According to Soesatyo, Tarung Derajat, created by Achmad Dradjat, should be supported and preserved by the government and society for developing martial arts in Indonesia on the same lines as Thailand, with its Muay Thai; Korea, with Taekwondo; Japan, with Aikido; the Philippines, with combatants; and Brazil, with Jujutsu.
"Without the support of the government and the community, Tarung Derajat, which has more than two million members, could become extinct, as overseas martial arts are more popular. In fact, the quality and ability of Tarung Derajat throughout Indonesia and abroad are very powerful," Soesatyo noted here on Wednesday.
Tarung Derajat was acknowledged as a national sport by the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) in 1998 and has had branches in 34 provinces. In 2011, Tarung Derajat was introduced at the 26th SEA Games in Palembang.
Soesatyo also pointed out that Tarung Derajat has now become a popular martial arts sport in Indonesia and has begun to make its presence felt in several ASEAN countries, such as Malaysia, the Philippines, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand.
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According to Soesatyo, at least three steps can be taken to improve the achievements of Tarung Derajat athletes in Indonesia, with the first being the implementation of early networking and coaching for athletes, and secondly, gaining adequate experiences in several competitions.
Thirdly, support from the government and KONI, both at the central and regional levels, as KONI is tasked with managing, mentoring, and developing national achievements in sports.
"I hope that amidst the rapid globalization that can likely erase our local cultural values and wisdom, we will still be able to maintain and preserve Tarung Derajat, both as a true Indonesian martial art and potential sport for us to develop at the national, regional, and international levels," Soesatyo explained.
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Translator: M Ramdan, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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