The bunga literally the "flower" is the "formation dance" of the silat. The step movements, hand and finger control, head and neck turns and struts, rythmic combination of steps with head and hand movement, and body aerobics. Each silat variety has its own specific bunga set, though some place more emphasis on it than others. In silat forms that place great emphasis on the bunga, mastery of the techniques may take several years before one is able to reach the buah stage. In others, the bunga evolves as the buah techniques are mastered. The general importance of bunga in silat is that it helps to ward off aggression or physical force in one's opponent while at the same time allows one to select a move which locks a person in without direct injury to a vital body organ. The idea is to render a person helpless or immobile rather than to achieve an injury or fall. The bunga can be performed with or without an opponent and is often used in silat demonstrations during festivals or official ceremonial events.
