Silat refers to a collection of martial arts from Southeast Asia. Silat was developed in a region where tribal warfare, hunting were common activities. Tribes fought over property, trade routes and even engaged in cannibalism. Tribes also fought as a group in ways that enabled them to catch large animals. They would wait for an individual to stray away from companions and then multiple attackers would use knives, clubs and other weapons in order to bring down the victim.
In addition to the tribalism that shaped this martial art, the area in which Silat developed also frequently fell prey to invasion from outside forces. China, Japan, and even the Dutch invaded Indonesia and the surrounding areas. Silat practitioners learned to defend themselves against these outside forces but also learned from them. Silat also derived much from the immigration of the Chinese. Silat practitioners learned and adapted the arts the Chinese brought with them. Consequently, Silat includes its own version of Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and other martial arts forms.
