Kinematics Characterisation of Deflection Technique in Seni Silat Cekak using Motion Capture Analysis

This study investigates the effectiveness and kinematics of Kaedah A, a deflection technique in Seni Silat Cekak Malaysia (SSCM). As the scientific research on Malay Martial Arts (Silat) is limited, this study aims to analyze the execution time of Kaedah A and presents its kinematic profile. Twenty experienced SSCM practitioners performed Kaedah A, which was captured using a motion capture system (Microsoft Kinect via Cekak Visual 3D v1.0) at 30 frames per second. The captured hand positional data was analyzed to determine the hand's trajectory, velocity, and execution time. Results indicated that Kaedah A can be executed in less than 0.1 seconds, demonstrating its potential for rapid self-defense. The maximum average hand velocity was 5.02 m/s. Statistical analysis of kinematic variables, including velocity components, execution time and elbow joint angle, revealed normal distributions. The findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of SSCM techniques and its potential applications in self-defense.