New Movie Pairs Ronda Rousey with Pencak Silat Action Star, Iko Uwais
Shortly after Ronda Rousey’s spectacular victory over Cat Zingano, Peter Berg announced that he will be producing a film, called “Mile 22,†featuring Rousey and International Silat Superstar, Iko Uwais. In a March 2nd article, “Variety†quoted Berg as saying, “I am a huge fan of what Gareth (Evans) and Iko did on both ‘Raid’ films, and I’m very excited at the possibility of working with Ronda and Iko to create a film in the spirit of this new wave of combat cinema emerging from Indonesia.†The movie will feature Rousey as a CIA agent, who teams up with an Indonesian police officer to fight extreme government corruption.
The Indonesian fighting style of Pencak Silat lends itself well to the big screen. As a traditional martial art, it is known for exotic and graceful movements, but its vicious and diverse range of techniques, including a heavy emphasis on knife fighting, give it a strong combative element. Silat’s brutal elbow and knee attacks are reminiscent of other Southeast Asian styles, such as Muay Thai. It also includes a strong emphasis on takedowns and destructive joint locks. Perhaps Silat’s most unique and distinctive feature is its penchant for kicks and sweeps launched from a low crouching or kneeling position. These types of skills were on full display in the famous elevator scene in Uwais’ 2009 feature film, “Merantau.â€Â
Already popular in many parts of Europe, Silat is still relatively rare in the U.S., but “Baltimore Martial Arts Academy†is fortunate to have a program, teaching the art of Pencak Silat Mande Muda. Please come join us to learn more about this exciting and fast-growing art.
