BLEDEK
Pentjak Silat Bledek is a derivative form of Pentjak Silat Serak. Over the generations it has become customary for a Pentjak Silat Serak (or simply Serak) practitioner, upon reaching the status of teacher or guru, to begin developing his own kombinasi. A guru’s kombinasi is his own teaching style based on his own understanding, preferences, and strengths. The art of Serak is not changed and is always taught according to it’s original structure and doctrine. The kombinasi is taught either before or in conjunction with the Serak curriculum, but the Serak remains distinct in order to preserve the original art. Pentjak Silat Bledek (or simply Bledek) is Maha Guru Muda Bob Vanatta’s kombinasi.
Bledek is currently in its developmental stage. The ideas and teachings of Bledek are well identified in Maha Guru Muda Bob’s mind, but the lesson plans and formal curriculum are still being planned and re-planned carefully. The students of Maha Guru Muda Bob are his lucky lab rats. Lab rats get a unique perspective into the mind of the professor.
Bledek in Bahasa Indonesian means "thunder". The art of Bledek practices quick closure and hard, fast, punishing strikes elbows, kicks, sweeps and chokes, thus earning the name. Bledek, in form, is a rather pragmatic taste of Pentjak Silat Serak. Bledek emphasizes the footwork of Serak on a very compact platform pattern. The Bledek pattern clearly identifies strong and weak angles and lines to be used to control, sweep and otherwise punish an opponent. Due to Maha Guru Muda Bob’s personal preferences, the weapons of choice for Bledek are the knife and the machan or short stick.
When finalized, Bledek will be taught in conjunction with Pukulan Pentjak Silat Tongkat as an introduction to the art of Serak. As a result, the students of Maha Guru Muda Bob Vanatta learn Serak in the traditional fashion while studying Tongkat and Bledek. It’s really quite a privilege, since all three arts are intimately related, to see the same principles and techniques from three perspectives at once.