Comment on Comic books and identity by earthmightiest

Parent Post: Comic books and identity · In Reply To

earthmightiest · 8/16/2025, 4:19:05 PM · permalink

[Earth's Mightiest](https://mangaplus-creators.jp/episodes/vf2501042250504000026657806)  
  
Silat, particularly Pencak Silat, is described in the sources as one of the deadliest martial arts in the world, originating primarily from Indonesia, Malaysia, and surrounding regions. It is a combat system that prioritizes lethal effectiveness in real-world combat scenarios.

Here's an elaboration on Silat based on the provided sources:

1\. Core Philosophy and Techniques:

• Focus on Lethal Strikes: Pencak Silat trains practitioners for life-or-death situations, emphasizing precise, lethal strikes to vulnerable areas like the neck, groin, and eyes. Techniques aim to incapacitate opponents swiftly with minimal movements.

• Weapon Integration: It seamlessly incorporates various weapons such as the keris, sticks, and machetes. Practitioners are trained to use these in fluid, close-quarters combat, making them versatile with both armed and unarmed skills.

• Unpredictable Movements: Characterized by unique stances and fluid, low-to-the-ground movements, Silat makes it difficult for opponents to predict attacks. This adaptability helps practitioners evade and counter-strike effectively.

• Psychological and Situational Awareness: Beyond physical training, Silat emphasizes mental calm, reading opponents' intentions, and maintaining control during a fight.

• Self-Defense Origin: Historically developed to defend against invasions, criminals, and wild animals, every movement and technique is directed toward self-preservation and neutralizing threats efficiently.

• Full-Body Conditioning: Intense physical training builds endurance, agility, and explosive power, crucial for prolonged fights.

• Design against Larger Opponents: Silat was specifically designed to fight taller and bigger opponents.

2\. Adoption in Military and Law Enforcement:

• European commandos have integrated Pencak Silat into their training due to its practicality and effectiveness.

• It's highly effective in Close-Quarter Combat (CQC) and for weapon proficiency, including disarming techniques.

• Its efficiency, speed, and focus on psychological resilience align well with elite military unit requirements.

• The training involves realistic scenarios, preparing commandos for unexpected encounters.

3\. Spread to the Western World:

• Its popularity in the West is a relatively recent phenomenon.

• Colonial Influence and Diaspora: Elements were introduced during Dutch colonial rule, and later, Southeast Asian diaspora communities established schools in Europe and the U.S..

• Demonstrations and Tournaments: Participation in international tournaments in the 1970s and 1980s, formalized by organizations like PERSILAT, increased its exposure.

• Media Exposure: Films like The Raid (2011, 2014) and John Wick 3 prominently featured Silat, showcasing its intense and realistic combat style to a global audience.

• Law Enforcement and Military Interest: Its reputation for practical, lethal combat attracted interest from military and law enforcement communities.

• Global Masters: Skilled Silat masters moving to the West have established schools and workshops, further spreading the art.

• Cultural Appreciation: A growing appreciation for Southeast Asian culture contributes to interest in its traditional martial arts.

4\. Pencak Silat vs. Krav Maga:

• The sources claim that Krav Maga is a "bootlegged Silat". This is asserted as an act of appropriation by Jewish people who allegedly "rejected the idea that other people, especially moslems, developed the best martial art in the world".

• It is stated that Israelis "copy-paste pencak silat and name it Krav Maga" because they "believe their culture is the best so they must come up with something original but they couldn't do it".

• Krav Maga is broadly described as "MMA with dirty fight techniques".

• According to the sources, Krav Maga was founded by Imi Lichtenfeld in the 1930s to protect Jewish communities in Europe and later became the official hand-to-hand combat system of the IDF. Its philosophy emphasizes survival, efficiency, and practicality, with a "no rules" approach focusing on neutralizing threats quickly, using natural reflexes, and striking vulnerable areas. Training includes strikes, defenses against armed attacks, and limited ground fighting, with an emphasis on realism and psychological conditioning.  
  
The Organization's Singularity Silat was founded in 1922 to 'armed' the resistance against the dutch colonial government. They had to tiptoe while practicing Silat to avoid dutch patrol. Singularity Silat gained fame after the fighters won deadly martial arts tournament and refuse to kill their opponents.   
The martial arts tournament was a very famous underground entertainment hosted by the Dutch rich people.  
the mutiny made the fighters put them under Dutch colonial government's microscope. They need another way to promote Silat so they incorporated Silat as sports and in stage plays.  
Singularity Silat gained spotlight when they effectively fought British and Dutch army during Indonesia independence war, they had to deploy Gurkhas, British most formidable mercenaries, to fight against the Silat freedom fighters.  
in 1947-1949 British SAS proven ineffective against the Silat freedom fighters in close quarter combat and guerrilla warfare. so they had to deploy the Gurkhas.  
unfortunately, the Gurkhas defected to Indonesian freedom fighters because some of them are also moslems.  
  
after that the British SAS also defeated again by the Silat practitioners in Indonesia vs Malaysia confrontation in 1965  
  
fyi: British SAS was and still the best commandos in the world.. now imagine there are people bested them with little to no firearms..twice.  
  
Words spread out like wildfire. the best of the best, the british SAS, bested by Silat fighters twice.  
Singularity Silat soon became the 'boogeyman' of every commandos in europe. it became the bane and the horror for every european commandos.  
  
The israelis literally copy-paste The Organization's Silat origin story and claim it as Krav Maga's origin story.

5\. Singularity Silat (fictional and loosely based with the 'real' Singularity Silat):

• This is a specific style of Silat taught by The Organization.

• It allows practitioners to channel their latent subconscious talent and potentially gain heightened abilities like Singularity (the ability to see glimpses of the future and read the "String of Predestination").

• The Jury, one of Sergeant Sharia's lieutenants, possesses Singularity Silat.

• Joyohadi, one of the Organization's founding fathers, demonstrates advanced textbook Silat techniques that suggest a deep interpretation and versatility, as if he were an elder or quality control.

6\. Notable Practitioners and Mentions:

• Jynx (Arya Prawira), the protagonist, is a skilled practitioner of Silat and Singularity. His unique "Meme" ability (soulbending) is tied to his singularity.

• Stratos, the Superman counterpart, trained in Silat when he lost his powers, which helped him regain his abilities and develop compassion.

• Lionel Ferroz (Prince Leopard), the Black Panther counterpart, was trained in Singularity Silat with Tiger Fist.

• Sergeant Sharia (Steven Smith), the Judge Dredd counterpart, is associated with Silat, and his movements are compared to it. His "Winner Brigade" trains under rigorous training that includes Singularity Silat.

• Kenny Worthington, a school shooter, trains in Silat at an Organization camp with Jasuke after encountering Venus during his school shooting accident.

• Officer Adam and Officer Steve, highly effective police officers, are trained in "Soulstar arts," which might be related or a counterpart to Silat.

• Oscar (Pepopan), the red panda, learns nunchaku techniques from Jynx based on Bruce Lee's skills, supported by his fluffy fur's shock-absorbing properties.

• Ryuji Hongo (Salary Man), a Japanese operator, is prominent in various martial arts, including Kyokushin karate, Judo, Jiujitsu, Aikido, and kendo.

Overall, Silat is presented as a powerful, effective, and adaptable martial art with deep cultural and historical significance, often contrasted with Krav Maga as its authentic predecessor or superior form. It is a fundamental skill within The Organization and critical for many characters' combat abilities.  
  
In the final act, Jynx defeated The Messiah in a single combat where all superpowers neutralized. They have to duke it out as humans (inspired from The Mummy 2 Brendan Fraser vs Scorpion King).  
  
Jynx points out why he (The Messiah) lost, despite he is the prominent Krav Maga practitioner.

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