Pencak Silat in the world

Pencak Silat has developed rapidly during the 20th century and has become a competition sport under the control and regulation Persilat (Partnership Pencak Silat Between Nations, or The International Pencak Silat Federation). Pencak Silat is being promoted by Persilat in several countries across 5 continents, with the aim of making martial arts became an Olympic sport. Persilat promoting Pencak Silat as an international sporting competition. Only members who are recognized Persilat allowed to participate in international competitions.

Now, some European national Pencak Silat federations together with Persilat has established European Pencak Silat Federation. In 1986 the first Pencak Silat World Championship outside of Asia, taking place in Vienna, Austria.

In 2002 Pencak Silat was introduced as part of program performance at the Asian Games in Busan, South Korea for the first time. World Championship latest was in 2002 took place in Penang, Malaysia in December 2002.

Apart from efforts to make Pencak Silat Persilat as sporting events, there's still plenty of traditional old schools of martial arts that developed under the name Silek and Silat in the various parts of the world. It is estimated that there are hundreds of streams (styles) and thousands of college.