Mepantigan Bali

Mud Painting /Action Painting

Putu Witsen is a self-defence art master who has skillfully combined several different self-defense arts from all over the world. The infusion of Tae Kwon-do, Capoiera, Judo, Aikido, Kickboxing, Pencak Silat into Wrestling has created a new self-defense art of Bali called “Mepantigan”.

Mepantigan is performed as a magical show of traditional Balinese martial arts involving two fighters wearing their traditional attire – bebuletan (sarong), kancut, guladginting and udeng. They display techniques of throwing, locking, fighting, and wrestling on the earth’s surface – be it mud, sand or rice fields.

The show is an entertaining performance combining humour, drama, dance, gamelan and the sound of traditional Balinese orchestra – gegambuhan – in the background.

Putu witsen adds to the action by painting a canvas using mud, fire and spiritual touches from the other world. He never ceases to find a unique and sacred place to inspire each new creation. he invites people not just to see his action painting but to be sparked with curiosity as to where the places are that have inspired them.

The feature that makes Mepantigan Bali Action Painting so different is that Putu Witsen brings together local wisdom and values to develop and preserve them while praising and paying due respect to The Rice Goddess, Dewi Sri and to Kebo Iwa, a wise and powerful Balinese man.

All is summed up in the Mepantigan philosophy:
Mepantigan creates a feeling of love and beauty. Those who experience it will avoid violence and other improper behavior that is not in line with tender loving care of human nature. ‘Whenever an art form is developed, evil will float away, and love will reign’.