USSSA Continues In Line With Bringing Pencak Silat To The Olympics

JAKARTA - The United States Sport Silat Association (USSSA) or the United States Pencak Silat Federation continues to be committed to developing pencak silat. Not only in the United States, they also continue to be in line to bring this traditional Indonesian sport recognized by UNESCO to the Olympic stage.

The journey of the USSSA began developing pencak silat in the United States which is unique. They even had to participate in mixed martial arts art (mixed martial arts) championships to introduce wider pencak silat.

Not only that, but USSSA also held a championship that can be followed by all types of martial arts, but using the pencak silat regulation.

We invite all types of martial arts to come, but they have to use Persilat rules (International Pencak Silat Federation). So, all types, ranging from status fu, karate, and so on.

If you compete in mixed martial arts (MMA) while following our rules, then you are allowed to compete. That includes them having to wear uniforms and chest shields. So, pencak silat is dominant," said Jacob Richter, President of USSSA, during a special interview with VOI.id online.

This method turned out to be quite effective at introducing pencak silat, especially in the United States. In addition to providing experience for pencak silat athletes in the United States, in fact many of them won championships.

This clearly makes pencak silat even more visible in Uncle Sam's country.

"So, it's a little bit sarcastic, but we did very well in all those tournaments. Pencak Silat also dominates all mixed martial arts events."

We got more experience by bringing our junior and senior national teams to the United States to join a larger mixed martial arts tournament.

"We will play and what I always tell them is let's collect some trophies," said Jacob Richter again.

The seriousness of the USSSA in introducing wider pencak silat in the United States not only participates in mixed martial arts championships. They also target 10 pencak silat championships throughout the United States every year.

In addition, the USSSA's collaboration with the United States Center for SafeSport of non-profit organizations in the United States, which guarantees the convenience and security of athletes towards the Olympics, illustrates that pencak silat is also being prepared for international level competitive events.

"We are trying to target 10 championships per season, but the health of athletes is very important. Currently the mandate I have issued across the United States is that they must complete the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) training course."

They also have to complete the United States Center for SafeSport training. So, a lot of real education is given for pencak silat training other than pencak silat art. We are doing every step we can to contribute to the path to the Olympics."

"Basically United States Center for SafeSport is an organization founded in 2017. It is a requirement for United States Olympic athletes. They are a body that regulates safe sport in all sports in the United States."

You take training courses. They have made it very easy to take training courses where we work with them. They do SafeSport training online.

There are tests and quizzes. So, 90 minutes and there are some quizzes and final tests to make sure they understand what SafeSport is. It's very similar to WADA. The course is actually free and you watch the module and finish the quiz."

'After completion, then you have WADA's international athletic education. So, if you have to do a drug test or something, it will be part of WADA.'

On the SafeSport side, it's 100 percent DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion). We want fair exercise. We want the athletes to feel safe. We want the athletes to pay attention."

That is the main goal of a safe sport, which is a fair game. However, at the same time, athletes are also very important, the health of athletes and their safety. We want everyone to feel safe, "said Jacob Richter.

The Way To The Olympics

While continuing to promote pencak silat at the national level of the United States, USSSA also supports pencak silat to become one of the sports competed in the Olympics.

USSSA is aggressively expanding the network. Nearby, they have already drawn up plans to include pencak silat in the Pan American Games or better known as Pan Am Games.

Pan Am Games is a sports mulitievent on the Americas every four years which also refers to the Olympic Charter. Next year the 20th edition of the Pan Am Games will be held in Peru, South America.

However, before heading to the 2027 Pan Am Games, the USSSA will first enliven the Arizona Asian Festival which will be held on March 28-29, 2025.

So, we were lucky enough to be invited to have an Arizona Asian Festival opening ceremony in Mesa, Arizona, which is only two hours from Los Angeles. I will give the opening speech.

We will do everything for the opening ceremony with gamelan. We will show pencak silat at the opening ceremony which is attended by around 20,000 people. Then the festival, we will have 50,000 visitors."

So, to achieve the Pan Am Games, we will promote in South America. I am also the President of the USSSA. I think the best place (promotion) is in South America.

"However, we must first get more interest and be lucky enough to participate in the Arizona Asian Festival at Mesa," said Jacob Richter.

From the Arizona Asian Festival, USSSA hopes that pencak silat will be exposed so that they can demonstrate at the 2028 Olympics which will be held in Los Angeles, United States.

"So, we want to share with anyone who wants to see it. We will share it. If they try it, they will like it."

"Once our popularity increases and becomes popular, then we have to go further to be able to join the Pan Am Games. Then, when we take part in the Pan Am Games, it will be a (demonstration) event for the Olympics (Los Angeles 2028)," said President USSSA.