Poekoelan was developed in Indonesia by Mas Djot (pronounced "Dweet") Bang Salimoen and Oei King Boen. Each was a master of their country's martial art. Mas Djot Bang Salimoen had learned Penjak Silet. Oei King Boen had learned Chinese Kung Fu. They blended these styles together and called the style Poekoelan.

Poekoelan derives from the word Poekoe (sometimes spelled puku) which means "to hit". The term poekoelan roughly translates as "a series of strikes with returning hands and feet".

Poekoelan was brought to the United States by Mas Goeroe Angoeng "Willie" J. C. Wetzel in 1956. He learned Poekoelan in a village in West Java called Tjimindie. Tjimindie is located on a river. Its name means "beautiful flowing water". Goeroe learned the Tjimindie dialect of Poekoelan which incorporates movements and attitudes reminiscent of flowing water.

Goeroe moved to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania in 1956. He codified Poekoelan Tjimindie and called it "tulen". Thus the full name of the style became Poekoelan Tjimindie Tulen. Goeroe began teaching others this style. One of his students was a girl by the name of Barbara Niggel.

Mas Barbara received her black belt at the age of 12. She received the title Pendekkar when she became the head instructor of a school in Ohio. After Goeroe Willy's death, Pendekkar Barbara took up the title Goeroe. Eventually she opened Willy's Gym in Orleans Massachussetts. As head of the school, Goeroe Pendekkar Barbara decided to describe what she taught as Indo-American Fighting Arts. The specific style is Poekoelan Tjimindie Tulen. One of her students was Brian Cowing.

Mas Brian Cowing began training with Goeroe Pendekkar relatively late at the age of 24. When he received his black belt, he took over the school in Provincetown, Massachussetts. He taught for several years before deciding to open his own school. He called the new school Fifth River Karate. Two of his students are Mas Shandy Smith and Mas Jessica Brawner.

Find out more about Rose and River Martial Arts in Austin.