Who We are

Welcome to the Silat Bledek Website. Silat Bledek is an American martial art based largely on the Indonesian martial arts of Pentjak Silat Serak and Pukulan Pentjak Silat Tongkat. Several years ago I was encouraged by my instructor to create a method for teaching the Indonesian arts to Americans. Silat Bledek is the result of that effort. The title Silat (martial art) Bledek (thunder) was given to the art by my instructor Maha Guru Victor deThouars and pays respect to its Indonesian roots.We say that Silat Bledek is an American martial art because it was developed by an American, for American students, and is designed to be practical for the types of self-defense encounters we might find here in the States. The art is not flashy. It is not burdened with an endless supply of forms or specific techniques, so the title does not include words like Pentjak (choreography). Instead the art teaches good, strong structure, precise movement, and fighting principles. We then turn those principles into an infinite supply of options for technique that are easily adapted and customized for every individual. Practitioners of Silat Bledek are encouraged to be freethinking inventors of techniques, not mindless mimics of form that lack understanding.

The art teaches empty hand and weapon fighting. For weapons we focus primarily on knives and short sticks, with some long staff concepts. These few weapon principles are easily adapted to virtually anything an American is likely to have or carry for self defense without a concealed weapon permit.

We do not typically compete in martial art competitions because most of what we do gets us disqualified. We do not treat the art like a business venture by which we try to make money; in fact we train out of our homes. We are interested in developing and passing on skills that could save our lives in the event of a threat to our persons or families. Of course we try to have a little fun with our training along the way. We use American English and though we demand mutual respect among all practitioners and a wholesome attitude, we do not conduct our classes in a military-like fashion. If Indonesian martial arts are your fancy, we still teach and practice Pentjak Silat Serak and Pukulan Pentjak Silat Tongkat just as we learned them to ensure their integrity.

Please take a moment to browse the rest of our site. See our history and direct link back to the founders of Pentjak Silat Serak and Pukulan Pentjak Silat Tongkat. Read the bios of our instructors, and be sure to check out our brief video clip of a few short stick applications. If you want more information than our Web page provides, feel free to e-mail any of us through the links provided or contact me by phone at 719-597-3248.

Respectfully,
Maha Guru Muda Robert Vanatta
Head Instructor and Founder of Silat Bledek