Review : Weapon Of Silat - Long Weapons

Batang / Tongkat : The batang or galah is a staff, pole or rod. Silat exponents regard it as the most versatile of all weapons. They are typically made of bamboo or wood but some are also made from steel. The word galah refers to the pole used for knocking fruit down from trees or when punting a boat. Staves can also be referred to as tiang, kayu or tongkat, the latter term meaning walking stick. Depending on its shape, the handle of a tongkat may be used to sweep an opponent or catch their weapon. Aside from the staff's shorter variations, some styles also use large, thick poles. A longstaff is called galah panjang. Chakok : The chakok or golok chakok is a hooked staff or billhook, originally used to prune or lop branches from trees. Its weaponised form is a hook-spear, a polearm combining the head of a hook and spear. This implement was most often used as an elephant-goad. Southeast Asian royals and generals would ride elephants either into war or during processions. Every elephant was guarded by one to four handlers, each of whom carried a chakok.

Cangkul : The changkul is a hoe used for loosening and breaking up hard soil, or for drawing up earth around plants. It consists of a sharp-edged, steel rectangle mounted to the end of a pole. Geranggang / Seligi : The geranggang or seligi is a primitive spear or javelin constructed from a sharpened stick of bamboo. The difference between the terms is that seligi refers to the dart or spear intended for throwing. Sumatrans would make short lances from nibong or sago-wood. Over a period of days or weeks, the sharpened end would be buried in ashes, steamed, smoked and charred. The finished weapon could be thrown or used hand-to-hand, and was said to be able to pierce armour more efficiently than iron. Penchakar : The penchakar (lit. "scratcher" or "clawer") is a rake, a toothed crossbar connected to the end of a pole. It was originally used by farmers to level, clear, or break up ground and for smoothening loose soil.

Tombak / Lembing : The tombak is a lance while the lembing is a spear. Both terms are often used interchangeably but tombak actually refers to non-missile weapons which are circular at the base of the blade, rather than spatulate. Lembing can be used for either a spear or javelin. Early spears were made entirely of wood. The steel-tipped spear was, along with the kris and shield, one of the main weapons used by soldiers in Maritime Southeast Asia. The most common type is the tombak benderang which has red-dyed horse hair attached near the blade. Contrary to the common misconception that it is used to distract the opponent, the horse-hair's true purpose is to prevent the enemy's blood from dripping onto the handle.

Trisula : The trisula is a trident, the weaponised form of the serampang or three-pronged fishing-spear. A related weapon is the lembing tikam pari or three-barbed spear. Asian mythology links the trident with the supernatural, so it is sometimes called tongkat sakti or magic staff.