PAK EMBAH KAHIR & PAK SERA
The following is the history of Embah Kahir and Cimande as written by the author Mr. R Asikin (Bandung August 1975) and Authorized by H. Suhari Sapari (The General Leader of PPSI) The Indonesian Self Defense Association of West Java, and the IPSI (Ikatan Pencak Silat Indonesia). It has been translated here to English. This is the History recognized by the IPSI and Government of Indonesia.
He was the master of the Cimande clan. He introduced the Cimande fighting system to the West Javanese. He called his clan Cimande for the place where he lived had a river called The Cimande River. He lived in a small village called Cogreg village near the town of Bogor in West Java around 1780. BAPAK EMBAH KAHIR had many students in many places like; Bogor, Jakarta, Banten, Bandung, and elsewhere in West Java. In the year 1773, he made fight against a fighter from Macao at Cianjur, a small town in West Java witnessed by the Prince of Kornel, chief of district of Cianjur. His very well known student was BAPAK SERA who had many students in Depok, Bogor, Jakarta, Tanggerang, and Banten. His five students who spreaded out the Cimande in Bandung were; Bapak Endut, Ocod, Otoy, Komar, and Oyot. There were three other students who came from Bogor to Bandung and taught Cimande there namely; Bapak Bidong, Mailin, and Bapak Abo.
THE FOLLOWING ARE 3 LESSONS ON 3 DIFFERENT TOPICS FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BOOK PELAJARAN PENCAK SILAT BY R. ASIKIN.
English Translation
1. The Functions of Pencak Silat. To make the Indonesian people mentally and physically healthy to make them able to face the physical attacks from man and animals, and spiritual attacks in the form of bad thinkings.
2. The Relationship of Pencak Silat and the Five Principals of Indonesia. Those who learn and deepen the Pencak Silat seriously and deeply will obey God. They will have the sense of humanity, nationality, and will be ready to help the weak.
3. The History of the Philosophy of Pencak Silat. The Pencak Silat which emphasizes the self defense has actually been existed since a long time. To survive, man should fight; either man against man or man against animals (especially wild animals). At that time, man who was strong and skillfull to fight would be able to get good position in the community, for example he would be appointed the leader of the tribe and would become the King's Commander.
