Harimau Pentjak Silat (Tiger Style Self-Defense Fighting)
Entrance Requirements: None.
Skill Cost: 11 Years (Primary), 6 Years (Secondary)
Harimau Pentjak Silat originated in Painan area of the island of Sumatra. The climate of Sumatra is hot and rainy, with the ground conditions tending toward muddy. Harimau Silat is perfectly suited for this because it teaches its students to crawl around like a tiger on hands and knees. The crawling techniques of Harimau Silat are distracting and deceptive, designed to lull an opponent into complacency, just like a tiger stalking its prey. One of the more unique Silat styles, Pentjak Silat Kuching - as Harimau Silat is also known - relies mainly on leg techniques. To build the strength necessary for these techniques a Harimau Silat player will sit for hours in a full squat, he will also climb mountains whenever possible.
Combat for a Harimau Pentjak Silat player consists of four stages. Stage one is either dodging an opponent's attack or crawling around like a tiger to lure an opponent into attacking. Stage two consists of bringing an opponent to the ground by lock or trip, or by leaping on them in a flying body block. Stage three is the elimination of the opponent. Stage four sees the Harimau stylist preparing for the next opponent.
To find a Guru (teacher) of Harimau Pentjak Silat one must go to the United States, Germany, the Netherlands or Sumatra. If one wishes to learn the deeper, spiritual side of the art from a pendekar (spiritual leader) one must go to Sumatra.
Costume: Black shirt, black pants, and black sarong.
Stance: Low to the ground in a sprawling crouch, weight spread out between hands and feet, with one leg flush to the ground and the other bent to provide power for leaping attacks.
CHARACTER BONUSES
Add 2 to P.S.
Add 1 to P.P.
Add 1 to Spd.
Add 15 to S.D.C.
COMBAT SKILLS
Attacks per Melee: Two (2).
Escape Moves: Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, Drop (New! Character just falls to the ground.)
Attack Moves: Roll.
Basic Defense Moves: Dodge, Parry, Automatic Parry.
Advanced Defense Moves: Disarm, Combination Parry/Attack, Breakfall, Drop.
Hand Attacks: Strike (Punch), Claw Hand, Backhand, Palm Strike.
Foot Attacks: Kick Attack, Snap Kick, Trip/Leghook, Backwards Sweep, Drop Kick.
Jumping Foot Attacks: None.
Special Attacks: Deathblow, Combination Strike/Parry, Leap Attack, Body block/Tackle, Joint Throw, Automatic Bodyflip/Throw.
Holds/Locks: Leg Hold, Arm Hold, Ankle Lock, Knee Lock, Wrist Lock.
Weapon Kata: (Choose One) W.P. Pisau (Small Knife), W.P. Tjabang (Sai), W.P. Parang (Cleaver/Knife), W.P. Kris (Wavy Bladed Knife), W.P. Toya (Staff)
Modifiers to Attacks: Pull Punch, Critical Strike, Critical Strike From Behind, Knock-Out/Stun, Knockout/Stun from Behind
SKILLS INCLUDED IN TRAINING
Martial Art Powers: Automatically receive Body Hardening Exercise: Kick Practice and Martial Arts Technique: Ground-Fighting.
Languages: Sumatran.
Cultural: Mountaineering.
Physical: None.
Survival: Jungle Survival.
Temple: None.
Weapon Proficiencies: W.P. Pisau (Small Knife), W.P. Tjabang (Sai), W.P. Parang (Cleaver/Knife), W.P. Kris (Wavy Bladed Knife), W.P. Toya (Staff)
Philosophical Training: Sufi.
If this is your Primary Martial Art then the following other styles can be learned in a shorter time: Fu Chiao Pai (3 Years), Kuo Ch'uan (6 Years).
LEVEL ADVANCEMENT BONUSES
1st: +1 to Parry/Dodge, +2 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, Deathblow on a Natural 20, Critical Strike or Knockout/Stun from Behind.
2nd: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Damage.
3rd: Critical Strike on a Natural 19+, +1 to Strike with Drop Kick, Select one (1) Martial Art Power from Body Hardening Exercises, Martial Art Techniques, or Special Kata.
4th: +1 to Strike, +1 to Leap (Add 3 feet to Leap distance).
5th: +1 to Parry/Dodge, +1 to Damage.
6th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Holds/Locks when Groundfighting, Select one (1) Martial Art Power from Body Hardening Exercises, Martial Art Techniques, or Special Kata.
7th: +1 to Strike, Knockout/Stun on a Natural 19+.
8th: Deathblow on a Natural 19+, +1 to Strike when Groundfighting, Select one (1) Martial Art Power from Body Hardening Exercises, Martial Art Techniques, or Special Kata.
9th: +1 to Parry/Dodge, +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
10th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Damage, +1 to Leap (Add 3 feet to Leap distance).
11th: +1 to Damage when Groundfighting, Select one (1) Martial Art Power from Body Hardening Exercises, Martial Art Techniques, or Special Kata.
12th: +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, +1 to Strike when Groundfighting.
13th: +1 to Parry/Dodge, +1 to Strike, +1 to Damage when Groundfighting.
14th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Damage.
15th: +1 to Strike when Groundfighting, Select one (1) Zenjorike.
Why Study HARIMAU PENTJAK SILAT?
This is a rare, exotic style that emulates the tiger in it's core teachings. Tactics for long, combat, and grappling distance as well as integral weapons use and mystic abilities make this a well rounded martial art.
Designer's Notes
- I wrote this a looong time ago.
- There are things I don't remember about this style so some questions might not get answered.
- That being said, I still think this is a pretty cool and interesting style.
- Video Sample 1.
- Video sample 2.
- Aaaand apparently there's a school in Salem, MA that has it as part of their curriculum, AND they're students of Uncle Bill's. Awesome.
