Pencak Silat is the name given to the indigenous martial arts of Indonesia. There are hundreds of styles from the ground fighting Harimau system of Sumatra to the Hindu styles of Bali. Sera or Serak, named after its founder, is from the Western part of the island of Java. It is a comprehensive system emphasizing infighting, sophisticated footwork and deception. It has much in common with other West Javanese Silat systems such as Cimande.

It is widely accepted that Serak, along with much West Javanese Silat, has been strongly influenced by the old, influential Cimande styles. Some educated practitioners say that they can see traces of Cibandar, Ciular, and Cikalong in the system.