What is Kun Tao Silat?
First one needs to search for the roots of KunTao in China. Kun Tao is the southern (Fukien/Hokkien) word for martial arts. It means fist way. In the northern part of China, the same word is pronounced Chuan Fa. Now the modern Chinese term for these arts is Wushu. When the Chinese traders started to trade with other nearby countries (Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia) they of course brought their arts with them. This occurred around the 9th century. However there was a bigger movement around the 12th century during the Manchurian invasion. The people who mainly left China at this point were the Hakka people. These people were known for their traveling exploits. Their name Hakka means guest family or royal family, hence perhaps the reasoning for the exodus from China during the Manchurian invasion. In Indonesia the art was referred to as Kun Tao. Now in Indonesia due to political reasons the government frowned upon the use of Chinese, and outlawed the speaking of Chinese, the use of Chin
