Amazon.com, Customer Reviews:
Reviewer: Bharata Satria (Jakarta, Indonesia)
March 30, 2005 

Oh.. so that what it actually means
I only learned Pencak Silat for two months in high school, simply because it was part of the curriculum.  Some Sundanese style I don't even know the name.  Like many other Indonesians I know, I considered pencak silat as silly, ineffective, traditional, etc. ... in short, learn karate, jujitsu, tae kwon do, or any other martial art... but not silat... (shame on us, but it is the popular perception).  Reading this book I looked back at the only two jurus I know, and realized that there was more in there than some silly dance...  Now I am a proud Indonesian.  However, I doubt that many Indonesian masters really understand the materials they are teaching... this is really a remarkable work of Indonesian art from Western perspective.

A great thank you to Mr. Orlando...

Amazon.com, Customer Reviews:
Reviewer: Daruma XIV (Planet Earth)
April 29, 2008 

An Excellent Book
This is the best book I've ever seen on the principles and application of "Indonesian" arts.  You can't learn to fight from a book, of course, but you can get some good ideas.

If these arts interest you, or you are training in Kali or Silat (or any fighting art, for that matter), this is a fun book to read.

Amazon.com, Customer Reviews:
Reviewer: David Laufnick "bibliophilicious" (Colorado)
January 21, 2008 

Excellent book on principles in Kuntao and Silat
I have to agree with the review of Joseph Burtner.  This is an OUTSTANDING book on some of the principles used in Kuntao and Silat.  Very well written, clear and understandable.  This book immediately took a place on the "top shelf" of my martial arts library.

There is a companion DVD to this book that meshes very well with it and gives a visual demonstration of the principles.  It's called "Fighting Arts of Indonesia - Combat Secrets of Silat and Kuntao" and you can find it on Amazon.

Journal of Asian Martial Arts
Volume 16, Number 2, June, 2007

Media Review -- by Kirstin Pauka, Ph.D.,
University of Hawaii.

This book is a valuable handbook for practitioners of Indonesian pencak silat.  The stated purpose of the book is to present fighting principles found in various styles of silat and kuntao as taught by Dutch-Indonesian masters.  It provides a much needed description and analysis of techniques, methods, and tactics, as well as underlying principles.  ...  full review

Amazon.com, Customer Reviews:
Reviewer: John Carlos Johnson "roniyu151" (Louisville, KY)
June 16, 2007 

No Matter Your Level, You'll Like This!
Here we have a decent depiction of how the various arts of the Archipelago may be practiced. It is more of a tactics and principles book than a mere techniques catalog, so it will appeal to those who have been in the arts for some years, as well as those who are simply striving for deeper understanding of the basics.

Amazon.com, Customer Reviews:
Reviewer: Wei Yin Hou
May 13, 2007 

Another great book, but .....
I really liked the book but was disappointed by the fact that the author left out lots of history and info on the "mystical" side of Pentjak [emphasis added].  His reason though for doing this is that he is a Christian and doesn't believe in chi or the mystical stuff.  I do understand and respect his decision in doing so.  The book does show not really techniques but rather drills to understand body movement from which all techniques come form.  Overall it's very recommended for simplicity in explaining the flow and feel of Pentjak Silat.  Again no disrespect for the author or his choice of worship.

A fair criticism.  Perhaps the following paragraphs (the first from the book's Introduction, and the second from Magic and Mysticism chapter) from will explain why I omitted history and the "mystical" side of Pentjak.

   This book is not an academic dissertation detailing the history, culture, or many fighting systems of Indonesia.  One would be hard pressed to create a work that exceeds the late Donn Draeger's, Weapons and Fighting Arts of Indonesia.  His is the definitive Western work on Indonesian fighting arts, and is "must" reading for anyone interested in Indonesia's martial history and culture (p. 1).

   Setting aside religious incompatibility, there is another reason why Dutch and Dutch-Indonesian practitioners [those from whom I studied] remained on the physical side of the fence: Practicality.  To the Dutch, studying magic as a means of self-defense made little sense.  Magic for self-defense was a waste of time because its effectiveness is, at best, questionable; at its worst, nonexistent.  Few Western minds are willing to accept claims of physical prowess without physical contact, and the Dutch are no exception.  From both religious and secular perspectives then, Dutch students were inclined to seek out teachers who, like themselves, also had little time for the magical/mystical side of the art (p. 158).

Amazon.com, Customer Reviews:
Reviewer: L. A. Kane (Seattle, WA USA)
March 15, 2005 

Outstanding; well worth the price
This well-written, easy to read tome is a thinking martial artist's book.  It is filled with sound principles and great explanations of why they work so effectively in actual combat.  There's some techniques too, but that's not really the heart of this tome.  Pentjak silat and kuntao are, at their core, functional fighting arts and Sifu Orlando is master of these brutal styles.  He places rarely divulged applications in context, artfully explaining why and how they work.  I wasn't too keen on his work Martial Arts America so I held off on buying this one for quite some time.  Having finally gotten around to reading it I really wish I'd bought this one sooner.  I am thoroughly impressed with this outstanding volume even at its rather steep price.  Very highly recommended!

BarnesAndNoble.com, Customer Reviews:
Reviewer: John, reader in Texas
Nov. 1 2004 

Best Silat Book
This is an excellent book on silat.  The pictures are very clear, as is the writing, and the explanation of concepts. I love the fact that the author is pragmatic and not dogmatic in his approach to martial arts.  This is an 'exotic' martial art, but is extremely practical, especially because most fights are at extreme close range, and silat is very good in the grappling range.

Amazon.com, Customer Reviews:
Reviewer: Dennis Servaes from Stockton, California
March 7, 2004 

One Of The Best Self Defense Books Available
Bob Orlando did a great job on this book.  The contents of the book is primarily a blend of Kun Tao-Silat.  I trained in the Indonesian martial arts some, by way of Hanshi Bruce Juchnik, who like Bob Orlando, studied the Indonesian Martial Arts from Willem de Thouars.  Bob has also trained in many other martial arts.

Guro Dennis Servaes

Amazon.com, Customer Reviews:
Reviewer: Joseph M. Burtner (Kennesaw, Georgia)
October 19, 2003 

The principles are essential
The title is a little deceiving.  This book doesn't really profile silat or kuntao.  Rather, it is one of the best books on concepts that I've ever read.  I'd place it up there with "Tao of Jeet Kune Do".  The concepts of gyroscopic rotation, shearing, adhesion, etc. can be applied to any art, given a little imagination.  While the reader will learn something on the history of Indonesian martial arts, it is really the underlying principle that receive the most attention.  One won't really learn HOW to do silat or kuntao, but will gain an understanding of WHY the practitioners of such arts do the things they do.  There is nothing on weapons, which I thought was strange, and nothing on Kali, which I thought was Indonesian, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this is one of the best books on martial arts principles out there.  No matter whether one is looking for aesthetics, self-defense, understanding the "arts", or sporting aspects of martial arts, there is something in this book for everyone.  I'd recommend it to anyone serious about the martial arts, but those with a more casual attitude towards the arts may not find anything useful here.  If I could only have five martial arts books, this would be one of them.

Amazon.com, Customer Reviews:
Reviewer: Jack Dempsey from Heidelberg, Germany
February 15, 2003 

One of The All Time Best
Yes a bit pricey, but worth every cent.  I have been through the tape that goes with the book, and the tapes on Reflex training drills.  Mr. Orlando is on the cutting edge with only a handful of other martial artists.  I teach Aikido.  After 911, I was not happy anymore with what and how I was teaching, so I am trying to integrate some of the principles and techniques (yes you can see several if you watch the tapes long enough--oh, and read the book) into what and how I teach.  GREAT STUFF!!!!  Larry Hartsell's books (have 4 of them) are very very good also, but in a different context.

Amazon.com, Customer Reviews:
Reviewer: Randy Strausbaugh [randmeister] from Chillicothe, Ohio, United States
August 17, 2002 

An Excellent Overview of Fighting/Movement Concepts
Author Bob Orlando has written something which is sadly rare these days: a martial arts book for people who think.  If like many, you scan through a book and just look at the pictures, you will probably be unimpressed with the volume of techniques.  If,on the other hand, you actually READ this book, you will be presented with material which cannot help but enhance the martial art which you practice.   . . .   I held off on buying this book for years (primarily because of the price), but now I could kick myself for procrastinating.  This book is written in a straightforward and reader-friendly style, and the photos are large enough and show enough contrast to clearly demonstrate the ideas represented.  I'm kind of stingy with five star ratings, but this book is clearly deserving. ... full review

Amazon.com, Customer Reviews:
Reviewer: Andrew Baye from Altamonte Springs, FL, United States
May 25, 2002 

One of the best martial arts books I've ever read
The book does an excellent job of teaching several important fundamental principles of Silat and Kuntao and using techniques to demonstrate how they work. Regardless of what style you study, an understanding of these principles and how to apply them will make you a more effective martial artist.

I also highly recommend Bob Orlando's video, "Fighting Arts of Indonesia - Combat Secrets of Silat and Kuntao" which makes a great companion to the book.

Amazon.com, Customer Reviews:
Reviewer: Tyrone Turner from Arverne, NY United States
April 23, 2002

Great Book
This is an excellent book on concepts of how to become a more proficient fighter.  If you're looking for a book full of techniques, this in not the book for you.  This book instead gives you the "ABC's of fighting."  What I mean by the "ABC's of fighting" is that there are 26 letters in the alphabet, but the words that can be created from those 26 characters are endless.  That is what this does by giving you a solid foundation to build upon.

Also, I bought this book because it was recommended by two other authors that I respect a great deal -- Marc MacYoung and Alain Burrese.

From Belgium:  Wim Demeere
June 7, 2001

This book is an excellent example of what authors should more often do: Instead of just rehashing the same material (the principles), Bob gives you much more information on several topics that aren't included in the video.  As a result, both the book and video are excellent companions for each other.  You can read the book and then see the principles come to life in the video.  However, once you've seen all this, there is even more to ponder when reading.  ... full Review

Amazon.com, Customer Reviews:
Reviewer: A reader from Northern, CA, USA
March 7, 2001

The techniques are good, but there are only a few in this book.  A person would be better off to buy Larry Hartsell's 2 books on Jeet Kune Do.  They contain the information in this book and about 10 times more and you'll have some change left over!

Despite the 387 photographs and drawings used to illustrate this work, this anonymous reviewer is correct, "there are only a few [techniques] in this book."  The book is, as repeatedly stated in its introduction, about principles.  Learn and understand the principles of fighting, and the number of techniques you can create on your own will fill volumes.

Amazon.com, Customer Reviews:
Reviewer: Steve Holtz from New York, New York, USA
December 30, 2000

Principles of Effective Self-Defense
Bob Orlando is that rarest of commodities: a teacher who has the analytical skills and intelligence to distil his martial art(s) into a handful of principles from which effective martial techniques may be generated.  This book, and the companion video, Fighting Arts of Indonesia, are masterful communications of this material.  Buy them and learn.

Journal of Asian Martial Arts
Volume 9, Number 2, August, 2000

Media Review -- by Aurther C. Andersen,
Ashland University.

Bob Orlando has organized a very concise package of physical principles indicative of martial movement as imparted from his instructor, Willem de Thouars.  He has not tried to offer a comprehensive history of Indonesian martial arts, but instead, gives colorfully detailed representations of the techniques which comprise the basic repertoire of his interpretation of Indonesian fighting fundamentals.  ...  full review

Review Page: Indonesian Fighting Fundamentals
By Jon Broster, Nottinghamshire, UK,
February, 2000

If you train in any South East asian martial art then this book is an essential read.  It covers the art of Willem de Thouars ... The book is almost totally devoid of any specialist terminology, I think that there are only two Indonesian words used throughout the entire text, this makes it very accessible to almost any reader.  ...

Verdict: highly recommended.  ...   full review

Amazon.com, Customer Reviews:
Reviewer: A reader from London, Ontario
September 17, 1999

A Rare Martial Arts Book That You Can Actually Learn From
It's rare indeed that a martial arts book can teach a reader much that they can incorporate into their own practice: usually the techniques that they teach are too difficult to learn from a book, or so simple that any student knows them already.  But by focusing on principles and logic of combat rather than on specific techniques, Bob Orlando gives the student of martial arts not only insight into Indonesian styles but methods of practice and training which a student of virtually any art can incorporate into their own.

In addition, this book is an excellent companion to Orlando's video "Fighting Arts of Indonesia".  They cover much of the same ground and reinforce each other.  It had an immediate and transformative impact on my martial arts training.

Without a doubt, this is the most useful martial arts book I have ever purchased.

Amazon.com, Customer Reviews:
animalmac@aol.com [now marcmacyoung@earthlink.net] from USA
February 23, 1999

My copy is dog-eared.

This is not a book that you read just once.  It is a well of information that you will continue to return to again and again.  Everytime I read it I come away with new understanding of the depths of martial arts.  No matter what style you study, the principles here will help you better understand your own art.

--Marc "Animal" MacYoung

Marc MacYoung is an ex-streetfighter turned prolific author with several books and videos on violence, self-defense, and survival to his credit.

Amazon.UK, Customer Reviews:
Reviewer: A Customer from United Kingdom
February 22, 1999 

It's about time, this stuff is held back from most Westerners
The other reviews I have read are obviously from those unfamiliar with kun tao/silat.  Infighting is what these arts are known for, and as far as entering techniques are concerned, if you need to ask then this book went way over your head.

Amazon.com, Customer Reviews:
A reader from New Jersey,
January 18, 1999

Physical principles for effective infighting
Indonesian Fighting Fundamentals (IFF for short) is a different from your average martial arts book.  You won't find a collection of techniques or "moves" that will make you a better fighter.  Rather you will find a collection of physical principles that are the foundation of many of the techniques of Silat and Kuntao which are the major systems covered in this book.  ... full review

Amazon.UK, Customer Reviews:
Reviewer: A Customer from United Kingdom
January 11, 1999 

A Great Book on Principles of Infighting
Negatives?  The book is only 180 pages and $40.  The price is justified because the book is filled with large, sharp B&W photo sequences that illustrate the principles and these are expensive to produce.  The shortness of the book is really a shortcoming created by the author's excellent analytical and tight writing ability that makes you sad that you came to the end of the book, but for me the beginning (well actually a renewal) of my martial arts journey of discovery. ... full review

Review Page: Indonesian Fighting Fundamentals
By Kevin Curtis, Cleveland, Ohio

This book was written by Bob Orlando, who is a long time student of Master Willem de Thouars.  This book addresses just what the title implies.  ...  the fundamentals of the Indonesian Arts.  I love the fact that he concentrates on the concepts of these arts, and doesn't get hung up on just giving us techniques.  With the concepts, you can make up your own combinations!  "Give a man a fish, and feed him for a day: teach him to fish, feed him for a lifetime."   Five out of five stars.

Journal of Asian Martial Arts
Volume 6, Number 2, June, 1997

Media Review -- by James Wilson, L.Ac.,
New England School of Acupuncture.

...  Orlando writes that his intent is not "a detailing [of] the history, culture, or many fighting systems of Indonesia ..., [but] is intended primarily for the martial art student of any rank whose main reason for training and study is effective self-defense"; to this end he has succeeded marvelously.  The author accurately portrays the use of a wide variety of Indonesian strikes and stances, effectively demonstrating their differences with other fighting styles, the principles behind their actions, and their use in combat situations.  His own sometimes creative terminology -- my personal favorite being "gyroscopic rotation" -- actually enhances the student's understanding than if the author had attempted to translate those actions described directly from the Indonesian.  Similarly, Indonesian Fighting Fundamentals is clearly illustrated, with just the right number of photographs and graphics accompanied by clear, concise captions.  ... full review

Triumph Magazine
Volume V, Issue 5, September, 1996
Review by Bob McKenna, Denver, Colorado