SBL Curriculum & Syllabus

The Silat Buka Lingkaran curriculum provides a structured path through the art including ground and upright fighting to grappling, Kembangan, weapons and full integration.

Each phase develops a different area of practice while strengthening the principles that connect the whole system: movement, balance, positioning, timing, awareness and control.

Build the foundations. Understand how they work. Learn to connect them through consistent practice.

The curriculum is organised into seven phases to give your training a clear direction. Each phase has its own focus, while drawing on skills developed elsewhere in the system.

Ground movement informs balance and recovery. Footwork supports striking and grappling. Kembangan develops continuity and expression. Weapons practice brings further attention to distance, positioning and timing.

As your understanding develops, these areas become increasingly connected. The aim is to apply the principles of SBL across changing ranges, positions and situations.

Develop your foundation from the ground up.

Ground training introduces the movement patterns, postures and transitions that form an important part of SBL. Students develop the ability to support their body, change position and move with greater balance and control.

Practice explores Gelek and the four ground arts; Kucing, Harimau, Buaya and Kura-Kura which leaads ionto building familiarity with their different qualities and applications.

Development aim:

Move between ground positions with increasing coordination, stability and awareness.

Build balance, positioning and effective movement on your feet.

This phase develops upright movement through Langka Lima, Kuda-Kuda, defensive actions and striking. Students explore how footwork and posture support their ability to manage distance and respond to changing positions.

Training connects movement with application and introduces knife-related study within the syllabus.

Development aim:

Coordinate footwork, defence and striking while maintaining balance and control.

Understand control through contact.

Close-range training develops awareness of balance, leverage and positioning when working with a partner. Students study how grabs, locks and chokes fit within the wider movement of the system.

Emphasis is placed on controlled practice, communication and recognising the limits of a training partner. Techniques are developed progressively under instructor guidance.

Development aim:

Apply close-range principles with precision, restraint and respect for your partner.

Expand your awareness beyond a single opponent.

Known within the syllabus as the Spider’s Web, this phase explores movement and positioning when attention must extend in more than one direction.

Students develop awareness of space, obstacles and changing angles. Training highlights the importance of avoiding entrapment and recognising opportunities to disengage; no drill can guarantee safety in a real confrontation.

Development aim:

Development aim: Improve spatial awareness, decision-making and adaptability under changing training conditions.

Develop flow, awareness and personal expression.

Kembangan which is also known as the Flower Dance provides a flowing expression of the principles within SBL. Students explore how posture, rhythm and continuous movement connect with martial intent.

Through controlled practice, Kembangan develops balance, concentration and the ability to express familiar principles in a more individual way.

Development aim:

Express the principles of SBL through connected movement with structure and intent.

Deepen your understanding of distance, timing and responsibility.

The weaponry phase explores blades, karambit and cloth within the SBL curriculum. Each area brings a different set of movement demands and develops attention to positioning, coordination and control.

Practice should use suitable training equipment and instructor supervision. Weapons training requires particular care and respect for the risks involved.

Development aim:

Understand how weapon characteristics influence movement and application within SBL.

Bring the system together.

Full Uniform is the integration phase of the SBL syllabus. Students connect the skills and principles developed across earlier phases, exploring how they work together as a complete expression of the art.

Training includes personal Kembangan, weapons and the ability to move between different ranges and responses with continuity. The focus is on demonstrating understanding through practice.

Development aim:

Demonstrate a connected understanding of the system through controlled, adaptable practice.

Progress develops through regular practice, feedback and the ability to demonstrate understanding. Reading about a phase or watching its lessons provides a starting point; practical skill develops through training.

Study
Learn the purpose of the movements and the principles behind them. Use explanations and demonstrations to guide your attention.

Train
Practise the foundations consistently. Develop control before adding speed, complexity or resistance, and work with an instructor where partner practice is required.

Review
Return to earlier material, reflect on feedback and refine the details. As you progress, familiar movements can reveal new connections.

Your instructor can advise on the appropriate starting point, training priorities and readiness to progress. This page outlines the curriculum; it does not replace practical assessment or the requirements of a specific programme.

Whether you are new to martial arts or bringing years of experience, begin with the foundations and develop your understanding step by step.

Find a club for in-person instruction, or explore SBL Academy for structured online study and training support.

Interested in teaching? Explore Instructor Development for the relevant programme and certification pathway.