Pencak Silat Training Exercise 15

This Mustika Kwitang exercise demonstrates how exponents of that style deliver their particular version of a punching action to the enemy's midsection, and at the same time it shows the trainee how to develop correct breath control and muscular contraction to enable him to withstand the punch. In order to understand this exercise, the trainee must realize that the standard thrust punching action of Mustika Kwitang differs from that of most other styles in that the punching arm is never fully extended (# 1). For that reason, many pencak-silat countermeasures that are effective against a fully extended punching arm fail when the enemy is a Mustika Kwitang exponent. The punch is delivered by an arm positioned alongside the operator, fist held palm facing the body just below breast level and well forward of the hip. The fist does not smash completely into the target but stops a bit short of a full-arm extension in a particular position that might be called an upright fist, or a standing fist. This method of punching requires that the operator be a hit closer to his target than if he were using a fully extended arm.

The receiver of the attack assumes a straddle stance, upright, arms hanging naturally at his sides; he does nothing to counter the punch about to be delivered by his training partner, who places himself so that he needs to take only one step forward (right step illustrated) to strike the target correctly. The target area should be that of the hard stomach muscles, not the solar plexus (# 2-# 3). The power of the punch must, of course, be built up gradually, so that it may finally be delivered and withstood at maximum strength and velocity. The partner who is to receive the attack balances solidly on both legs; he takes a full breath, swelling his abdominal region, then releases a small amount of air and tenses his stomach muscles.