August 18, 2005

Selamat Hormat Pendekar Sanders,

I am writing this letter to tell you that I cannot thank you, and Guru Besar Jerry Jacobs enough for a most amazing weekend. This experience in the Art of Pukulan Cimande Pusaka has greatly revitalized my trust and love for the martial arts. As you know, earlier this year I ended my tenure with a Dutch-Indonesian school which claimed to be "The Pusat" of the art of Pukulan Pentjak Silat Sera.

I found myself to be deceived by this 'academy', and it's 'maha guru' in almost every way, shape, and form. During my time there, I put my whole heart and soul into learning a "truth" that I later discovered was fabricated. I have spent the last few months contemplating leaving the martial arts all together in light of this horrible experience in deception. I have found it very hard since then to have trust in a teacher, or a system. I have been very reluctant to experience something 'new'.

It was at your seminar hosted by Guru Besar Jerry Jacobs and his amazing Port Huron, Michigan group that my passion and trust for the arts was 'revitalized'. It was as if fate lead me to this event.

I would just like to say that I could never imagined in my wildest dreams that a martial art like Pukulan Cimande Pusaka existed. Yet, I found out at last weekend's seminar that it truly does 'exist'. I witnessed this first hand from your lessons on the Sera Jurus Depok. It was a privilege for me to learn to learn these Jurus from you.

The meaning and applications of these Jurus translate 'crystal clear'. I look forward to more lessons from you on what Mas Jud was truly trying to communicate through this martial art. I would especially like to thank Guru Ted Walls for making sure that I understood the applications of this material. The 'truth' that I sought for so long was clearly evident in this material. I cannot thank you enough, Pendekar Sanders. You are a true pioneer.

Everything about my experience has had an absolute positive effect on me. The group of your students in attendance are extremely skillful,and posses a great understanding of the truth. A truth that was falsely dangled in front of me by my former (so called) 'maha guru' that he clearly did not posses.

The art of Pukulan Cimande Pusaka possesses all of the characteristics that I sought in that other art. This truth was very evident in the teachings and movements of yourself, and all of the practitioners (beginning through advanced) that I had the privilege of meeting. The art and it's exponents clearly are well taught and studied in this most effective system. I can also say that, without a doubt, I have never met a more helpful, sincere, honest, hard-working group of people in the martial arts. I cannot thank all the students I met enough for their help and kindness.

It was truly an honor and a privilege to meet you Pendekar Sanders. I want to you to know that I have the utmost respect for you, your perseverance in pursuit of the truth, and the great Art that you brought to the world.

I look forward to being a student under you, and Guru Besar Jerry, and I am anxious to start this amazing journey!

Again, my sincerest gratitude to you, sir.

Terimi Kasi,

John Ryan

Morris, Illinois U.S.A.