RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indra Kartasasmita, a towering figure in Indonesian martial arts and the founder of the national kempo association (Perkemi), passed away in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 01:29 a.m. He was 87. His death marks a loss for the nation’s sporting community.

Perkemi’s public relations office confirmed the news. “Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi rojiun. Our beloved Sensei Indra Kartasasmita, founder of Shorinji Kempo Indonesia, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 01:29 a.m. May his good deeds be accepted by Allah SWT and his sins forgiven.”

Members of Perkemi expressed deep sorrow, vowing to carry forward his spirit of bushido. His body was scheduled to be laid in state at Perkemi’s Honbu training center in Pondok Gede after the afternoon prayer.

Tributes poured in from athletes and officials alike. Kempo athlete Ari Sudarya recalled: “Sensei Indra was not only a teacher but also a parent figure for all Indonesian kenshi. We hope to continue his vision for the advancement of Shorinji Kempo in Indonesia.”

Indra Kartasasmita was widely respected for his lifelong dedication to athlete development. Chairman of the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI), Marciano Norman, described his passing as a major loss.

“Sensei Indra was a national sports figure, founder of Kempo in Indonesia, and a member of KONI’s supervisory board. His contributions to Indonesian sports, especially kempo, were extraordinary,” Marciano said.

Marciano added that even during illness, Indra remained spirited and committed to the sport. “Farewell to a true patriot of Indonesian sports, the father of Shorinji Kempo Indonesia. May Allah grant him the best place, give strength to his family, and inspire kempo practitioners to continue his legacy.”

Together with Ginanjar Kartasasmita and Utin Sahraz, Indra established the Indonesian kempo organization on February 2, 1966, originally named Persaudaraan Bela Diri Kempo Indonesia, later renamed Persaudaraan Shorinji Kempo Indonesia (Perkemi) in 2014.

Perkemi is now a member of KONI and the World Shorinji Kempo Organization based in Japan.

The first national kempo championship was held in Jakarta in 1970, and the sport became an official event at the National Sports Week (PON) in 1977. Indra Kartasasmita’s vision and leadership were instrumental in shaping kempo’s place in Indonesian sports history. (Diffa Sephiawardhani/Sri Wahyuni)