A Lesson in Tradition

A group of 50 men and women form a line, sitting crossed-legged, their hands on their chests. They are all wearing black and white. I Wayan Wirasa, 46, is among those assembled at the Seruling Dewata Silat School in Tabanan, Bali, two weeks ago. "We have to regulate our breathing before we practice the moves," he told Tempo after the training.

At the 40-acre vicinity, the men and women are students learning the ancient Balinese martial arts of Seruling Dewata, surrounded by lush greenery and a view of the towering Watukaru Tabanan mountain. Wayan said that during the reign of the Majapahit, when the Balinese martial arts tradition began to form, the mandala (training facility) was located on top of the mountain. Today, it is 40 kilometers from the summit.

January 12, 2016

A group of 50 men and women form a line, sitting crossed-legged, their hands on their chests. They are all wearing black and white. I Wayan Wirasa, 46, is among those assembled at the Seruling Dewata Silat School in Tabanan, Bali, two weeks ago. "We have to regulate our breathing before we practice the moves," he told Tempo after the training.

At the 40-acre vicinity, the men and women are students learning the ancient Balinese martial arts of Serul

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