Martial Arts for Human Security and Empowerment: A Qualitative Study on the Benefits of Pencak Silat

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-571-3_7How to use a DOI?

Keywords

community empowerment; health promotion; local wisdom; mental health; pencak silat

Abstract

Health promotion and community empowerment require not only structural reforms but also the integration of local wisdom rooted in cultural heritage. Pencak silat, a traditional Indonesian martial art recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage, offers holistic benefits that go beyond mere physical exercise. This study aims to explore the contribution of pencak silat in enhancing health, instilling discipline, and shaping character, thereby demonstrating its potential for integration into promotive and preventive public health strategies. This qualitative study was conducted through in-depth interviews and participatory observations with pencak silat practitioners in Madiun, Indonesia. The total participants in in-depth interview are 25 people from 4 major matrial art school and The Indonesian Pencak Silat Association. Data were thematically analyzed. The analysis identified four interrelated qualitative themes: (1) physical vitality and preventive health benefits; (2) character formation and psychological resilience; (3) social cohesion and community empowerment; (4) cultural identity and human security. These results indicate that pencak silat contributes not only to physical health improvement but also to character development and individual mental well-being. Practically, the findings suggest that pencak silat can be leveraged as a culturally grounded platform for promotive and preventive interventions, including community-based physical and mental health programs, value-based youth education, and initiatives aimed at strengthening social cohesion and resilience. The integration of traditional martial arts such as pencak silat into health, education, and community development programs holds potential to support holistic, sustainable, and culturally grounded promotive and preventive mental health strategies.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Mulyadi Mulyadi
AU  - Purwati Purwati
AU  - Suryo Ediyono
AU  - Rohmaningtyas Hidayah Setyaningrum
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/06
TI  - Martial Arts for Human Security and Empowerment: A Qualitative Study on the Benefits of Pencak Silat
BT  - Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Multidisciplinary Studies 2025 (ICOMSI 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 75
EP  - 89
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-571-3_7
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-571-3_7
ID  - Mulyadi2026
ER  -