As time goes on it is difficult to distinguish in many cases, if the original intent of any Martial Art remains intact. Eventually as others mix in their own ideals and meanings or add other systems it becomes difficult to tell the flowers from the weeds. The Art that I teach is Pukulan Cimande Pusaka.

Cimande is a West Javanese Art developed by one Embah Kahir in the late 1770’s. I have studied a variety of the Cimande expressions to understand as much as possible of the original intent.

As Cimande spreads it branched out in a variety of expressions due to geographic and cast diversity, what is not commonly known is that Embah Kahir developed three fighting arts culminating in his finale and most perfect Cimande. Embah Kahir’s first Art, Sera is a fantastic key of some of Cimande techniques and where taught in the old manner, teaches one how to build inner power (called Tenaga Dallam in Indonesia).

What then is Sera ? Now before we go any further, I must advise what I’m writing of Only applies to Embah Kahir original Version. This is easy to verify as it is the art known by the Pendekar of Cimande Villages. While Cimande did have variations they all remain similar. While other systems that I have seen, that use the name Sera or a similar name with a added letter appear to have morphed into an entirely different expression. Indeed one of the teachers in an article a few years ago mentioned that it was composed of a few Chinese Arts, as well as European Boxing with I guess the original. No other Sera is known in than the one I referring to, by any of the experts I could find in Tarikolt Cimande Village West Java. Embah Kahir is also the sole recognized originator period! That been said to avoid confusion, the original Sera was based mainly on the fighting attitudes of the Monkey.

Monkeys however are great imitators, so in the Sera’s Jurus (Jurus are movements of the Art, like a form) you will see positions of other animal mannerisms, such as the Crane and Tiger. Old Sera contains five such Jurus or sets of movement. However each Juru contains eight postures with a multitude of applications. So since each Juru consists of eight segments, there are a total of forty postures. A very important directive of Embah Kahir was to always begin each practice session with Bunga (a term that means flower and shows the beauty and spirit of the art). This then is free form practice of all of the moves, that the student knows up until that point. If the student knows all five Jurus, than forty postures will be performed in a fluid and beautiful but clearly deadly manner. This is also believed to invite the ancestors to be present for the practice. Visually, the stances are low and crouched, which then at times raises up in one legged crane postures, at all times remaining fluid and beautiful, with a variety of elbows, grabbing breaks, heel palm, hammer fists and sweeps all performed. Off – Timing movements famous in Cimande are used, being slow and coiled, to full speed in a flash and back to slow. The only weapon that is associated with this art is Dirt. The practioner from the normal low and crouched position scoop up the dirt while moving slowly and then flings it in the eye of the opponent. Sometimes the dirt is carried in preparation. Its flow, evasiveness and intrinsic energy development capabilities formed many of the Cimande’s most pried attributes. Under no circumstances is the old Sera Stiff or upright in stance. If you see any of these things it is a derivation from the real thing. I teach Sera at it is an Embah Kahir Heritage Art, and I authorizes to teach this as well as Embah Kahir second Art Pamacan and of course Cimande and have been awarded the title of Pendekar ( Grand Master in physical and spiritual aspects) once from P.P.P.S.B.B.I. (The organization of Old Pendekars) in Banten West Java in Cimande and again in all three Arts Directly by the Elders of Cimande Village TariKolot and one of the highest regarded Pendekars there, Pendekar Ma –Ma Sukarma. In the next Instalment we will look at Pamacan. Kahir’s second Art and the Tiger of Cimande.