Pencak Silat Showcases Indonesia’s Cultural Heritage at ISS 2026

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Pencak silat showcased Indonesia’s rich martial arts traditions on the final day of Indonesia Sports Summit (ISS) 2026. The World Heritage Showcase presented top Indonesian pencak silat athletes from various traditions at JICC, Jakarta, Sunday, September 13, 2026.

The special performance featured Indonesian actors and pencak silat practitioners, including Christine Hakim, Yayan Ruhiyan, Prisia Nasution, Asri Welas, and Surya Saputra. Their appearance added an artistic dimension to the showcase of Indonesia’s traditional martial art.

The performance presented various pencak silat techniques and traditions through artistic movements, weapon demonstrations, and combat sequences. Visitors also watched a performer move through obstacles while blindfolded.

The showcase highlighted pencak silat as a martial art combining technique, agility, artistic expression, and cultural values. These elements reflect traditions passed down through generations across different regions of Indonesia.

One of the performances that attracted visitors featured sticks and knives. The athletes demonstrated controlled movements and techniques while using the traditional weapons as part of the performance.

Combat demonstrations also gave visitors a closer look at pencak silat as a martial art. The sequences showed offensive and defensive movements while highlighting the discipline and distinctive characteristics of the tradition.

Another highlight featured a blindfolded athlete navigating several obstacles. The performance demonstrated concentration, balance, and control of movement.

One visitor, Kenzi, said he was impressed after watching pencak silat in person for the first time. He was impressed with the performance using some weapons.

“This was my first time watching pencak silat directly. It was good and exciting, especially the performance using sticks and knives,” he said.

The World Heritage Showcase provided an opportunity to introduce Indonesia’s pencak silat traditions to a wider audience. The performance also highlighted its role as a sport, art form, and cultural heritage accessible to diverse audiences.

Indonesia Sports Summit 2026 was held from September 11 to 13, 2026, at JICC, Senayan, Jakarta. The event featured various sports activities and brought communities, practitioners, and the public together across different sporting fields.