Following the success of the largest Australian Pencak Silat Titles held on 11-12 November last year, the date and venue for the 11th National Titles has now been announced.
The 11th Australian Pencak Silat Titles is scheduled to be held in Perth WA on 11 – 13 October 2024.
This year, the Pencak Silat Titles will also welcome international competitors and is expected to break the attendance record for the second consecutive year.
“It is great to see the continued growth of Pencak Silat in Australia and the young talent coming through year after year” notes Lee Edmondson of Pencak Silat Australia (Wirayudha Pencak Silat style), located on the Gold Coast QLD.
[Lee Edmondson and Muhammad Binjemain of Wirayudha Pencak Silat Australia (QLD) at the 2023 Australian Pencak Silat Titles]
“Around ten years ago when I first competed in the Australian Pencak Silat Titles, the sport has since experienced exponential growth. The level of competitiveness continues to improve every year, as does the level of interest in the beauty of this traditional Indonesian Martial Art”.
Winners and outstanding performers during the Pencak Silat Titles will be invited to represent Australia during the next Pencak Silat World Championship, which is held every two years in a different South-East Asian country. Australian Citizens and Residents are eligible to represent Australia if selected.
[Lee Edmondson of Wirayudha Pencak Silat (4th from right) at the 2016 World Pencak Silat Championship]
“Competitions such as the Pencak Silat Titles are essential in order for athletes to test and improve their skills” suggests Lee Edmondson.
“In order for Australia to be competitive at future World Championships, athletes must continue to improve in order to beat the top teams such as Indonesia and Malaysia at their own game, which is obviously a tall order.”
“It is vitally important for athletes to be given the opportunity to compete, in order to hone their skills in preparation for the World Championship, and the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, the year in which Pencak Silat is aiming towards being recognised as an Olympic Sport.”
“Ongoing training for judges (Wasit Juri) and coaches is also a key factor in ensuring the rules and regulations of Pencak Silat for sports and competition are in line with international rules. Leading up to the 2023 National Titles, judges were given the opportunity to be trained by official representatives of the International Pencak Silat Federation (Persilat) via video conference.”
Lee Edmondson, Head Coach of Wirayudha Pencak Silat Australia successfully completed the theory leading up to the 2023 National Titles and practical by refereeing in the 10th National Pencak Silat Championship in Melbourne VIC on 10th – 11th November 2023.
Pencak Silat World Championship Postponed
The 20th World Pencak Silat Senior & Junior Championship was scheduled to take place on 27 – 31 December 2023 in Singapore.
On 26th November 2023, the Singapore Silat Federation announced that the competition would be postponed until further notice.
“It is unfortunate that the Pencak Silat World Championship has been postponed” says Lee Edmondson who represented Australia in the 2016 World Pencak Silat Championship 2016.
“The World Championship is the ultimate test for Pencak Silat athletes and it is vitally important for Australian and international athletes to be given the opportunity to compete against the world’s best.”
“Australian athletes who were set to compete in the upcoming World Championship, will now have to re-adjust their training schedules to suit future announcements from the International Pencak Silat Federation (Persilat).”
“Pencak Silat Australia will endeavour to keep interested parties up to date with any future announcements.”
Contact Lee Edmondson of Pencak Silat Australia to express your interest in representing Wirayudha Pencak Silat at the next National Titles, or to represent Australia at the next World Championships.
[Announcement from the Singapore Silat Federation]
Key Facts:
· International Pencak Silat Titles to be held on 11 – 13 October in Perth WA
· Winners and outstanding performers will be invited to represent Australia at the World Championship
· World Pencak Silat Championship postponed until further notice
About us:
About Pencak Silat
Pencak Silat is a traditional Martial Art found in South-East Asia and has over 800 known styles in Indonesia alone. Indonesian styles of Pencak Silat were historically disguised as a dance during the Dutch occupation, with the most effective techniques hidden in the art form. Previously called the ‘Dutch East Indies’, Pencak Silat (that had been hidden for centuries) helped Indonesia gain their independence at the end of World War II. Pencak Silat then officially became a sport. Pencak Silat holds a World Championship every two years throughout South-East Asia.
About Pencak Silat Australia
Pencak Silat Australia was established in 2014 by Lee Edmondson in order to further the awareness, knowledge and understanding of the Martial Art and traditional Indonesian art form known as Pencak Silat. Lee Edmondson is located on the Gold Coast QLD and is the Apprentice of Guru Eka Aris Suhartanto (Aris) of Wirayudha Pencak Silat, who is located in Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia.
About Wirayudha Pencak Silat
Wirayudha Pencak Silat is a traditional Martial Art from the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia. Wirayudha is the family style of Guru Eka Aris Suhartanto (Aris), with techniques passed down from generation to generation. Wirayudha is a well-rounded and complete traditional Martial Art with its roots grounded in Indonesian history, warfare and tradition. The Wirayudha style of Pencak Silat has been adapted over many years to include traditional and modern day fighting techniques to suit the ‘real life’ fighting situations of today.
