Macan In Kawi (old Javanese writing)

The history of Banten was marked by the interventions of the Europeans, mainly Portuguese and Dutch, and by the process of Islamisation of the island. As a seaport of the Pasisir, Banten was reached early in the sixteenth century by the Islamic wave coming westwards along the northern coast of Java. One century later, the Sultanate of Banten shared with the Sultanate of Cirebon the role of most active Islamic cities of Java.

With the advent of Islam in Java, the Majapahit Empire was going into shambles; with Demak, the centre of this new religion proclaiming sovereignty, followed by many other lesser states. It was during this era that Prabu Siliwangi, a respected Buddhist priest, in a sudden turn of events, converted to Islam. Raging the wrath of the other priests, he was indicted, to be punished by death. Fleeing the ravage of his pursuers, he meditated and acquired the art of Macan - the spiritual art of the Javan tiger. The Macan Art was then passed on to an unsuspecting female protégé, wife to a Sundanese Silat Master. She defeated her wife-beating husband through the spiritual learning of the Macan Art, from a greyish-white tiger sighted at her padi field.

Map Of Banten

Kyi Raden Haji Noor

Kyi Raden Haji Noor was a well-known martial arts exponent in the Sunda region. An accomplished black magician as well, he aspired to defeat all the other experts in his field, with the vow that should he lose, he would humble himself to be the protégé to his victor. The first of twelve martial arts that he mastered was Penot, known for its confusing postures and steps. Challenging a Selewar master, he lost in the duel, subsequently learnt and mastered this superior art. This continued for the next eleven martial arts, finally ending with Macan, the most superior.

Because of its political and religious vitality, Banten soon came into conflict with the colonial power of Batavia. Having defeated the other eleven Sunda masters, Kyi Raden Haji Noor, a royal descent from the Sultanate of Banten, led an unsuccessful revolt against the V.O.C. (Dutch East Indies Company). Fleeing persecution, he migrated to Malaya in 1928, settling in Caak, State of Johor. Kyi Raden Haji Noor is heralded as the father to the Art of Macan Pasrah, an amalgamation of twelve martial arts of Sunda, with the Macan style forming the crux.

A young Pak Hamzah Kassim while training with Grand Master Lek Sidon bin Kasan

The art was then passed down to his adopted son, Sidon bin Kassan during the post-Japanese war period. The art did not spread rapidly because there was never any intent to spread it to the masses. Traditional mystical art has the tradition of passing down to only one successor. In 1971, Singapore-born Amjah Bin Kassim was proclaimed the new Master to the Art of Macan, having learnt the art from Sidon bin Kassan. It was from that day onwards that the Art of Macan began opening up for expansion.

The map shows the route the Art of Macan took before arriving in Singapore

Hierarchy

Seni Silat Macan Pasrah was form from the following 12 Pencak Silat: