Profile

Born and raised in NW London (one of the roughest areas of London in the 1980's), Steven Benitez trained martial arts for most of his life in order to save his life. He started his martial arts journey in Judo and then Wing Chun. But neither of these arts saved him on the streets. He later met Sifu Gerry Tann who taught him a deadly martial art called Kuntao. Steven trained with Gerry from the ages of 11 to 19 years old, won several tournaments and in-house competitions between schools, but it was after winning the Birmingham National Championship in 1989, after an experience on the mat, that his path in the martial arts was to take a different turn. Shortly after, during a 7 days rice fast, Steven was visited by female warrior whilst in meditation. Not having an idea of where to go or what to do, he felt compelled to go to Holland. His vision of this female warrior would soon become a reality as he felt like someone hit him across the face while he slept on the train through Holland, at the stop Rotterdam Centrum station. He got out of the train and entered the first Indonesian restaurant he came across. On this particular day, they had received a flyer from Guru Ma (and this was the only ever time she'd sent out flyers of her school). From the moment he stepped into Guru Ma's school, he knew he was home. She had been expecting him. This is a true story. Over a period of 11 years, whilst Steven was training under Guru Ma, she had sent him to Indonesia to experience and enrich his knowledge and understanding of the culture of her people and also learn other village silat styles that were practised and passed on from family to family. In Indonesian tradition, to learn proper and authentic silat, you need a referral, and Steven was fortunate to have been guided by Ma to some of these teachers. Steven completed three other family silat styles from different locations throughout Indonesia. Two of his teachers have since passed away, and one remains alive today. Among these Silat systems and teachers are: Silek Angin with Pak Rusli Sutan Rajo Bansu of West Sumatra; Cimande with the late Guru Makmur of Ciawi, Jawa Barat; and Silek Harimau with the late Guru Asnan, also of West Sumatra. Steven learnt that to comprehend Silat, you needed to have a complete understanding of how the Indonesian people lived, their culture and belief systems. He spent many weeks, sometimes months at a time, over a period of 11 years, to learn what he needed to learn and understand. And although Steven completed three other Silat styles, he never mixes them when teaching, as they are totally different. And the SFA is the art that was solely passed down by Guru Ma herself, teaching the principles and practises which Steven would then practise, assimilate, test and apply in his 24 hour cycle. The preservation of the Satria Fighting Arts is a responsibility he took on when initiated by Guru Ma when he completed his training, and then formed the complete syllabus of the Satria Fighting Arts with her guidance and approval. With this syllabus, people (young and old, male and female) can now learn through this map that will take you step by step, from beginning to end. The knowledge of the SFA cannot, however, be learnt through just words and pictures, but it must be cultivated through practise. Steven was given the honorary title of "Pendekar" by two of his Silat teachers. This title carries a lot of weight, and a responsibility which Steven carries wholeheartedly, but not lightly. ​