Cikgu Kahar Redza

Thinking about some of the Cikgu we have trained with and met in Malaysia over the years. Cikgu Kahar Redza comes to mind. We were fortunate to train with Cikgu Kahar and learn from him.

Cikgu Kahar reminds me of my uncle, he's always putzing in the garden or walking around and checking everything out, but he always is watching you. He is watching your progress, making sure you are staying out of trouble, and laughing at you as you attempt new things. He at first had few words for us, the students. We got messages through other people. He would occasionally give us a nod if we got something right, but we didn't interact with him at first. When we finally trained with him, I was intimidated, I admit.

We definately have language barriers, but we got the message. Daniel in particular can attest to Cikgu Kahar's strength in his hands, as Daniel really got the brunt of the beatings. When we did something wrong, he'd waive his hand and utter "agh!" When we finally got it right, we'd get the nod maybe with an affirmative "ah."

I don't know if Cikgu Kahar's hands are strong and because of this he does Urut, or he does Urut and that's why his hands are strong. Cikgu Kahar helped me with my shoulder pain by performing Urut massage techniques on my feet and hands. If I could have crawled out of my skin, I would have. If you've ever gotten a deep tissue massage, and the tech finds a knot and really tries to get the knot out you begin to understand Urut pain. When you twitch because a spot on your foot or hand is painful, he will stay at that same point until he feels he can move on. Each spot means something else, but when he found the spot and told you what ailment it coencided with, you understood why it hurt. My feet were pretty numb when he finished, and he told me they would be itchy in a few minutes, as the blood flow returned. It was painful but relaxing afterwards, as my shoulder finally relxed after the long plane trip and carrying camera equiptment, luggage, and gifts around.

Cikgu Kahar has that thousand yard stare that will intimidate you when you first meet him. He will beat the tar out of you and jump around you until you are dizzy. If you pay attention, you can learn a lot, even if you don't train with him and just get to be around him.

Terima Kasih Cikgu Kahar!

"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear"

"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear"

This saying makes me think about my own teachers in Silat Seni Gayong. I was taught first by Gene Scott, a senior student of Cikgu Sam, then taught by Joel Champ and finally Cikgu Sam took me as a student. At each point in training, someone new "appeared" to continue my journey. From my teachers in the United States, I have been able to learn from Cikgu Jaz, Cikgu Malik, Cikgu Kahar and many other Cikgu in Malaysia. Some of the teaching is not crossing hands but talking and explaining. This is also training.

Sometimes I ask questions that I am not ready to know the answers yet. Sometimes I am. Sometimes I get asked questions that students aren't ready to know the answers to.

All you can do is trust yourself and trust your Cikgus. Train hard and the teachers will appear, just don't forget to look for them!

Blogs of Note!

Here are two other blogs of note. One is Cikgu Jazwan Kahar's blog from Malaysia and the other is Cikgu Shaiful Hakim's blog from France. Both have lots of information on Gayong in English. They are reputable speakers for Gayong!

Cikgu Jazwan's Blog- www.jazwankahar.blogspot.com

Cikgu Hakim's Blog- www.narapatinantaboga.blogspot.com

I recommend you become of follower of their respective blogs so you'll be updated when new posts are published.

Hey while you're at it, follow our blog too!

www.unitedstatesgayongfederation.blogspot.com

Cikgu Jazwan Kahar

Cikgu Jazwan Kahar in August of 2005 was appointed the instructor in Malaysia for all international students by the late Cikgu Siti Kalsom. I was there, I witnessed it and have it on film. Why did she give Cikgu Jazwan this task? In my opinion Cikgu Jazwan was the right candidate. He traveled to the United Kingdom to teach Gayong Students there brought by Cikgu Ariffin, he taught U.K. students in Malaysia, and he taught Gayong Students from the USA in 2005, 2007, and 2009. He personally taught me on several occasions. Cikgu Jazwan has a broad view of Gayong and understands the differences in teaching Malay students and international students. He will adjust he instruction for student keeping true to Gayong but helping the students understand the techniques. I am not Malaysian, I am American. There are things in Gayong that as an American, I don't culturally understand. Cikgu Jazwan will explain not just how to do the technique, but the "why" of the technique. For an international student whose inane culture is not Malaysia, his ability to be patient with our training and our questions is essential to our understanding of Gayong as a whole. Cikgu Jazwan's broad world view and experience with foreign students makes him the ideal candidate for Cikgu for international students coming to Malaysia to train in Gayong. He is faithful to Silat Seni Gayong and it's traditions and incorporates those into his training of foreign students.

COD Club

We have filled out the necessary paperwork to form a Club at COD. This will allow us to have extra events/training ourside of regular class time. We will find out if we are approved in the next two weeks!

What do we bring to Gayong?

What do we, the international community, bring to Gayong? What do we, the international community, receive from Gayong?

These are questions I struggle to find answers to as I continue to train in Gayong. I try to know what I bring to Gayong, strengths, weaknesses, perspective, etc. The struggle with being an non-Malay training in Gayong is our identity. We are Gayong. But we also have other labels that go along with "Gayong."

There are a handful of teachers who have taught Gayong in another country other than Malaysia. They are the Cikgu with unique perspectives. They are Malaysian, they live in a different culture and then have to translate "Gayong" to these foreign students. The way they would do things in Malaysia may not apply to the new country and culture. I don't begin to understand that struggle.

Those of us who are Gayong instructors who are not Malaysian face an even bigger issue. How do we learn to adapt "Gayong" as we have been taught by our Malaysian Cikgu, to ourselves and find our Haqq? How do we find balance in teaching? I am bound by my experiences, my culture, I have to understand Gayong and Malay Culture, and try and translate that to my American students who are starting in Gayong and don't know Malay Culture. Those of us taught by Cikgu Sam and Cikgu Shamsul talk among ourselves on how do we successfully accomplish the task of teaching a Malaysian Art to American students.

Malaysians inherently know Malay culture. Your culture is engrained in you as a child and you just "know" things. When I have traveled to Malaysia, I have to ask questions about why this and why that. Sometimes I get a puzzled look, but the questions of culture, Adat, and Adab are answered and I try and adhere as best I can. When I go home, I have to remember these little things to make sure the students here understand the intricacies of Gayong as they arise.

Taman Nirwana Wedding Demo

Taman Nirwana Wedding Demo in Malaysia!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7nSPLQUp2w