PAINFUL AND TERRIFYING. That was exactly what I thought of it the first time I was training in the cindai technique in Silat. The pain cannot be avoided—but like an addiction, the more it hurts, the more exhilarating it is. In Malay martial tradition, cindai refers to the technique of using a piece of fabric as a weapon. Most commonly practised using everyday garments worn by the Nusantara Muslims, such as sarong, pelikat or batik, cindai is easily accessible and practical.
But cindai is more than just a cloth for entangling or tying down an opponent. Historically, the technique was also used to wrap weapons, such as the sundang, a sword-like tool. Cindai originally referred to a specific type of textile that came from Gujarat, India. Over time, the term evolved to denote both the fabric and the combat technique involving it.
