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Indonesian Fighting Fundamentals: The Brutal Arts of the Archipelago Paperback – January 1, 1996

by Bob Orlando (Author)

4.4 35 ratings

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The fighting arts of Indonesia, a mix of pentjak silat and Chinese kuntao, were never meant for sport: they are brutal, unrelenting and designed to take the enemy out and punish him every step of the way. This unprecedented book by a long-time student of Dutch-Indonesian Master Willem de Thouars shows you why.

Print length

200 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Paladin Pr
Publication date

January 1, 1996
Dimensions

8.75 x 0.5 x 11.25 inches
ISBN-10

0873648927
ISBN-13

978-0873648929
See all details

Donn F. Draeger
41
Paperback
19 offers from $12.13

Editorial Reviews

Review

The martial arts of Indonesia were never meant for mere sports exhibition. They are an eclectic mixture of "pentjak silat" and Chinese "kuntao", and arose out of brutal necessity thought a history of violent cultural clashes and oppressive foreign occupation. As such, they are grounded in the reality of what actually works. They are designed not only to take out the enemy, but to overwhelmingly punish him from the first blow to the last. Bob Orlando's Indonesian Fighting Fundamentals gets to the heart of what makes these arts so formidable by placing the movements in context, providing a deeper understanding of their self-defense applications, and by exploring the underlying principles that make them work. Indonesian Fighting Arts is for the serious, defense-driven martial artist making accessible and adoptable the elusive, closely-held fighting styles, techniques and skills of the archipelago. No martial arts reference book collection can be considered complete without the addition of Indonesian Fighting Fundamentals. -- Midwest Book Review

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Paladin Pr; First Paperback Edition (January 1, 1996)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 200 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0873648927
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0873648929
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.26 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.75 x 0.5 x 11.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #430,694 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #643 in Martial Arts (Books)
- #4,759 in Exercise & Fitness (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 35 ratings

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not worth the price

Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2008

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I bought this book hoping I would pick up on some new techniques, principles or concepts I could integrate into my style. Which is based on Karate, Jeet kune do, akido, and kung fu. I did pick up on some things I could combine with my system. However, I don't think the book or the system is worth all the hype that has been given to it. I guess its just because the system is so limited from my point of view. The system in the book does not show any counters or defense of kicks or of fast Punch's that you would encounter in a real street fight. The strikes and concepts that the book has are really good but, what the style offers is very limited. I didn't buy the book to learn how to fight or do martial arts because I am very proficient at that already. But I was looking for other ways of dealing with problems or situations you may encounter. The system does show you how to prevent kicks from being launched in the first place from the attackers lead leg but the defense leaves you open to a knee to the groin from the rear leg. The hand techniques are good as long as the guy isn't a boxer who falls back into position after every punch or strike because, the style uses alot of arm levers and traps at "close range". If the attacker has fast hands your going to get ate. Some of the reviews compared the book to Bruce Lees "Tao of Jeet Kune Do". I feel that it falls way short of that. Bruce offered counters and attack to every possible attack that could be thrown by the human body. This book only addresses the stand up toe to toe use of hands only type of solution. I did like the fact that the book offered more explanation rather than the same old Kata type of books that everyone already knows or has seen. But I don't feel I got my moneys worth. I expected more whole body concepts, and principles of attack and defense. What got me interested in the book to Begin with was a TV program showing Indonesian fighting arts. It looked pretty impressive and "whole". Use of legs, Hands, arms, chokes, stomps, flow, etc. This book only shows the hand techniques.
Some may say this is a grown up book for black belts. That may be. I'm a black belt and I don't think anyone without experience in the martial arts would get any in depth all around self defense skills from this book.
Sure I picked up a few new concepts and principles that I may be able to apply to my style but I don't think those few concepts were worth the money I paid for the book. If it covered all possible types of attacks from other styles, and combined leg tactics the book would be worth the money but, I feel the "style" falls short of "Real" combat situations you may find yourself in.

8 people found this helpful

Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2022

Verified Purchase

A truly great book. The authors explanation of principles is so clear and concise it was a pleasure to read. Everything explained cleanly and with out fluff or gradurism.

I recommend it for any one looking to better understand, better explan, or have a better vocabulary to express principles used in martial arts.

Effective street self defense

Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2012

Verified Purchase

I've been taking a Silat course and wanted some more information on the subject. It's not easy to find Silat books at your local bookstore. This book was informative but in order to understand the concepts you really need to see them at full speed. Sifu Richard Clear has some really good Silat dvd's that show all the techniques at full speed.

2 people found this helpful

Excellent book on principles in Kuntao and Silat

Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2008

Verified Purchase

I have to agree with the review of Joseph Burton above.
This is an OUTSTANDING book on some of the principles used in Kuntao and Silat.
Very well written, clear and understandable.
This book immediately took a place on the "top shelf" of my martial arts library.

There is a companion DVD to this book that meshes very well with it and gives a visual demonstration of the principles. It's called "Fighting Arts of Indonesia - Combat Secrets of Silat and Kuntao" and you can find it on amazon.

4 people found this helpful

Do NOT Represent All Silat Styles

Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2012

Verified Purchase

This book is really a good book. It analyzes in details the intricacies/'secrets' of silat concepts/techniques.

UNFORTUNATELY, the book's analysis is mainly RESTRICTED to Sera Style only. It does NOT analyzes the concepts/techniques of other silat styles such as Cimande, Cikalong, Harimau, etc.

I'm somehow disappointed on that part.

Overall, it's a very good book though considering how RARE silat books are !!!

3 people found this helpful

Highly informative and useful

Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2017

Verified Purchase

This book contains principles and concepts that set silat apart. Mr.Orlando did a fantastic job in presenting the ideas. A must read for the student of Indonesian arts

One person found this helpful

Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2015

Verified Purchase

Easy to read and understand, yet has technical information. Will add to anyone's knowledge of martial arts !

One person found this helpful

Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2019

Verified Purchase

Informative. Not quint a how too book. But a good refresher.

Indonesian fighting book

Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2012

Verified Purchase

This book is an outstanding book. Well developed and full of valuable information for those with interest in history as well as basic fundamental techniques. Guru Orlando did a great job with his main objective, providing the fundamentals of the Indonesian fighting arts.

3 people found this helpful

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2002

Verified Purchase

This is an excellent book on concepts of how to become a more proficient fighter. If you're looking for a book full of techniques, this in not the book for you. This book instead gives you the "ABC's of fighting." What I mean by the "ABC's of fighting" is that there are 26 letters in the alphabet, but the words that can be created from those 26 characters are endless. That is what this does by giving you a solid foundation to build upon.

4 people found this helpful

i recomend this book to students of other arts to ...

Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2014

Verified Purchase

i recomend this book to students of other arts to infuse it with theirs and to open your minds to other movements of the martial art body!

Nothing exciting.

Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2012

Verified Purchase

Really basic book, nothing of real interest. Maybe this book would be ok for a rank novice. No depth, really skims over important concepts. You could easily read this information on the internet for free. The book does go deep into how dangerous and great Indonesian martial arts are. Don't waste your time .

One person found this helpful

Indonesian Fighting Fundamentals

Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2009

Verified Purchase

Excellent book. It definitely gave me more insight to the Indonesian fighting arts. I would recommend to anyone interested in this system

One person found this helpful

Pentjak Silat, Kuntao AND Arnis +++

Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2010

The author of "Indonesian Fighting Fundementals", Bob Orlando, states at a number of points in this work on Pentjak Silat that he [and his teacher] mix Kuntao with Silat. But for learning purposes "pure" versions of each are briefly shown as well -- with even a quick look at very different Silat lineages near the end of this book. That is all well-and-good, but starting on page 93, Bob Orlando presents his "Peanut Brittle" blend of Silat-and-Arnis -- the Silat is the peanuts [methods and principles] and Arnis is the brittle [smooth-matrix of flow-drills] holding the Silat peanuts together. So we are really learning about a mixture of THREE Arts -- or maybe FOUR -- due to the long and varied Chinese Kenpo background of Bob Orlando. Just about any Kenpo Form can be made into a "flow-drill" via having an "attacker" in ongoing attack-and-counter with the "defender" -- this is standard know-how. In any case the flow-drills in this book are very smooth and cyclic -- they are unending -- so can be practiced as long as liked by two followers -- and the followers switch roles as the flow-drills cycle. The whole book is presented in a smooth and logical way -- via a handful of strategic concepts -- and various methods expressing and combining those -- AND good photos of Bob Orlando and his "Silat Brothers" showing Arnis Kuntao Silat in action.

Some have questioned the lack of "Inner Power" based methods -- I would answer that IF a method is really natural then other aspects can be ADDED to it -- depending on the individuals expressing and applying the methods. Aikido-like methods work well even for some security professionals NOT learning stated Ki-based tactics -- some Aiki seems already in the actual techniques -- leaving "room" for only more. Another concern is that quick and direct long-range Kickboxing may not be countered well by the more close-in "sticky" methods of Silat. Well I DO see that SOME Kickboxing may be able to get in-and-out quickly to evade the parry/fit-in/tie-up moves of Silat. But the BASIC Silat Methods, as shown in this book, DO appear to have a fair chance of "sticking" to even a fast punch. The basic methods shown of Silat Block or Silat Strike involve sticking-to and SLIDING-UP the arm an attacker's strike -- which IS the best way to CHECK an evasive opponent. Even a fake Kickboxing attack may be quite vulnerable to the Silat Block or Silat Strike methods -- as the upper-arms are relatively slow to move -- YET have potential decisive leverage to spin-or-tilt the attacker off-balance -- delaying or jamming the next attack. And do not forget the LEG tie-ups possible while checking an upper-arm -- IF both tie-ups "stick" then close-contact is forced. It would ALL seem to depend on the relative skill and speed of the folks in opposition -- and it MAY take a Silat follower some time to get these "sticky tricky" moves to work well. MY concern would be potential numbers and weapons of REAL attackers -- BUT the whole work is stated to be FUNDAMENTALS in the book's title -- AND at least the methods [as presented] are standing-ones with a fair degree of turn-around to support defense in a locale with armed-foes +++

One person found this helpful

Bob made complicated Silat topics easy to understand

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2015

I have studied a variety of martial arts over the past twenty years. While I have had limited exposure to Silat, I find it fascinating. A few years ago, I read Indonesian Fighting Fundamentals by Bob Orlando. Bob made complicated Silat topics easy to understand. I have reread the book several times now and I always find something I missed. Even if you don't practice Silat, this book will probably show you something you didn't understand in another art. The deeper your knowledge in the martial arts, the more they all start to blend together.

I recently took a business trip to Colorado and asked Bob if I could come train at his school. I was surprised when Bob agreed. Bob spent the class working with me one on one sharing his ideas, philosophy, techniques, and humor. Bob is a great martial artist, teacher, and human being. I don't give out my recommendations lightly, but this book deserves a spot in every martial artists library.

Thank you, Bob!

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