From September 27 to 29, the Laga Tangkas Sports Hall in Pakansari, Bogor Regency, West Java, was the venue for the prestigious Piala Kasad 2 — the Army Chief of Staff Cup Pencak Silat Competition. Organized under the auspices of the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army (KSAD), the event showcased over 3,000 competitors from throughout Indonesia and featured a delegation from Suriname.
A standout team of 12 Americans participated this year, competing in both the artistic (seni) and combat (tanding) categories. Coach A. Malik Ahmad highlighted the unique aspect of their participation: “It’s quite unusual to compete in more than one event at a Pencak Silat competition. However, I wanted my team to gain experience in both Seni and Tanding to enhance their skills as martial artists and future instructors,” he remarked.
The team’s preparation included training at the Padepokan, the world headquarters of Pencak Silat in Taman Mini, and at the Padepokan in Cibubur Plaza, under the guidance of Puspa Arumsari, a multiple world champion in Jurus Tunggal (single form), and Coach Fikri, a former coach of the Singapore national team. Upon their arrival in Indonesia, the team was warmly greeted at the airport by Pak Jojo Priharjono from the Persaudaran Pencak Silat Salamun Alaikum (PPSSA). Alongside Bang Sariat Arifia, they welcomed the team to their training facility in Jakarta, where the team trained before being formally welcomed with a nasi tumpeng, a traditional ceremonial rice dish.
During their stay in Bogor, the team lodged at the Harris Hotel and commuted to the competition venue. They received a warm welcome from local fans, many of whom follow the USA Silat team on social media. They visited the renowned traditional Silat Cimande master Haji Undagi Jatnika Nanggamiharja at his bamboo village in Bogor. Denny Aprisani, who previously trained the athletes in the USA, was also present to greet them in Indonesia.
The competition was intense. Omar Daken, Yusuf Omari, Abdallah Shafi, and Asma Shafi each advanced in their respective divisions. Abdallah Shafi showcased his signature Harimau takedown to win a Silver medal in the Tanding Junior Class G. Asma Shafi benefited from a fortuitous bracket when one competitor failed to show, eventually winning Gold in the Pre-Junior Class I after a tough match against a top Indonesian contender.
The enthusiastic support from the Indonesian community for the American competitors, even against their own local teams, was a highlight of the event. This strong performance marks a significant milestone for Pencak Silat in the United States and paves the way for its continued growth and success.
