The de Vries family, their cousins the de Thouars, and their students, are well-known names in Europe and the US where Silat is concerned, especially Pukulan styles such as Bukti Negara and Serak.

The first family members to come into contact with these systems were the two brothers John and Ernest (Ventje) de Vries, who had been trained from childhood in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) and became highly experienced and feared martial artists. Ernest, over the years, earned a reputation as a ferocious fighter who did not hesitate to take on any challenger.

Both studied the art until they understood its mechanics and depth, Ernest, however, never had much patience in teaching, on the contrary John is remembered as a patient teacher.

It is from the depth of this understanding, and the patience and skill of John De Vries, that Paul de Thouars earned his extraordinary teaching method and fighting prowess.

Here we want to remember the family members.