Preserved in music, dance, and art--as well as in ritual, tribal law, and mythology--the fighting arts of the Indonesian archipelago play a central role in Indonesian culture. The Martial Arts of Indonesia is a heavily illustrated and well-researched work from revered martial arts scholar and teacher Donn F. Draeger. Draeger offers an expert's perspective on the story of Indonesia's martial culture, providing a comprehensive introduction to the sophisticated forms of empty-hand combat. These acrobatic fighting styles like Pencak Silat--which was granted World Cultural Heritage status by UNESCO in 2019--and Kuntao are growing in popularity around the world. This book also has extensive information on traditional Indonesian weapons including:Keris: A dagger with a waved blade and pistol-grip handleKujang: A sickle-shaped dagger with a distinctive curveRencong: An L-shaped knife with a slightly curved bladeDraeger shows how these unique Indonesian forms are related to their mainland cousi
