PON Self-Defense 2025 Followed By 2,656 Athletes

The 2025 Kudus Self-Defense National Sports Week (PON) will take place on 11-26 October 2025 in Kudus. (Doc. PB Djarum).

JAKARTA A total of 2,656 athletes from 38 Provincial KONIs are confirmed to take part in the 2025 Holy Self-Defense National Sports Week (PON) this month.

The event, which was held by the Central Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) in collaboration with the Djarum Foundation Sports Service, will take place on 11-26 October 2025.

Chairman of the PON Martial Arts Committee in 2025, Ryan Gozali, said that the PON for Self-Defense in Kudus will be a new history for the world of sports in Indonesia.

"The city of Kudus has the honor of being the stage of the achievements of the best martial arts athletes from all provinces, so of course we do our best to prepare everything," said Ryan.

This championship will reshuffle 10 sports (sports) of pure martial arts, namely karate, fighting degrees, ju-jitsu, pencak silat, taekwondo, wrestling, judo, sambo, wushu, and shorinji kempo.

Djarum Arena 2 and 3 in Kaliputu will be the center of the competition arena. The Simpang Tujuh Kudus square is prepared as an activity venue to accommodate public interest and sports lovers who want to provide their support.

The two locations are also the venue for the opening ceremony which will take place on Saturday, October 11, 2025.

"We also ensure the readiness of adequate match venues with various supporting equipment and facilities because from this point on, new martial arts champions will be born," said Ryan.

The atmosphere of excitement will begin exactly a week earlier, through a launching event by unfurling a giant tifo measuring 50 x 25 meters in Simpang Tujuh Square.

Tifo, which was designed by local Kudus artist, symbolizes the spirit of Indonesia's glorious future through martial arts achievements.

For five days since the launching of the event, various martial arts performances were held as public entertainment.

Ryan said that the Self-Defense PON was also prepared as a multi-event championship that carries the concept of sports tourism because martial arts is not only limited to sports but also part of strong-rooted traditions and culture.

"This is part of efforts to promote Indonesian culture that is closely related to martial arts, including by cooperating with actors and fighters Kang Yayan and Kang Cecep," he said.

The opening party will present contingent defiles from 10 sports moving from Djarum Arena 2 to Simpang Tujuh Square.

Yayan Ruhian and Cecep Arif Rahman will perform with a stunning action on the main stage. After laying the flag, celebrations continued with entertaining events, such as lighting fires and music performance.

The chairman of the Central KONI, Lt. Gen. TNI (Ret.), Marciano Norman, enthusiastically welcomed the debut of the Personal Defense PON. He said the Central KONI together with the Provincial KONI had worked hard to ensure the participation and readiness of the contingent.

"PON Bela Diri is a breakthrough by holding additional multi-events outside the regular PON, every two years," said Marciano.

PON Bela Diri Kudus 2025 is a collaboration with KONI, the Djarum Foundation Sports Service, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Kudus Regency Government.

All matches in the PON Martial Arts 2025 will be broadcast via giant screen on Simpang Tujuh Kudus Square, as well as live broadcasts on TVRI and live streaming on Youtube PON Martial.