Peresean-Lombok

Peresean (Stick Fighting)
 

Peresean is an art dance in Lombok Sasak tribe. Peresean is a battle of two warriors called pepadu each armed with a rattan stick and a leather shield made from cow or buffalo skin. Peresean symbolizes courage, agility and toughness in fighting. Peresean performance always accompanied with musical arrangements consist of a gong, a uniqueness of peresean is that the warriors are chosen directly from the audience.
 

Peresean fight is led by a  referee called pekembar. The are two pekembars each performance. One pekembar n the middle as the main referee. And one stay on the edgem whose job is to choose pepadu from among the audience. Each pair fought over five rounds. Pepadu are not allowed to hit the legs and thighs to the crotch. But they may hit the head, shoulder and back. And if they hit head it would be a high score, moreover if the opponent’s  head is bleeding.
 

Peresean often performed to welcome foreign tourists. If the eyes of the tourists, peresean is like the gladiator from Europe. According to them, peresean games and attraction is very unique and interesting. Both fighters hit each other with rattan until their head and body badly injured. But when the game is finished they would hug each other as if nothing ever happened. No revenge is taken. It’s all just entertainment and games.