Shahiri Fullah bin Ibrahim, a 29 year old Silat expert and coach arrived in Cape Town on the 16th December 2014. His purpose in Cape Town was clearly defined i.e; to disseminate as much Silat Sport knowledge as possible amongst pesilats in Cape Town. Currently, Coach Shahiri works as a school teacher in Malaysia, and holds a Degree in Sports Education and Health, as well as a Diploma in Sport Science. 

The 12 day program included intensive training for selected potential athletes, as well as workshops on Rules and Regulations; Sport massage and Taping, and Skill & tactics. The entire program was focussed mainly on the Sport and athletic aspect of silat tournaments. Although the entire program was meant only for silat members, the public had the chance to attend an open air workshop at the Mouille Point Lighthouse in Seapoint. 

For many of the pesilats in Cape Town, coach Shahiri's humility and great interpersonal skills has left deep imprints on their hearts. Here's what some of them had to say: 

"Thank you for the personal attention and for never giving up on a person.' - Hammaadah 
"You can be a champion you just have to work hard and believe in yourself and I learnt that champions can also have lots of humility." - Muneeb 
"I learnt that limits is just in our mind in reality what we are capable of is so much more than what we think" - Zaid 
"Coach Shahiri resembled highest level of semangat/spirit which I could see was very infectious on all pesilats. The year of semangat ended on a high note thanks to coach and all people involved." - Ebrahim 
"Selamat malam. The trip was excellent for students of Pencak Silat." - Tuan Hilmy
"Van damme splits with coach sepet , once in your lifetime✌" - Natheem 
"Slm from what I saw was that he kept the kids interested and kids became motivated to try different techniques during sparring. It was an honour to host him here in Cape Town." - Masturah
"Its definitely a skill to keep an audience alert and interested, especially kids." Nabeel
"It was wonderful that Coach Shahiri's time here was utilised optimally. It was especially great that the young pesilats who made themselves available received so much attention and time from him. He made a point of getting to know them all personally, by name. It was the most endearing thing to see, during his time here how beautifully the young pesilats were able to train side by side,  with their older pesilat brothers ... and sisters!" Zubeida
"Coach Shahiri's professionalism coupled with his humble manner at all times , will be long remembered."
"Coach definitely left a deep impression on all he interacted with no one felt they did not have his attention." 


Coach Shahiri will be meeting up with us in Pukhet, as appointed coach in the 16th Silat World Championships. The tournament takes place from 7th - 17th january 2015, and Muneeb Solomons will be representing South Africa as an athlete/fighter in class C category. We wish Muneeb all the best in his performance, and hopefully he might surprise us by bringing back a medal for South Africa! 

The Melacca festival of traditional clothing & malay warriors will be held at the recently built Perkampungan Hang Tuah in Melaka on the 10th May 2014. 

The festival will bring together practitioners, researchers and art lovers of the Nusantara Malay cultural civilization from within and outside the country seeks to bridge the friendship among us and be a model for a new generation which inherits the ancestral art of the Malay race. This festival is also in line with the celebration of the 6th anniversary of the Declaration of Malacca which will be held on April 15, 2014. 

  This festival is a continuation of the program's Clothing Traditions & Encounters Pendekar Melaka 2012 which has been made possible for the first time in collaboration with the Melaka State Government, the Secretariat and the DMDI (Dunia Melayu Dunia Islam) PERZIM on 25 November, 2012 at the Auditorium of the Melaka Foundation College (Seminar Discourse Knowledge) and on December 2, 2012 in the compound of the Malacca Sultanate Palace. An exptected  presence of participants from within and outside the country for 2000 persons excluding existing tourists in the area.

JOINT SPONSOR
· Silat Grandmasters Association of Melacca  ( ​​Sigma )

IN COOPERATION WITH
· Silat Federation of Malacca ( ​​PESAKA MELAKA )
· State of Malacca
· Melaka Museum Corporation ( PERZIM )
· Malay World Islamic World ( DMDI )
· Malacca Historical City Council (MBMB )
· Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council ( MPHTJ )
· Department of Culture and Arts of Malacca ( ​​JKKN )
· Tourism Promotion Bureau ( CSB)
· The Art Institute of Malaysia Melaka ( ISMMA )
· Urban Transformation Centre ( UTC Melaka )
· Ministry of Tourism Malaysia

DATE AND PLACE OF FESTIVAL
· 10 & May 11, 2014 ( Saturday & Sunday) - The village of Hang Tuah , Kg . Duyong , Melaka


TARGET
1 . Teaching - teaching Silat of Malacca
2 . PERSILAT (national silat body of Malaysia) 
3 . Teaching Silat Martial Arts - teaching throughout Malaysia
4 . Teaching  Silat abroad
5 . Claimants universities / colleges locally
6 . Fans, players and observers of art & fashion / warriors / local / overseas
7 . Departments and Agencies Malaysia

OBJECTIVES
Cultivate a love for arts and culture -SIlat & Traditional Clothing of the Malay Archipelago
Helping preserve the art of Malay culture in order prevent it from dying out from time to time .
Upholding the art of their culture to the highest level and help produce proffessionals which will act as merketers , practitioners as well as a catalyst in expanding the nation's cultural arts .
Catalyze the development of the art of warriors tradition and long-term basis through the organization of activities, performances , competitions, seminars, workshops, forums , and in the aspect of management .
Featuring a distinctive charm to the community and the tourism industry .
Generate a mindset towards theoretical concepts , practical and scientific
Raise awareness of the rule of the Malay Muslims regardless of their background and political leanings
To understand the role of Malays in Malaysia, particularly the importance of upholding the glory of Malay culture .
Raising self-esteem Malay children that can be more useful to the human race, religion and country .

"About applied silat in my daily life, I really cannot explain it. But what I can say is that silat brings me closer to Allah and Islam as my religion and also gives me a deeper understanding as how to live by Islamic morals and ethics. "
Tazkia (full name: Rossticha Anjar Kesuma Tazkia). Chief of Azhar Seni Beladiri branch at Alazhar University Indonesia, and secretary of AYLI (Azhar Youth Leader Institute) speaks to us! 

Last month, I met with Indonesian female silver medalist Tazkia. Here's the transcript of our short conversation. 

Faheem: Assalamu Alaykom Warahmatullah, could you please introduce yourself?
Tazkia: Wa alaykum salam warahmatullah wabarakaatuh. My name is Tazkia, and I come from Indonesia. I was born in Sumbawa (an Island on the west of Indonesia) on the 12th of April 1991. I am 23 yrs old. 

Faheem: When did you get involved in silat?
Tazkia: I started when i was 19 yrs old in 2010 at the Al Azhar Seni Beladiri Silat school. Before this, I have never played any other sports. 


Faheem: Thats very interesting! In terms of silat, did you participate in any competitions. 
Tazkia: Yes, I have participated in about 4 competitions which were regional, state, national and international competitions. 

Faheem: How many medals have you won?
Tazkia: I have 3 medals. In my school competitions I achieved a gold medal for Jurus Tunggal category. I also recieved a bronze in an international competition for the Jurus Wajib (synchronised jurus), and a silver medal for Jurus Tunggal as well. 

Faheem: So could you tell us about the level of training you have to endure for the international competition? 
Tazkia : Of course it isnt easy as you have to train your physique well and also perfect the technique and movements. More importantly when practicing, you have to do your best and repeat each movement at least 1000 times to do it well.

Faheem: Do you actually count those 1000 times when you train? 
Tazkia: Not actually, you have to estimate. In reality if you practice 100 movements daily, how many times would you have repeated it in one month or 3 months? Do not just count till 1000, because you will have to repeat the moves thousands of times. 

Faheem: Could you advise us about the level of commitment and drive you must have for this type of training. Often we find that boredom sets in because students lose focus due to repetition of moves. Some students even feel that they are getting nowhere, so how would you encourage them? 
Tazkia: Silat students should never get bored. Your should push yourself and fight yourself. If you get bored, you will get nothing out of training. Always check with your teacher if your training or movement is improving and be open to correction. 

Faheem: Besides the Jurus Tunggal and Jurus Wajib, which other categories of competition have you participated in? 
Tazkia:  I have participated in sparring (tanding) as well, but I'm not cut out for it as I'm too thin so I should pick up some weight first before trying this out again. But for now, my focus is the Jurus Tunggal. 

Faheem: Which category do you like the most?
Tazkia: I prefer the Jurus (artistic) categories because it represents silat best. The sparring (olahraga) is more a sport and is limited to a strict set of rules and techniques. If you master about 5 techniques you could enter the sparring category but the Jurus is more rich in technique. In the artistic category you have to focus not only on the movements but your expression and feeling or soulfulness as well, and its not limited to 5 techniques but at least 100 techniques. So I'd say I love the seni (art) of silat very much, its real silat. 

Faheem: It seems the more complicated things are a challenge for you. 
Tazkia: Yes indeed!

Faheem: How could you advise pesilats who aspire to enter the Jurus or artistic category. Developing artistic flare and soulfulness as you say is not easy to achieve. How do you develop the Silat Warrior Spirit (semangat)?
Tazkia: Firstly you should be motivated and convinced by yourself. Self motivation and discipline is of utmost importance as it all starts within. Secondly, you should practice slowly and dont rush. Semangat takes time to build so do not rush. Lots of practice makes perfect.

Faheem: For those females who aspire to be good in silat, what are the benefits of silat training which you have experienced? 
Tazkia: Practicing silat is not just a short term thing. Its something you carry with you for the rest of your life. I heard that in South Africa the crime rate is high so silat is especially good for women to protect themselves. Silat is not empty, it has many benefits like health and achievements when you become an athlete. 

Faheem: Would you say there are more men or women doing silat in Indonesia?
Tazkia:  Actually there are more women doing silat over there. You could say the ratio is 4:1. The movements of silat is very suitable for women in terms of its gracefulness, beauty and flexibility so women really like it. 

Faheem: Silat is seen as a holistic and islamic martial art. How have you applied your silat in your daily life especially regarding the spiritual training?
Tazkia:  About applied silat in my daily life, I really cannot explain it. But what I can say is that silat brings me closer to Allah and Islam as my religion and also gives me a deeper understanding as how to live by Islamic morals and ethics. 

Faheem: Terima kasih banyak (thank you very much) and have a safe trip back to Indonesia and may we see you soon Insha Allah. Assalamu alaykom warahmatullahi wabarakaatuh. 
Tazkia: Sama-sama (you're welcome)! wa alaykom salam warahmatullahi wabarakaatuh. 


Article by: Abang Faheem Jackson  

SAPSA - The South African Pencak Silat Association (est 2010) members had met in Johannesburg in the past 2 weeks. Members of the Cape Town Silat branch (PSSPMSA aka Pukulan Melaka) was also invited. 

Pak Sariat Arifia, President of SAPSA along with two pesilats Satrio and Tazkiah took the time to travel to South Africa for 2 weeks, taking time to develop Pencak Silat in South Africa. 

The Hero

SINGAPORE - A butcher used his silat skills to disarm a man who was slashing another man with a chopper Thursday morning.

Mr Mohd Rahid, 33, who has been practising the Malay martial art for about 10 years, and his brother, Mr Hussain Khan, 51, were at their stall in an Ang Mo Kio market when they heard a commotion about 20m away.

When they went to check it out, they were shocked to see two men wrestling on the floor of the market and food centre at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4.

One man was armed with a chopper. The other was bleeding profusely from a large slash wound on his right arm and several wounds on his back.

Recounting the incident, which happened at about 10.45am, to The New Paper, Mr Rahid said: "Everyone else was just looking and no one went to help. I knew I had to do something."

The brothers went towards the two men.

"I wasn't scared and didn't think twice. All I thought about was taking away the chopper, which was dangerously close to the other man's neck," said Mr Rahid.

"It wasn't easy, though. The (attacker's) grip was very strong and I had a hard time prising the knife away."

But he eventually succeeded and managed to separate the men with Mr Hussain's help.

The police said they received a call at about 10.55am requesting for assistance.

Suspect arrested

When they arrived, they found an injured man.

They arrested a suspect in his 40s for voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon. They also took away a chopper from the scene.

Stallholders at the food centre said the suspect owned a drinks stall there, but they did not know the victim.

A passer-by bandaged the victim's arm and took him to a clinic about 200m away for treatment, reported Chinese evening newspaper Shin Min Daily News.

The man, who is in his 50s, was later taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, a Singapore Civil Defence Force spokesman said.

When TNP arrived at the scene, the police had cordoned off the area. A large patch of semi-dried blood could be seen on the floor.

A friend of the suspect said: "He said he was going to the toilet. The next thing we knew, this had happened."

The suspect's wife said she was feeling dizzy and declined to speak to reporters.

The motive for the attack remains unclear but Shin Min understands that it could have been over a money dispute.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Mr Rahid, who was praised by other stall owners, played down his heroic act.

"All I know is that if I didn't go to help, there would be a 99 per cent chance the victim may have died.

"I'm not a hero. I'm just a butcher who wanted to save someone's life," he said.

Horror

People were looking at the fight in horror until two men he recognised from another stall in the market, appeared.

They were Mr Mohd Rahid and his brother, Mr Hussain Khan, who stopped the fight and separated the two men.

Mr Neo, who has been running his aquarium stall for about 30 years, said: "It all happened very fast. This is the first time I've seen something like this."


Article Taken from http://news.asiaone.com 

My real turning point came when speaking to one friend about Islam, I was given a book to read, The Choice. Quran and Bible, by the late Ahmad Deedat (MAY ALLAH grant him a high place in Jannah inn sha ALLAH).

In this book he speaks of how Jesus (PBUH) never said he wants to be worshipped and never proclaimed himself as God. The book also explained how the Bible in fact describes the coming of the comforter and the description given in the Bible matches that of our Nabi Muhammad (PBUH). Furthermore, the book highlighted numerous flaws found within the bible. 

After reading this book, I felt relieved, encouraged and excited, I actively sought out other reverts to hear from them about their call to Islam and their experiences. I was then directed to a sheikh who was also a revert to Islam. This was another influential step upon my journey to Islam. I remember the day I met with this Sheikh vividly, in was a stormy winters day and I rode on my then motorcycle to meet this sheikh at his house to discuss Islam. He recited beautiful verses from the holy Quran and explained the meanings thereof, I was in awe, that a revert could recite that well and was so knowledgeable about Islam. He recited about the fetus and how children are conceived and the steps there of, and how the Quran provides evidence of this (Qur'an, 56:57-59) (Qur'an, 75:36-37) (Qur'an, 76:2) (Qur'an, 32:7-8) (Qur'an, 75:37-39) (Qur'an, 96:1-3) (Qur'an, 23:14) (Qur'an, 39:6). As well as how the rain clouds are formed to the specifics (Qur'an, 30:48). As well as the oceans that meet and whose waters never mix (Qur'an, 55:19-20).  This gave me further hope and encouragement that it is possible to revert and become a good Muslim. This added to my hunger to learn more and more about Islam. Most importantly, I finally realized that the Quran was a divinely inspired book. For there is no way that an illiterate man who lived more than a thousand years ago in a remote desert, with no technology could ever have written or known such intricate details on science and biology as described in holy Quran. It is unfathomable.

Humans have only provided scientific evidence of the above natural occurrences less than a mere 100 years ago. ALLAHUAKBR! The following Thursday evening I drove in the cold to the sheikh, and said my kalimaah shahada. ALHAMDULILLAH.

What was your perception of Islam and Muslims prior to reverting?

I must admit, I believed most of the propaganda perpetuated in the media and society. I viewed Muslims in a very stereotypical way, and generalized that most Muslims (besides my friends) were extremists and terrorists or supported terrorists. I remember the day of 9/11, the so called “terror attack” on the twin towers, we were told it was perpetrated by  Muslim terrorists, images displayed on the media, showed Muslims in different parts of the world rejoicing and supporting the attacks. Even here in South Africa, many Muslims were defending the attacks and were fully in support thereof. Again this did very little to improve my opinion of Muslims in general, instead, it made me dislike Islam and what Muslims stand for, however, I was not  aware that that was the thinking of ignorant Muslims to support such an act. Despite all this “negative publicity” Muslims received during this period, I was intrigued to figure out what Islam is about and what it teaches. I was not unique in this respect; events surround 9/11 served as a great catalyst for introducing people to Islam.

What was your best and worst experience after reverting (if any)?

Worst experience had to be distancing myself from good loyal friends, as I could not hang out with them as I did before, most of the activities and events were not appropriate for a Muslim, for example, going to parties, intermingling between sexes, etc. inevitably, I grew apart from these friends and our relationship slowly died. However, I was meeting new and different Muslims all the time, and quickly made good friends which not only strengthened my Imaan, they taught me about Islam and made me more Deen conscious. However, it took a while before I made genuine friends, initially, I was just invited around from time to time for meals with different Muslim acquaintances, these invites were sporadic and often fleeting and during my first year of being a Muslim, I often was left feeling lonely and isolated having lost my core group of friends and now being the outsider trying to break into the group of Muslim friends. However, as time went on and I met more and more Muslims, I eventually made long lasting friendships, and even gained some family in the process. I would therefore, like to urge our Muslim community to be more inviting to people who revert, as it can be a daunting journey and even if you don’t end up being good friends down the line, at least you would have been there to help them get on their feet for that short while of their new lives.

There are many misconceptions about Islam, one of them is that Islam is a modern religion belonging to Arabs. What is your opinion on this matter and what would you advise non-Muslim readers?

Islam is a way of life. It addresses not only the religious and spiritual aspects of our lives, but also science and socio-political issues amongst others. It is structured and everything has wisdom behind it. The most useful advice I could give, would be to have an open mind, shed all preconceived prejudices you may have about Islam and use social media as a platform, watch youtube videos by Zakir Naik,The Deen Show, Habib Ali Jiffri and see the beauty of Islam. They cover a wide range of great Islamic topics as well as issues pertaining to revert Muslims in general.

How do you see the mosque compared to churches and temples? Do you find any similarities in the role or status of the imam and priests?

I find the mosque to be a place of serenity, peace as well as power, a place where one can just sit and meditate without any disturbances, the beauty of the mosque is the tranquility that it has, the quietness and cleanliness it offers. If I compare the mosque to that of the church, I guess each worshipper will feel the same amount of serenity from their respective house of worship provided that they feel spiritually engaged. The major difference between the mosque and church is that the mosque is open for all Muslims, it is not confined to a specific sect of Islam, and all Muslims are welcome. There is no such thing as in Christianity where you only attend the church to which your specific denomination is affiliated. Furthermore, the mosque is open most of the day.

Another difference that I have found in Islam (this may just be an opinion I have) is that the Imams are much more approachable and more in touch with the community that they serve. I have found that the sheikhs and imams are more straight-forward they speak openly and don’t sugar coat, they are firm when they speak about what is right and what’s wrong, regardless of whether or not what is said hits a sore nerve and the congregation. I didn’t find the clergy of the church to be as approachable and often found that their lectures were often dampened down so as not to “offend” their congregation, particularly when it comes factors regarding lifestyle. In the church there is often a “free-for-all” attitude which is most apparent in the way members dress and behave within the church. This is definitely not the case in the Islam. When we attend the mosque there is a degree of etiquette involved. We dress appropriately and act in a respectful manner.

How did u choose your muslim name?

Before reverting I was speaking to a group of friends, and asking them what would be a nice name once I reverted. We brainstormed the clichés of Sameer, Sulaiman etc, names beginning with "S" as the name my parents have given me was Steven. I always admired the name of one of my favorite cricket players, Amir Sohail (former cricketer for Pakistan),

I looked up the meaning (leader, general) and thought, “wow nice name”.

I then spoke to couple of friends and they said it suited me, and that’s how Ameer came to be.

Are you married?  

On the 15th June 2013 I got married to a lovely Deen conscious lady Laila.

 How did u get involved in Silat? 

I heard sheikh Riyad Walls (imam of Stegman rd masjid, claremont) mentioning it one day on the Mimbar during Jumua announcements, at the time I was a keen runner and never had time, then one day I decided to go check out Silat, practiced in class with Faheem and Muneeb and I was hooked.  

What is your experience of Silat thus far? 

Silat is awesome! As it is not only focused on fighting, but also on self defense and overall exercise. More importantly it has Islam at its very core. For example, you start and end the class off with a duah and recitation of al-fatihah and the 3 khuls.  

Silat pukulan melaka is a malay islamic art. Do you find this to be true and how does this style practice Islam?

That’s a difficult question lol.

I think it’s definitely a more holistic form of martial arts; this is especially true regarding the various techniques involved in Silat. Islamic teachings resonate throughout the sport, for example, one does not view your training partner as an enemy, instead you are there to help and assist with training techniques. We rectify each other and offer advice and even in class we speak allot about Islam and share our knowledge and opinions during training. So it serves as a great forum to share ideas and knowledge.

Silat being practiced in the mosque. What was your reaction when you heard this, and do you find this practical?

It is extremely practical; it keeps one’s head focused on the Almighty at all times. It prevents one from speaking idol talk and stay focused on becoming spiritually and physically stronger.

Do you derive any benefit from Silat training which you can apply in your daily life and activities?

I’m a physiotherapist, which requires me to lift patients daily, my work is physically taxing. I also counsel and have to listen to the patient’s problems on a daily basis, which is emotionally taxing, as many have poor home circumstances. Silat helps me escape for a little while every week so that I can go back to work relaxed, and physically and spiritually stronger. It helps me approach life with a different and more positive view point. Furthermore it helps me feel good, and healthy. I can’t stop speaking about it as I simply just love it.  I wish I was introduced to Silat during my childhood.

 What is your favorite and not so favourite part of Silat training?

My favourite aspect is definitely the self-defense skills learnt, the throws and the overall fitness it provides. I don’t really have a least favourite part of training; I guess my least favourite part is that I don’t always have the luxury of time to attend Silat with my busy schedule. Furthermore, I do find Jurus challenging, but that’s because I am bit lazy and don’t practice as often as I should.

Describe your perfect day.

Spending time with my Wife and having Silat is the added plus.

Final words of encouragement for people interested in islam and silat training?

For people interested in Islam.... Don’t judge the people who practice the

Religion, we are not perfect, but Islam is perfect. And read up before

making comments. Read the books and web sites I suggested, and see that we are not terrorists, it’s a small percentage of people who have hijacked the name of Islam to advance to their own agendas. Making uninformed generalizations about Islam is like someone accusing all catholic people of being colonialists and tyrants after invading the Americas and other lands for their own material gain.

Come for one Silat lesson, and see the beauty of Silat, if you’re looking to get fit then Silat is great, but it has so much more to offer, like self-defense, relaxation. We aren’t competitive with each other, but we compete to better ourselves in class, and we strive to help those in class to improve their skills, something which other martial arts tend to not do. We are a family and when one is weak then the whole family feels that weakness, thus we help each other get strong.

Novia D. Rulistia, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | People | Thu, September 05 2013

Having lived in the US most of his life, Jakarta-born Wona Sumantri embraced Indonesian culture through pencak silat, a traditional form of martial arts. 

And now, the pencak silat instructor wants to teach more people in the US about it as a gateway to learning about Indonesia.

“I have been living in the US since I was five and I didn’t know much about the country I was born in. But through pencak silat, I now feel like I’ve gotten to know Indonesia better,” he said during the recent Congress Indonesian Diaspora in Jakarta.

His interest in pencak silat was sparked when he saw his father practicing Cimande-style silat, a style which is believed to have originated in West Java, at home every morning. 

But Cimande-style bored young Wona, because as a kid, he yearned to take part in activities that involved dynamic movements. 

“And then I found out that the Indonesian Embassy in Washington offered a pencak silat class. I enrolled in the course and I also signed-up at Al-Azhar pencak silat school in Maryland, Washington, which is currently still active,” Wona said.

The 37-year-old said that it was pencak silat’s movements that made it more special to him than other forms of martial arts. 

“It’s unique; the stance where we sit down or stand up still allows us to counter attack opponents. And it’s very receptive, every movement must have its own purpose,” Wona said.

After eight years in the US, he made a trip back to Indonesia at 13-years-old. He used his time in Indonesia to learn more about pencak silat. He took courses at Al-Azhar in Indonesia and met his father’s martial art teacher, Rifai Sahid, who became Wona’s private instructor, teaching him about different forms of pencak silat and its history. The more he learns about pencak silat, the deeper he falls in love with it. 

“I should also say that different variations of pencak silat, like silat harimau (tiger-style), makes me interested in it even more,” Wona said. 

It was not difficult for Wona to pass a series of tests that were required to progress to higher levels. At just 16-years-old, Wona successfully reached the instructor level and began teaching pencak silat two years later at the Indonesian Embassy. However, becoming an instructor was just the beginning of his long journey in mastering different aspects of the traditional form of martial arts. 

“We can’t stop learning even if we become an instructor—that’s actually just the start. I knew that I was nothing, so I had to keep learning,” Wona said. 

Wona is currently the head instructor at Al-Azhar pencak silat school, at the Indonesian Embassy and is an adjunct pencak silat professor at American University in Washington DC.

He currently has 100 students at Al-Azhar, mostly Americans who actively take part in many cultural events in the US.

“I teach my students, both at Al-Azhar and at the university, not only about pencak silat and its history, but also about Indonesia itself. I want them to know about Indonesia, too,” Wona said.

He said that one of his students at the university was so interested in Indonesia after taking his course that she earned a scholarship from the Indonesian government to learn about Indonesian culture for three months in Indonesia. 

“Many Americans become interested in Indonesia after learning a little bit about the country. Now I realize that pencak silat is also a tool to promote Indonesia’s diverse cultures and tourism,” Wona said.

After teaching at Al-Azhar and the embassy for years, Wona finally decided to open up his own pencak silat school in 2010, naming it Silat Martial Arts Academy in Maryland. 

He said that he decided to make it commercial because he wanted to give people an alternative place to study pencak silat that had more flexible hours and offered a variety of courses, including private lessons, bladed weapons training and defense and martial arts for kids. However, it is not easy living in the US relying solely on work as an instructor. In between teaching his pencak silat courses, Wona also works as an IT consultant. 

“I’ve always loved IT, and the money is good. To be realistic, it would be hard to get by just as a pencak silat instructor,” the holder of a Master’s Degree in IT from Maryland University said. Nevertheless, Wona’s passion for pencak silat should never be questioned. He is currently working on creating a non-profit association that unites all pencak silat groups in the US.

“There are a lot of pencak silat groups in the US, but we don’t work together. If we have an association, we can tell people that it’s part of something bigger, that it does not only have one style,” he said.

When that goal has been materialized, Wona said was already setting is mind on another target: returning home and seeing the beauty of the archipelago. 

“I don’t have the opportunity to explore my own country because I’ve been away since I was small. So when I make my return, I want to travel across Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua. Soon, hopefully,” said Wona.