The International Silat Championship is scheduled to take place on 2 December in Bali, Indonesia. Following their win at the Egyptian Silat National Championship in 2015, Ahmed El-Zoghby and Abdel Rahman Ramadan have qualified for the upcoming competition.
Silat is an ancient Southeast Asian martial art that is believed to have been formed in part by observing the movement of animals.
It originally developed in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore. In addition, it is traditionally practiced in Brunei, central Vietnam, and the southern Philippines, and is a sport in the Southeast Asian Games. Silat spread to Egypt in 2011, since which five branches under the supervision of the Indonesian Cultural Center in Egypt have been established. These five branches are located in Dokki, Zahraa Madinet Naser, Zahraa Masr El-Adima, Alexandria, and Banha.
While the Silat Association does operate in Egypt, there is as of yet no federation in the country.
In cooperation with the Union of Media Women in Africa, the Silat Association organises self-defence classes for women, so that they may defend themselves from sexual harassment, violence, and abuse.
Nada Matrawy, a member of the media department at Egypt’s Silat Association, told Daily News Egypt, that they have an estimated 600 registered Egyptians practicing silat.
Several silat demonstrations are held in Egypt to promote the martial art, the most famous of which are held at the Indonesian embassy, the Cairo Opera House, Damanhur Opera House, Cairo University, and El Sawy Culturewheel.
In Indonesia, the national organisation responsible for silat is called Ikatan Pencak Silat Indonesia (IPSI); in Malaysia it is called Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan Malaysia (PESAKA); in Brunei it is called Persekutuan Silat Brunei Darussalam (PERSIB); and in Singapore it is called Persekutuan Silat Singapura (PERSISI).
