The word “Mande” comes from “Cimande” which is believed to be the original Silat system of West Java. “Muda” means “young” or “new”. Mande Muda is likened to a young child always growing, learning and adapting. Mande Muda existed during the Dutch occupation of Indonesia, however it was officially founded in Bandung in 1951 by the late Guru Besar Uyah Suwanda. Like many perguruan, Mande Muda was practiced in secret, even after the Indonesian Independence.
Uyuh Suwanda was the founder of the Mande Muda self defense system. Pak Uyuh had studied 17 styles of Pencak Silat. He added Cimande, when he married Mimi Rukimi who came from Cimande village. Together they taught their combined system, which Pak Uyuh named “Mande Muda“, to their family and friends.
Pak Uyuh believed that each silat technique could be used differently in different situations and that there are no techniques which will work in all attacks. For this reason, he continuously studied pencak silat techniques and weapons to find the best answers to attacks, and ways to prevent attack. Pak Uyuh combined techniques from the 18 silat styles in an effective system which is unique and rich in knowledge.
Pak Uyuh died in 1989. His wife Ibu Mimi Suwanda continued to promote the school. After her death in January 14, 2013, at the age of 100, The Suwanda Academy was developed by another his son Guru Herman Suwanda. Herman Suwanda began to study pencak silat from Pak Uyuh in 1960. In 1965, he began to also study with pendekars from other traditional Pencak Silat schools, and he continued to study until his death. He began teaching in Indonesia in 1974, and in 1980, he traveled to the US to begin teaching there. In addition to supervising the schools in Indonesia, he traveled extensively, teaching Pencak Silat Mande Muda seminars around the world.
Pak Herman was successful in building a Padepokan (School), called the Padepokan Pencak Silat Suwanda Academy, located in Kampungdago, Suntenjaya, Lembang, West Java. His senior student, Steve Hunting, assisted him in making this project come true. The Padepokan is the first in West Java.
After Pak Herman’s death in March 2000, the Suwanda family and the Mande Muda Indonesia organization elected his sister, Ibu Rita Suwanda (daughter of Pak Uyuh), as the new guru besar of Pencak Silat Mande Muda International, and the president of Mande Muda Indonesia. Ibu Rita has decided to continue both the Jagabaya training program, and the academy under the name of “The Suwanda Academy International”. She selected a board of directors, and charged the organization with the task of assisting her in supervising the Pencak Silat Mande Muda training programs outside of Indonesia.
