Posted by PD USA on 9/21/2005, 9:58 am The arena Bumi Perkemahan Cibubur in a normal day is busy with pathfinder activities. But, on the weekend of 29-31 July 2005 it hosted the first jamboree of pencak silat traditional art held by the Indonesia Pencak Silat Association (IPSI) with the support of Panasonic GobelIndonesia. The opening on the first night was very festive. Many flags with the symbol of a pesilat (pencak silat practitioner) in action in a frame formed of a series of logo of Panasonic GobelIndonesiaadorned the road from the portal until the opening location. Many stands were also opened for the occasion including restaurants, pencak silat equipment shops, and those offering acupuncture massage and alternative medical care. In the main arena, 14 perguruan pencak silat, selected because of their history, geographic representation and skills, freely demonstrated their styles and movements using traditional music. Their diversity attests to the richness of our pencak silat culture. The performance was especially appreciated because of demonstrations of Pendekar Zakaria, founder of Mustika Kwitang and of the former world female art champion in the 1980s Miss Karyani and former national athletes in double free class Miss Gandina Koesoemah and Miss Ayunda Nunnun Sugiharti fromBandung. In spite of their mature age, they impressed the public with their flexibility and artistic perfection. The formal ceremony was opened by the IPSI president, Mr. Prabowo Subianto. This reflected the importance of the event because too often he fails to show up in formal meetings even though his name is officially printed on the invitation. Indeed the Jamboree was a special occasion for all the pendekar, sesepuh and pesilat to meet each other, share experiences, and build a feeling of brotherhood. The President of the International Pencak Silat Bond (PERSILAT) Mr. Eddie M Nalaparaya and the senior pendekar Miss Rukmini Sekarningrat also attended. Many other guests came from as far asEurope,Asia, andAustralia, including the; the President of Pencak SilatUK, Mr.Aidinal Al Rasjid; the President of Pencak Silat The Nederland; Mr. George L.Fredriksz, the Vice President Pencak Silat Russia Mr.Denis Turishchev; the Secretary Pencak SilatThailand, Mr. Kaseem Benchawong; the President Pencak Silat WestAustralia, Mr. David Janning. The festival started the next morning and continued for 3 days, with the performing participants divided into different categories (free solo movement, free double movement, and free group movement) and sub-divided per age groups (pre-adult 10 – 14 year old; adult 20 – 40 year old; and senior 50 years old to up). In the festival, contrary to official competitions, participants are free to use all kinds of movements, weapons, music, and no uniform is obligatory. 38 teams joined the Jamboree from 21 provinces and 22 pencak silat top schools/styles from South Celebes , South Borneo , Aceh , West Sumatra , Riau , D.I Yogyakarta , West Java , Central Java , Bangka – Belitung , South Sumatra , Bali , Gorontalo North Celebes , East Java , Lampung , West Borneo , DKI Jaya , Jambi , Banten , Himsi Kepri , Kepulauan Riau , PS.Putra Betawi , PS.Joko Tole , KPS.Nusantara , PS.Panglipur , PS.Pager Nusa , PS.Perisai Diri , PSTD , PS.Tapak Suci , PS.Pamur , PS.Mutiara Panca Sakti , PS.Setia Hati Teratai , PS.Persinas Asad , PS.Pager Kencana , PS Perisai Putih , PS.Budi Suci , PS.Harimurti , PS.Satria Muda Indonesia , PS.Pencak Organisasi and PS.Bakti Negara. The total number of participants amounted to 1400 pesilat, who all stayed together in tends surrounding the two arena at a d istance of 100 meter. Each arena had a size larger than the official competition TGR mattress (20x20x1 instead of 10x10x1meter) so as to allow more space for the pesilat to move freely. The implementation of such large festival is never easy, as the logistics are complex. For example, every team only owns one set of music instruments, and they had to be moved in between the two arenas to follow the performing pesilat. The rain and the leakages in the old tents also created difficulties for the participants to sleep properly. Nonetheless, the festival was successful and it responded to a felt need of the pencak silat world. It is important to know that since pencak silat competitions started to be held in 1973, less than 70 schools/styles are really active in participating, and a diminishing trend can be observed. This is worrisome considering that there are many more pencak silat schools/styles inIndonesia, but that they do not want to join in sport events because they consider their techniques for self-defense. The Jamboree is for them a good place to meet and show their ability in their own way. According to Mr. H. Hisbullah Rachman, the head organizer of the event, this activity aims to motivate all pencak silat schools/styles to beco me active again in a national forum and feel part of IPSI. Also IPSI can identify potential candidates for promotional activities overseas instead of depending on a limited group of schools. He plans to continue this kind of festivals and make it in a regular bi-annual event, also inviting participants from abroad. He also hopes to augment the age groups to include children (8 – 10 years old), teenagers (10 – 14 years old), adult (14 – 20 years old), senior (20 - 40 years old), most seniors (40 – 60 old), elders (60 years up). At the closing ceremony, many more groups came fromBogor,Jakarta, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi. Also the number of foreign guests increased, including the President of Pencak Silat Thailand, Mr. Wanmohammadnoor Matha; the President of Pencak Silat Japan, Miss. Yumi Kondo; the President of Pencak Silat Malaysia, Mr. H. Megat; the President of Pencak Silat Singapore, Mr. Abdullah Shafie Mohammad Sidik; the President of Pencak Silat Myanmar, Mr. U Mya Thein; the President of Pencak Silat Spain Mr. Juan I Barrenechea and his wife. Mr. Rachmad Gobel as IPSI Vice President and main sponsor as President of Panasonic GobelIndonesiathanked the participants in his closing remarks. He was glad that the first Jamboree Pencak Silat was completed successfully, although there were shortcomings here and there, and stressed the importance of the festival for the preservation and renovation of pencak silat. He concluded by inviting all the presents to the next event in two years in the same location. All of participants and the winners got Panasonic electronic products as prices. Thereafter, all the pesilats and pendekars joined together in a fire party.
4.237.177.238
The Pencak Silat Jamboree 2005 in Cibubur Jakarta.
By: O’ong Maryono
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