In the beginning, KPS Nusantara was set up as an study group on July 28, 1968 in Jakarta by three young intellectuals: Mohamad Hadimulyo, Mohamad Djoko Waspodo, and Rachmadi Djoko Suwignjo. The called the “Study Group Pencak Silat Nusantara”. At that time they were students of two Setia Hati masters, Marijun Sudirohadiprodjo and Rachmad Suronagoro. The three founders were concerned about the lack of interest in Pencak Silat from the youth and the fact that Pencak Silat was losing ground to foreign martial arts that were growing in Indonesia.
At the time, they were all technical members of IPSI, which was also undergoing change. In this period the three felt obligated to research and then establish a study group with the aim of giving Pencak Silat a new profile. The realization of this goal was not easy, however, since it went against tradition. Since the Setia Hati pledge prohibited students from learning at any other perguruan, they refused to undergo the keceran ceremony. After a hard struggle, they were able to convince their master, Rachmad Suronagoro, to reveal to them 36 techniques, keeping only the core jurus secret. He also gave them his blessing to study at other perguruan in the interest of the advancement of Pencak Silat. The ‘unconventional’ attitude of the Study Group’s founders did not upset their relationship with Setia Hati, and until today members of KPS Nusantara are considered ‘brothers’ by the members of Setia Hati, and vice-versa.
The study group, which was not originally a perguruan was officially recognized as a perguruan during the national assembly of the Ikatan Pencak Silat Indonesia in 1973, and immediately grew to be one of the top 10 Pencak Silat organizations.
Techniques
The sources of these styles are Cingkrik, Cimande, Mahdi, Syahbandar, Kari, Taji, Setia Hati, Pencak Jawa kombinasi Projo Soemitro, Bojonegaran, Silat Pariaman and Lintau. KPS Nusantara took techniques from many Pencak Silat styles but was also able to create an identity of its own. They stress the important of langkah and sikap pasang and at the same time the effectiveness of attacks and defenses.
The training levels in the Keluarga Pencak Silat Nusantara are as follows:
1. Seisya Bavisya – Black Belt Sash
2. Seisya Pratama – Blue Belt/Sash
3. Seisya Dwitya – Green Belt/Sash
4. Seisya Tertaya – Brown Belt/Sash
5. Bandhu Bavisya Dwitya : Red Belt/Sash
6. Wredha Bandhu – Orange Belt/Sash
7. Pendekar Muda – Yellow Belt/Sash
8. Pendekar Utama – White Belt/Sash
For more information about KPS Nusantara, please go to this website: http://www.kpsnusantara.com/
