What do pencak silat fighters wear?
Officials' detail · The match · 1 of 1Tanding is fought inside an 8 m circle on a 10 m square mat, 5 cm thick and light green. Pesilat wear a plain black uniform and a body protector in their corner's colour, red or blue, with their own groin guard. Thin soft joint guards are allowed but spectacles are not. A torn uniform must be replaced within 3 minutes.
How it works
- Mat: 10 m by 10 m, 5 cm, non-slip, light green with white lines.
- Fighting area: an 8 m circle inside the square.
- Corners: red, blue and two yellow neutral ones, with coach boxes.
- Uniform: black, no stripes, sleeves and trousers within 5 cm of wrist and ankle.
- Body protector: covers chest, abdomen, ribs and back; red or blue.
- Groin guard: compulsory, brought by each pesilat.
- Other gear: soft joint guards up to 1 cm; taping if approved; mouthguard with braces.
- Not allowed: spectacles; contact lenses need an eye doctor's note.
The glossary has the arena (pencak silat), the coach box, the attire (tanding), the body protector, the protective gear and the groin guard.
Tricky cases
Can a woman fight in a hijab?
Yes, if it is black and of the standard type.
May sleeves be rolled up?
No. Sleeves and trousers must stay down.
A uniform tears in round 2. What happens?
The pesilat has 3 minutes to change; taking longer is a moderate violation.
Can a pesilat wear glasses?
No. Contact lenses are allowed with an eye doctor's certificate.
Why the rule exists
A soft, marked mat makes drops safe and the area clear. Colour-coded protectors let jurors see at a glance who scored.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tanding | 8 m circle inside the square | Art 3.1 |
| Jurus | The whole 10 m square | Art 3.2 |
| 2013 rules | Black protector with coloured sash | IPSA 9.1.2 |
From the rule book
IPSF-PERSILAT, International Pencak Silat Competition Regulations Year 2026, Articles 3.1 to 3.3 and 4.1. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the PERSILAT competition regulations, 2026 revision.