General (Ret.) Prabowo Subianto is a distinguished four-star retired army general and the current President of the Republic of Indonesia. A lifelong practitioner of Pencak Silat, he began training during his teenage years and has remained deeply connected to the martial art throughout his military and public service career.
He is also the founder of the Pencak Silat Satria Muda Indonesia, reflecting his commitment to nurturing the growth and preservation of traditional martial arts at both grassroots and elite levels.
In 2004, Mr. Prabowo was elected President of the Ikatan Pencak Silat Indonesia (IPSI), where his leadership brought remarkable progress to the sport nationally. One of the most notable milestones under his tenure was during the 2018 Asian Games, where Pencak Silat contributed an impressive 14 gold medals to Indonesia’s total tally of 31 golds.
Since 2010, he has served as the Chairman (President) of the International Pencak Silat Federation (IPSF – PERSILAT). Under his visionary leadership, the global expansion of Pencak Silat has accelerated significantly, with the number of affiliated national federations increasing from 40 to 82 countries by 2024.
In 2018, he launched the ambitious “Pencak Silat Road to Olympic” program, aiming to elevate the sport onto the global Olympic stage. This initiative targeted the inclusion of Pencak Silat as an exhibition sport at the 2024 Summer Olympics, with a long-term vision of achieving full competitive status in future editions, including Los Angeles 2028 and beyond.
Through his leadership, strategic vision, and unwavering dedication, General Prabowo continues to play a pivotal role in transforming Pencak Silat into a globally recognized and professionally structured sport.