The sport of mixed martial arts was introduced to the world on a cold evening in Denver, Colorado on November 12, 1993, at an event that was supposed to be called War of the Worlds, but at the last minute was named the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The event’s premise was beautiful in its simplicity: to answer the question of which martial art is most effective. Fast forward 30 years, and we now have a sport that jockeys for top position in popularity in many countries.
Although MMA has evolved, the original question that was set out to be answered is still one that intrigues people to this day. The fight below features exponents from two popular Asian styles, Wing Chun vs. Silat.
What is Wing Chun?
Wing Chun is a concept-based Chinese martial art and form of self-defense which utilizes both striking and grappling, however; specializes in close-range combat. The earliest known references to Wing Chun date back to the late 1800s, and there is popular origin legend, told by the famous Wing Chun master Yip Man, among others.
The story involves a young woman who rebukes a local warlord’s offer for marriage. The young woman, Yim Wing-Chun, reconsidered under the condition that he could beat her in a fight. Seeking the guidance of a Buddhist nun, Wing-Chun was taught a new martial art that was based on the nun’s observations of a confrontation between a snake and a crane.
This nameless style enabled Wing-Chun to beat the warlord in a one-on-one fight. and she began to teach others this style of combat which was later named after her.
What is Pencak Silat?
Pencak Silat, pronounced penchak silat and sometimes spelled pentjak silat, is an umbrella term for a class of related martial arts that originated in Indonesia. It is a full-body fighting form incorporating strikes, grappling, and throwing, in addition to weaponry. Every part of the body is used and subject to attack, Further, the art is deeply rooted in an esoteric and highly developed philosophical aspect.
So check out the video below to watch these two classic martial arts collide. That’s Wing Chun in shorts, Silat in the long pants.
Wing Chun vs. Pencak Silat
Jacob C. Stevens is a lifelong athlete and cerebral martial arts enthusiast who is also skilled in the art of linguistic manipulation, his published work, Afterthoughts and Handgrenades, can be found here…
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