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artial arts from foreign cultures are gaining ground in Jakarta, becoming a serious competition for traditional Indonesian martial arts like Pencak Silat.

Brazilian Capoeira, Brazilian Jiujitsu, Japanese Jiujitsu, Japanese Aikido, Chinese Wushu, Israeli Krav Maga, Russian Sambo and Thailand Muay Thai are examples of foreign martial arts adopted by many Jakartans and practicing the martial arts is now a trend in the city.

Gusffi Eranu, 25, a Krav Maga instructor for Komando Indonesia, said these forms of martial arts were adopted because of its simplicity.

“People are more interested in these forms of martial arts because they are more practical than the local one as the latter require people to memorize many moves,” he said. Gusffi added that many foreign martial arts, including the Israeli hand-to-hand combat technique, was easy to learn.

“Not to mention that classes for these martial arts are easy to find. Many of them open classes in fitness centers and gyms,” he said.

Gusffi trains 50 students in three classes held at the Tiger Shark Fighting Club dojo in Pejaten, South Jakarta, a studio in BSD City in Serpong and Adria fitness center in Bintaro, both in outskirts of Jakarta.

Ponco Nugroho, 28, who joined Gusffi’s class, thought that practicing Krav Maga was more trendy today.

“Hollywood action movies influenced people in choosing the forms of martials arts they would adopt,” he said. It is also easy to get information about these martial arts from YouTube.

Ponco chose Krav Maga because it was more practical for self-defense against street crimes.

Paul Andrew Steven Wilson, 25, founder of Viva Brazil Capoeira training center, said that to attract more students, he mixed his lesson with dance classes.

“I treat Viva Brazil as a production house. It is now an entertainment and cultural training center which provides martial arts and dance classes,” he said.

Paul and his trainers hold training sessions in hip spots like the Cilandak Town Square, FX Mall and Citraland Mall. Couple with Capoeira’s exoticism, students come in drove. “Capoeira is an ancient Brazilian martial art that combines Brazilian music and dance with self-defense and acrobatics, just like Pencak Silat,” he said.

Lukas Simanjuntak, 26, a lawyer and a Brazilian Jiujitsu instructor for Synergy Academy, said that popular demand had heighten the popularity of foreign martial arts.

More than 100 students join Brazilian Jiujitsu classes under Synergy Academy, which now has many studios in Greater Jakarta area.

People study martial arts for different reasons, Lukas said. “Some want to get into shape, others want to get some exercise, want a new hobby, want to meet new people or fight stress.”

Galih Iman, 28, a lawyer who teaches Pencak Silat Paseban-Pengasinan in his home in Manggarai, Central Jakarta, said that people had a wrong perception on the traditional martial art.

“Imported martial arts are considered traditional in their countries of origin. Many people still perceive Pencak Silat as old-school and too steeped in mysticism.”

He said that Pencak Silat was a practical and effective martial art, just like other martial arts, Galih added. “Many people only see Pencak Silat from the surface but never dig deeper. I blame this on Pencak Silat instructors, some of whom teach only parts of their knowledge,” he said.

Galih, who teaches five students at his house, emphasized that many of Pencak Silat schools were exclusive and secretive.

“Some Betawi Pencak Silat schools prohibit such skills from being shown in public, while other martial arts are easily found in fitness centers or shopping malls in the city,” he said.

Another problem hampering Pencak Silat development is its vague methods of instruction.

“Many schools have no exact skill level, while other martial arts have precise training periods in which to determine student progress or level of skill,” he said. (ipa)