It is sometimes called silat tua Yawi, being the Thai-Malay pronunciation of Jawi in this case referring to the Thai Malay community.

While in the tree, he watched an elder tiger teach its young how to move as a predator and avoid capture.

Jantan is represented by hard, fierce, fast actions while betina is slow, subtle and soft.

A strong attack may be defended with a soft, evasive response but heavy and powerful actions might be useful against a yielding, subtler opponent.

Water is blood and the bodily fluids; fire is the senses of sight and hearing; earth is the flesh, muscle and bone while wind is the respiratory system.

As with other Southeast Asian martial arts, Silat Pattani contains sets based on characters from the Ramayana (Malay:Hikayat Seri Rama, Thai:Ramakien).

Called Tari Ramayana, these forms require the practitioner to not only mimic the characters' movements but their mannerisms as well.

This set is characterised by a straight back and confident movements in imitation of Rama's regal bearing.

Sita's style is epitomised by the kerambit, a claw-like knife that Malay women would wear in their hair.

One teaching states that a silat Pattani practitioner should have the agility of a deer, the strength of a tiger and the mystic abilities of a dragon.

Before starting this training, practitioners assume the proper frame of mind by performing movements that embody the respective animal.