Martial Arts of Indonesia: A Guide to Pencak Silat, Kuntao and Traditional Weapons

Preserved in music, dance, and art &;as well as in ritual, tribal law, and mythology&;the fighting arts of the Indonesian archipelago play a central role in Indonesian culture.The Martial Arts of Indonesia is a heavily illustrated and well-researched work from renowned martial arts scholar and teacher Donn F. Draeger. Draeger offers an expert's perspective on the story of Indonesia's martial culture, providing a comprehensive introduction to the sophisticated forms of empty-hand combat. These acrobatic fighting styles like Pencak Silat&;which was granted World Cultural Heritage status by UNESCO in 2019&;and Kuntao are growing in popularity worldwide.This book also has extensive information on traditional Indonesian weapons including:Keris: A dagger with a waved blade and pistol-grip handleKujang: A sickle-shaped dagger with a distinctive curve Rencong: An L-shaped knife with a slightly curved bladeDraeger shows how these unique Indonesian forms are related to their mainland cousins, provides a historical context for their development, and describes the various combat methods employed throughout Indonesia. This edition includes a new foreword by Gary Gartenberg, the world's leading expert on Indonesian martial arts, which explains the lasting importance of this classic study of an ancient martial tradition.With 32 pages of color photos and over 400 black and white images of moves and weapons that showcase the Indonesian fighting forms, The Martial Arts of Indonesia is an indispensable addition to any martial artist's library.