“When I was 23, I traveled to Asia” writes Flora Bardet. I had a deep yearning to connect with myself. As a struggling student in Paris, feeling disillusioned with my surroundings, I felt that something was missing and that I was loosing my soul. From an early age, I had read Asian spiritual books and, gazed at Gauguin´s paintings, I dreamt of a south sea island. Asia called me. I embarked alone onto a journey, which without knowing it became a turning point and a rite of passage.

“Arriving in Bali, I felt I had come home. For the first few years, I lived with a Balinese family, wearing a sarong, walking barefoot, and sitting on the floor. Soon I began my silat training. I trained at sunrise, on the beach, under bamboo groves, or near some temple.

“I studied with a great Martial Art Master, Subur Raharja, also called Suhu, a fierce Silat/kung Fu warrior with the compassionate heart of a Buddha, the founder of the White Crane Silat School, also called P.G.B, one of the biggest and well-known Martial Art school of Indonesia with branches all over the world..

He taught me to slide smoothly using my feet like radar, to jump so I land properly, to roll and fall so I relax and let go of fears. To practice self-defense with art, not just efficiency, to move flowingly like a crane, a snake, a flower, the wind, and to contact my essence. As the years went by, his teaching became less austere, softer, and more joyful. That’s what I have inherited: a gentler, happier approach to the art of self-defense. (See program descriptions), a combinations of tools for gaining self- awareness, maintaining health, acquiring skills to cope with daily life, and enjoying a transforming path towards inner freedom.

“Bali was home based for twenty years. Sponsored by the White Crane Silat School, I taught on going classes and retreats at my home base and center. My apprenticeship and teaching of silat in Indonesia has brought me back to myself, the original purpose of my journey. Through Silat I released the dam of tension and separation within, and brought myself closer to my true nature

Suhu said, “Silat is life”. So embodying Silat for me does not take place only through my own regular martial art practice, but also through sharing it by teaching it, living it by flowing with the current of life, with inner balance and grace.

 I put this website forward to you, in the spirit of sharing what I have learned, and in the hope that some may wish to travel a similar path. Perhaps by sharing my experience I will also learn more, because that too is the way of Silat, the way of life.

Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free:

Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing.

This is the ultimate

ChuangTzu