Life Skill Development through Pencak Silat Martial Arts Training: An Intentionally Structured Positive Youth Development Program

Abstract

Pencak silat is a contemporary general term used in Indonesia, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asia countries to mention hundreds of traditional and modern martial arts which are performed either by a solo player or a duel, with or without musical background. One type of Pencak Silat in Indonesia is Tapak Suci. This research aimed at investigating the impact of Tapak Suci Training Model with Positive Youth Development based training in developing Life Skills for Athletes. This research was experimental research involving 56 athletes who were divided into two groups, 28 athletes for the experimental group and 28 athletes for the control group. The research instrument used was life skill questionnaires involving 35 questions about emotional skills, goal setting, problem-solving and decision making, leadership, and respect. Data analysis was done descriptively and a t-test was employed to investigate the different impacts between the two groups. The results showed that Tapak Suci Pencak Silat Training Model implemented in the experimental group gave a higher impact on the life skill transfer for athletes compared to the control group. This research concludes that Pencak Silat Tapak Suci Training Model is proved to be an effective effort for life skills transfer among athletes. In addition, the employment of programed exercises is recommended to be implemented for individual life skills transfer.