throughout the Malay archipelago. Some moved to the state of Kedah, others to the states of Pahang, Johor, Terengganu Selangor and Malacca. Daeng Kuning settled in the state of Perak, married Princess Raja Patani and decided to reside in the village of Air Kuning. They had a son named Penghulu Che Ngah Tambak who later had a son named Uda Mohd Hashim, the father of Meor Abdul Rahman. Daeng Kuning died in August 17, 1875 in Taiping, Perak. It is documented that Silat Seni Gayong undoubtedly came from the lineage of the Bugis Royal familay:

 Prince Daeng Kuning (The Black Warrior)

Penghulu Che Ngah Tambak

Daeng Uda Mohd Hashim

Dato Meor Abdul Rahman 

               The picture below shows Dato Meor Abdul Rahman's parents Daeng Uda Mohd Hashim and his wife Sharifah Aluyah, daughter of Syed Zainal Abidin Al-Attas.

 

Reference from the official book of Silat Seni Gayong
Title:- The Malay Art of Self-Defense
Author:- Sheikh Shamsudin