IT IS COMMON knowledge that there are overlaps between various martial arts systems. By design, we have two hands and two feet—and an instinct for both defending and attacking. So it comes as no surprise when similar hand-combat techniques appear across different traditions.

Allow me to draw your attention to two martial arts that share some surface-level similarities, but are unique in their own ways: Wing Chun and Buah Pukul Lian. I had the opportunity to explore these two systems more deeply through interviews with two seasoned practitioners and masters: Abdullah Abdul Aziz[1] (Silat Buah Pukul Lian Padukan) and Aaron Boey[2] (Wing Chun instructor in Penang).

The Wing Chun school of Kung Fu gained global recognition following the success of the Ip Man film series, in which Donnie Yen portrayed the legendary Wing Chun master, Ip Man (Yip Man), best known globally as the mentor of Bruce Lee. Following the films, people around the world became captivated by Wing Chun.

Buah Pukul Lian, in turn, is a traditional Malay martial art practiced in the southern regions of Peninsular Malaysia, especially in Johor.[3] At first glance, the two systems appear similar, particularly in their rapid, continuous strikes and forward-facing stances. However, both Abdullah and Aaron assert that when you dive deeper into these arts, their principles, training methods and philosophies clearly set them apart.

Origins of Lian and Buah Pukul

Buah Pukul has two major lineages: Lian Yunan, established in 1897 by Syed Abdul Rahman Yunani and Awang Daek, and Lian Kwantung, said to have been founded earlier by a master who settled in Tanjung Gemok, Rompin, Pahang. Though both systems bear the name “Lian”, most practitioners treat them as distinct lineages.

Abdullah is originally from Pekan, Pahang, and began studying Lian Padukan styles in 1998. He completed the system (khatam) after passing a highly demanding test defeating eight opponents simultaneously, a rite of passage reserved only for those qualified to be called a Cikgu. This challenge recalls the story of Syed Abdul Rahman Yunani, a historical figure in Buah Pukul, who once famously defeated eight men in Singapore.

Syed Abdul Rahman’s feat caught the attention of Sultan Ibrahim of Johor.[4] He ordered his bodyguard, Awang Daek, to investigate the merchant’s martial skills. Realising he could not take on Syed Abdul Rahman alone, Awang Daek requested permission to bring his friend, Pak Long Muhammad Yasin Yunus, the Chief of Police in Muar, to assist. After several invitations, Syed Abdul Rahman finally agreed to fight them, and finally defeated them both.

Instead of punishing them for their defeat, Sultan Ibrahim ordered both warriors to study under Syed Abdul Rahman. Since martial arts training was not permitted openly in Singapore at the time, Syed Abdul Rahman was invited to teach in Mersing. Once Awang Daek and Pak Long mastered the full system, they were granted permission to propagate the art, which later became known as Buah Pukul Mersing.

Lian: The Foundation of Buah Pukul

The term “Lian” refers to the choreographed training forms that make up the foundation of Buah Pukul. In this tradition, the eight parts of the human body are treated as “weapons”, and the training is centred around four core principles:

1. Duduk diam: calmness and stability

2. Gerak: awareness of the opponent’s actions

3. Gayang: fluid and adaptable movement

4. Ruat: managing footwork in all directions

According to Abdullah, Lian is a system of attack and counter-attack, guided by a layered approach. The core elements are striking, hitting, layering and grappling; together, these form the combat framework of Buah Pukul.

Lian Padukan is not a hybrid of Silat and Wing Chun. According to Abdullah, who studied Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do under Sifu Kahar,[5] the structure and philosophy of Lian Padukan are entirely different. For example, in Lian Padukan, the first strike often serves as a feint. In Wing Chun, according to Aaron, each strike is meant to land. Their training approaches also differ: Lian Padukan now combines traditional Silat and sport Silat techniques, requiring more than three years to complete the syllabus.

Wing Chun

Aaron began his martial arts journey in 1995 with Taekwondo. However, he was more drawn to traditional Southeast Asian and Chinese systems that flow more naturally and are not bound by modern formalities. He later explored Monkey Kung Fu, Praying Mantis and Taijiquan.

His interest in Wing Chun was sparked after watching Ip Man in 2008. At the time, only one active Wing Chun school existed in Penang—Fong Shan Wing Chun in Paya Terubong. He followed his teacher to a seminar in Singapore, and after two years, he was granted permission to teach. He also trained directly under Ip Ching, the son of Grandmaster Ip Man.

According to Aaron, Wing Chun is a close-range combat system that is often misunderstood. “If you can hit your opponent, your opponent can hit you,” he said, rejecting the idea that Wing Chun can be easily neutralised by long-range attacks. From his experience in Monkey-Crane Kung Fu, he believes most fights involve two key ranges: mid-range and close-range. Wing Chun excels in both.

One of Wing Chun’s hallmark training methods is Chi Sao, a kind of sparring that focuses on energy control and tactile sensitivity. Aaron emphasises that what you’re controlling in this drill is not technique, but energy. Similarly, Buah Pukul Lian has a drill called Pelampas, which is a striking exercise that can be done solo or with a partner. While the methods differ, both systems emphasise internal control and reactive sensitivity.

More Than Just Techniques

Both masters describe Wing Chun and Buah Pukul Lian as concept-based martial arts, not technique-based. Wing Chun emphasises the centerline, an invisible axis that runs through the middle of the body and governs both offense and defense.[6] Mastery of the centerline means mastery of movement, balance and strategic control. Buah Pukul Lian, on the other hand, includes the concept of “Tak Bermalam”[7] (literally meaning “non-overnight stay”)—a poetic Silat phrase implying that a strike should never be delayed.

Just as karate journeyed from China to Okinawa to mainland Japan, these two martial art types tell a rich story shaped by local culture and worldview. One can easily explore how the Johor-Singapore corridor once served as a vibrant trading hub which opened space for foreign influence and local synthesis.

I recall a point once made by Ooi Kee Beng, Executive Director of Penang Institute, who said “Malaysia and Southeast Asia as a whole naturally possesses a maritime mindset,[8] if we’re honest about our history.” In reflection, I view the sea not as a barrier, but a bridge.

Buah Pukul Lian is a powerful example of this maritime way of thinking. It shows how external influences were not only received, but reinterpreted through local wisdom. This proves that openness to outside ideas does not weaken authenticity, but instead enhances it into something different. At the same time, Wing Chun continues to stand tall as a complete system, with its own logic, lineage and values. While the two may look similar at a glance, they emerge from different cultural and historical settings, and from that distinction, both offer a cultural wealth worth preserving.

FOOTNOTES

1. Direct disciple of Dr. Haji Mohammed Hasyim, the current chief instructor of Lian Padukan Malaysia.

2. “The Martial Art of Wing Chun Finds a Home in Penang”, Penang Monthly, Enzo Sim, October 2021; https://www. penangmonthly.com/the-martial-art-of-wing-chin-finds-a-home-in-penang/

3. Silat Pulut: An Essential Malay Martial Art and Performance, Muhammad Amirul Naim, October 2024 https://www. penangmonthly.com/ silat-pulut-an-essentialmalay-martial-art-andperformance/

4. Sultan Sir Ibrahim Al-Masyhur ibni Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar Al-Khalil Ibrahim Shah, 2nd Modern Sultan of Johor (1873- 1959)

5. A famous Malay Wing Chun instructor, Sifu Kahar Saidun. https:// www.freemalaysiatoday. com/category/ leisure/2022/09/18/sonof-silat-master-turns-intowing-chun-master

6. Centerline – Wing Chun’s #1 Concept, The Dragon Institute (Wing Chun Schools) website; https://www.dragoninst. com/blog/centerline/

7. Menjawab Artikel The Vocket: Kungfu Wing Chun Dan Seni Silat Lian Padukan Membawa Kepada Suatu Titik Persamaan, Mengenal Lian Padukan Blogspot, published on 3 May 2016; https://lianpadukanforall. blogspot.com/2016/05/ menjawab-artikel-vocketkungfu-wing.html

8. This idea was personally shared by Ooi Kee Beng during a Penang Institute staff meeting in 2025. He had previously articulated this view in: “A Maritime Focus Is Southeast Asia’s Given Mindset,” The Edge Malaysia, April 6, 2015. Available at: https://theedgemalaysia. com/article/my-saymaritime-focus-southeastasia%E2%80%99s-givenmindset