Fighting with keris

[Lei Shen Dao]

Hi guys

From what I know keris was a lot in use as a weapon in the island of Madura.
Maduranese people were mostly poor in the contrary with the Javanese people, so evrything they made (from the material to the spiritual) was very strong and ready for use.

This is the case in many Maduranese keris that I have seen (I speak only for the old ones) and in fact the only Maduranese I have in my possesion (the one in my avatar ) indicates exactly this as a fact. It is a little longer from the original Javanese keris, very strong construction, and has a kind of smooth "nerve" all the way the blade something that you never see for example in a Tuban tilam upih. You just know that it was a weapon a long time ago the same time you'll touch it.

Maduranese people were (and in many cases still are) mostly warriors and everything they made was strong and practical. Their keris are in many cases havier and very solid and combact.

Of cource many keris are not weapons (like the one I posted some time ago in the "Raja Gundala thread"), are very delicate, soft and light constracted.

In all I know, the knife is mostly a weapon of surprise attack and it is a stubbing weapon. No nead to cut with it or to be sharp for that reason. Most combat knives all around the world are for stubbing purposes.

The keris in generall seems not to be a weapon for war, but this is not applied to all the blades.

Excuse my bad English (but I am in a harry for now)...

Take care

[Pusaka]

In some systems of silat they learn how to use a keris for fighting. I have also seen Pendekar S Benitez performing a keris fighting jurus but can’t locate the video at the moment. As far as I know his system originates from Java from guru Ma.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQduCg2gbzY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X9tv...elated&search=

[Rick]

Vid #1This looks like Wayang inspired stuff to me .

The second vid looks like standard defense against any edged weapon.
Too much slashing involved with what seems to me a stabbing weapon.

Just my opinion as seen through uneducated Western eyes .

[Pusaka]

I wish I could find Pendekar Steven Benitez keris jurus, he is very skilled with the keris and moves in a completely different manner.

[David]

Pusaka, thanks for finding these videos. I find it odd to see so many slashing moves made with the keris in this footage. They seem counter-productive to the manner in which the blade is designed to work as a stabbing weapon. Frankly it mostly seems to be for show. Most keris are not edge sharp enough to make these moves worthwhile and the tang is not secured to the hilt well enough to allow too much full contact with these slashing moves.

[Rick]

It would be interesting to see Pusaka.

As German Field Marshall Helmuth von Moltke said ; no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy; or something along those lines.

For instance I observe no use of the scabbard as a main gauche guard even though we are told that is a function.

Best

Rick

[Lew]

Hey Guys

I fought with my lastest keris last week . I took it out of the box and showed it to my wife and you should have been there to see the fight


Lew

[David]

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Hey Guys

I fought with my lastest keris last week . I took it out of the box and showed it to my wife and you should have been there to see the fight


Lew

Ah Lew, you don't want to be fightin' with the missus. I've talked to her on the phone and she seems like a fine lady. Just box that keris back up and send it over to me....my wife and i are overdue anyway.