Abstract - Silek Minangkabau Interpreting Waiting Practices as a Cultural Self-Defense System
Background. Minangkabau silek (silat) is culturally known for its distinctive waiting-based defense system (tunggu dahulu), a method rooted in local philosophy, movement tradition, and spiritual discipline. Although widely practiced and transmitted orally, scholarly explanations of its cultural logic and functional role remain limited.
Problem and aim. Despite its importance in Minangkabau martial heritage, the waiting defense system has not been systematically examined as a strategic or cultural framework. This study aims to interpret how practitioners understand, apply, and transmit waiting-based defensive behavior, and to clarify its function as an embodied self-defense strategy.
Material and methods. A qualitative approach was employed, involving purposive interviews with guru gadang and senior practitioners from selected nagari in West Sumatra. Field observations complemented the interviews. Data were analyzed using symbolic–interpretive and hermeneutic procedures to identify patterns of meaning related to timing, movement, readiness, and practitioner interpretation.
Results. Findings show that waiting is an active, deliberate cultural strategy rather than a passive stance. It integrates emotional regulation, situational awareness, symbolic baiting, and rapid counterattack execution. Practitioners describe waiting as disciplined readiness shaped by physical skill, moral restraint, and spiritual grounding.
Conclusions. The waiting defense system represents a distinct Minangkabau worldview that merges technical, psychological, and symbolic dimensions of self-defense. Understanding this system enriches anthropological perspectives on silek as embodied cultural heritage and contributes to broader discussions of Southeast Asian martial tradition.