Originally posted by gman
I am currently a student of American Kenpo but am looking into gaining some training in Silat. I was recenctly exposed to a small amount at a seminar and am now interested. I have done a little internet research and I notice there are different types. Can anyone tell me the difference? Thanks.
* flippant alert *
What are the different types of Kung Fu or Karate?
* flippancy off *
Just to give a little perspective, there are literally hundreds (some say thousands) of systems of Silat. I've heard that there are over 300 officially recognized systems of Silat on Java alone. That doesn't count all the "unofficial" ones practiced in little villages or single families that weren't part of the census for one reason or another. It also doesn't count all the systems of silat that are on Sumatra, Bali, Flores, Borneo, and the rest of the islands (and there's a bunch of 'em). Or the silat systems in Malaysia or the Philippines.
However, the most common ones you'll find here in the states are either Serak (or Serak influenced) from the de Thouars family and Mande Muda from the Suwanda family.
That's not all that's here in the states, but they're the most commonly found. Some others are Cimande (which is one of the many systems that Mande Muda draws from, but there are a couple of other lineages floating around here in the US), Harimau (again, one that Mande Muda draws from but other lineages like Minangkabau Harimau). Mande Muda also draws from Sera (but a different lineage than that of the de Thouars). There is some Malaysian Seni Gayong Silat. There are some silat systems from the Philippines here in the US.
But, primarily, what you'll find (and likely what you were exposed to) will be from the de Thouars lineage or from the Suwanda lineage. And Dan Inosanto has extensive training in both lineages so his "Maphilindo" Silat draws heavily from both of these.
As far as what these systems are ... that, in itself, will require a big response. Silat is, generally, blade based (though the blade is often not taught publicly here in the states) so keep that in mind.
Serak is a "pukulan" art which means it's heavy on striking. But most of its striking is geared toward balance disruption to set up sweeps/takedowns.
Mande Muda is a "campuran" (blended) system. It draws from many different systems of Silat (I think the actual number is 24 currently, but the Suwanda family is always training and evolving the system). Some of the systems it draws from are:
- Harimau [literally "tiger"] - a groundfighting system from Sumatra
- Cipecut - flexible weapons
- Cimande - a striking system that, among other things, conditions the forearms and uses them as striking weapons
- Sabitan - a knife system based on Cimande
- Cikalong - "bat" system, evasive footwork, trapping hands, balance disruption
- Rikasan [literally "to break] - a joint locking/breaking system with a lot of similarities to Chinese Chin Na
- Nampon - an internal system with a lot of similarities to Chinese Chi Gung
- Pamonyet [literally "father monkey"] - a monkey system
- Pamacan [literally "father tiger"] - a tiger system from Java similar to the Harimau from Sumatra, but with a slightly different flavor
- Kari - a system built around a single throw, the "puter kepala" [what Aikido would call a "kaiten nage"] - head turning throw
- Madi - developed by a very small guy so uses body mass to accomplish a lot of locks/breaks/throws/takedowns
Oh ... and on pronunciation (just because): (approximations)
- "c" is pronounced "ch"
- "tj" is pronounced "ch" - Dutch Colonial now written as "c"
- "dj" is pronounced as "j" - Dutch Colonial now written as "j"
- "oe" us pronounced as "o" in "move" - Dutch Colonial now written as "u"
- "a" is pronounced as "o" in "mom"
Hope that helps
If you've got any other questions, fell free to ask and I'll try to answer them.
Mike
...but yeah, it's a hike for me. 
