Ewa Wuna: Death to the Pirate King
A Pearl in the Ocean
Traditional Pencak Silat has existed among people in the Nusantara (Indonesia & Malaysia) for centuries. It has been respected and feared in Southeast Asia as a means of warfare as well as self-protection on a personal level. At present, Silat has also shifted into the world of professional sports with such events like the SEA Games and Silat tournaments. Pencak Silat with its rich history, variety of usages, and effectiveness in practical combat is one of the most dynamic martial arts in Asia. But many smaller systems and traditions are equally as amazing but almost completely unknown outside their respective hometowns in Indonesia or Malaysia. One such incredible tradition is that of Ewa Wuna: a system of Silat that spearheaded the fight against raiders and pirates in the waters around Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Origins of Ewa Wuna
Muna Regency is located in Lasalepa district in South East Sulawesi. Not only is it an area rich in natural resources but also has a unique cultural and historical past, including Ewa Wuna. Ewa in the Muna language means ‘Silat’, so Ewa Wuna would be the Silat of Muna and its people. According to the oral history of Ewa Wuna, it was first developed by Sultan Lakilaponto, the ruler of Muna. He created and spread the original training methods developed throughout his domains. Sultan Lakilaponto taught an ancient Silat system called Tinda Lalo, which served as the basis of Ewa Wuna's martial curriculum. He actively used this system and refined it as he fought in multiple battles in Sulawesi, Sumatra, and Java, slowly refining and adjusting his combat technology with each gained experience in actual warfare. As the Tinda Lalo architecture reshaped itself it slowly developed into its current form, Ewa Wuna, a very aggressive combat system that uses short, violent attacks and incredible footwork to destroy enemies.
Sultan Lakilaponto was no doubt a brave ruler who fought valiantly for his kingdom and was smart enough to make sure his people were as skilled in the arts of war as he was. Until today, men, women, and children can be seen training Ewa Wuna with live blades as comfortably as if they were blunt. This warrior culture assisted him in making sure his Sultanate survived in an environment where invasion and piracy was rife. His courage and the effectiveness of his warriors was displayed clearly when he managed to defeat and kill the pirate king, Labolontio, who ruled the waters between Sulawesi and Bangsamoro in the Southern part of what is now the Philippines. He also succeeded in thwarting the formation of the Laiwoi Kingdom in Mekongga which was supported by the Dutch invaders into the Nusantara. That very bloody battle became known as the Eight Days Battle, or Perang Halu Oleo in the Mekongga language.
The cultural heritage contained in Ewa Wuna is related to the local language, religion, and art preserved by the elder generations and disseminated to the younger generation. Locally, Silat masters setup training groups and some have gelanggang (academies) to teach Ewa Wuna to the youth. Traditional events such as Aqiqah (baby births) and Nikah (marriages) usually serve as the most common opportunities for displaying Ewa Wuna to the assembled community members.
Combative Form and Combative Dance
Traditional Badik. This level of engraving and silver was usually reserved for royalty and would be carried by Sultans or their children.
Ewa Wuna has a very distinct style of movement that focuses a lot on footwork, and similar to other systems of Silat, a direct application of weapons before any attempt is made to engage in emptyhand combatives. This is distinctive to Pencak Silat in general as weapons technology is considered to be the height of martial skill and the main focus when fighting due to the fact that most people in the Nusantara carried them. And weapons were deployed quickly in feuds, duels, or any other fights. That being said, emptyhand combatives are not neglected, and all practitioners of Ewa Wuna learn to fight without weapons. Most practitioners are adept at using a keris, pedang, spear, bare hands, and of course, a Badik, the traditional knife famous amongst the tribes of Sulawesi. One of the most unique aspects of the combative side of Ewa Muna is their smooth grip switching, allowing them to manipulate their blades from front grip slashing to reverse grip stabs during an attack. And their usage of the scabbards of their weapons to hook, smack, and feint while fighting with an enemy. All unique techniques which clearly show a long history of development in harsh circumstances.
Ewa Wuna also has a traditional dance played by six people consisting of two Pesilat (practitioners) and three dancers using machetes, spears and flags. This dance is sort of a combative game accompanied by the music of Rambi Wuna, a traditional drumming to spur on the fighters. All dancers try to attack each other but are “blocked” by a Petombi, or flag bearer. These types of traditional dances are used as a means of display of skill for the practitioners of Ewa Wuna as well as a training method for rhythm and footwork in the system.
Ewa Wuna Today
The world is globalizing and cultures are learning more about each other every day, Sulawesi is no different. Foreign culture and foreign martial arts have influenced the people of Muna, and many young people prefer to learn famous martial arts systems like Karate, Judo, or Taekwondo. So there is a general concern amongst the older generation that Ewa Muna will not be passed down in its entirety or in the quality that it should be. But Ewa Wuna's strength lies almost entirely in its deep-rooted connectivity to the daily lives and culture of the people of Muna. People will need to get married, to have children, to slaughter animals for food, all these things are an inseparable part of Ewa Wuna, and no matter how many Taekwondo katas people learn, they will never be able to replace the tradition and way of life that Ewa Wuna has established with Muna’s people. The system is truly a cultural treasure of Pencak Silat in general, and an honor to the legacy of warriors going all the way back to their great Sultan, Lakilaponto.