International Pencak Silat Federation

Mission

Membership

As of 2021, the global membership of the International Pencak Silat Federation stands at 67 national federations, spanning five continents.

Continental Federations

• Asian Pencak Silat Federation (APSIF )
• European Pencak Silat Federation (EPSF)
• Pencak Silat Federation of Americas (PSFA)
• African Pencak Silat Federation (APSF)

National Federations

Competition

Pencak Silat competition features 4 event categories:

• Sparring / Tanding
• Artistic / Seni (aka TGR)
  • Tunggal - Solo Performance
  • Ganda - Choreographed Pairs Performance
  • Regu - Synchronized Group Performance

Sparring / Tanding

Tanding sparring is a full contact event that takes place on a 10 x 10 meter matted arena inscribed with a circular match ground that is 8 meters in diameter. Tanding matches are carried out in three two-minute rounds. Competitors wear black uniforms and black body torso protectors covering the chest, ribs, and back. Attacks to the head are not permitted. Technical points are weighted as follows:

• 1 point - Successful and visible hand attack / contact (punch, hand-strike, elbow strike, etc.)
• 2 points - Successful and visible leg attack / contact (kick, knee-strike, etc.)
• 3 points - Successful dropping technique (throw, sweep, scissor, etc.)

To obtain a technical score, an athlete must apply the Pencak Silat Principle wherein attacks are linked together with Step Patterns (Pola Langkah) and On Guard Positions (Sikap Pasang).

In 2021 the IPSF updated tanding rules to include a wider variety of permissible techniques, added emphasis on the Pencak Silat Principle, and additional ground techniques and submissions.

Artistic / Seni

The tunggal or solo performance event requires the athlete to perform Jurus Baku Tunggal, a pre-defined solo routine that showcase a variety of pencak silat moves. The jurus consists of three sections: 1) empty hand, 2) golok and 3) toya (staff). Performances are judged objectively on the presence of all required sections and motions, time (3 minutes +/- 5 seconds) and subjectively on stability, stamina, comprehension and depth of motion.

In the ganda or choreographed pairs performance a duo of athletes perform their own specially choreographed routine consisting of any combination of attack and defense sequences. In 2021 permissible weapons were expanded to include a wider variety of weapons hailing from Southeast Asia including, but not limited to cambuk/pecut (whip), clurit (sickle), golok (machete), knife, kerambit, toya (staff), tekpi / cabang (truncheon/sai)

Regu or synchronized group performance features a trio of athletes performing Jurus Baku Regu, a pre-defined routine in sync as a team. Regu features a showcase of Pencak Silat motion, but unlike the Tunggal category is performed solely empty-hand without weapons.

References

References

1. (2015-01-29). "Prabowo re-elected as head of International Pencak Silat federation". [[VIVA news]].
2. "PERSILAT was founded on March 11, 1980".
3. "Member Countries".
4. "Pencak Silat recognized by OCA".
5. "World Championships".
6. "Headquarter".
7. "IPSF Mission".
8. "IPSF Member National Federations".
9. "IPSF Tanding Rules".
10. "Silat rules and regulations".
11. "New rules 2021".
12. "IPSF Seni Artistic Rules".