Guardian Girls Pencak Silat (GGPS), a Women's Empowerment Project Through Indonesian Traditional Martial Arts, Launches Globally!

On May 18, 2026, at the Japanese Ambassador's Residence in Jakarta, Indonesia, the international NGO 'Guardian Girls International (GGI)' and the International Pencak Silat Federation (IPSF or PERSILAT) officially launched the global project 'Guardian Girls Pencak Silat (GGPS)' aimed at empowering women and girls. This initiative is a global effort to promote the safety, confidence, leadership, and gender equality of women and girls through Pencak Silat, an Indonesian traditional martial art that was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2019. The President of IPSF is H.E. Prabowo Subianto, the President of the Republic of Indonesia. Furthermore, the Chairman of the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI), the founding body of IPSF and a member of the federation, is H.E. Sugiono, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, symbolizing the strong support of the Indonesian government for the international development of Pencak Silat. At the launch ceremony, a global agreement (MOU) previously signed by Shin Koyamada, Co-founder, President, and Secretary-General of GGI, and Teddy Suratmadji, Secretary-General of IPSF, was presented in the presence of Benny G. Sumarsono, Chairman of IPSF. The ceremony featured addresses from the following guests: Mr. Hikaru Myochin (Chargé d'Affaires ad interim, Embassy of Japan in Indonesia), Mr. Shin Koyamada (Co-founder, President, and Secretary-General of Guardian Girls International), Dr. Verania Andria (Deputy Representative, UNFPA Indonesia), Ms. Zelda Wulan Kartika (Senior Advisor for Economic Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia), Mr. Raja Sapta Oktohari (President, Indonesian Olympic Committee), and Mr. Kazumi Inami (Director, Japan Foundation Jakarta). The venue was attended by many stakeholders, including officials from the Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora) and the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), UN agencies, women's organizations, sports organizations, educational institutions, and civil society organizations, demonstrating high expectations for international collaboration towards women's and girls' empowerment. Established in Jakarta in 1980, IPSF is an International Federation (IF) with member countries and regions in over 80 nations, promoting the spread and development of Pencak Silat in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania. In Japan, the Japan Pencak Silat Federation is the only IPSF-recognized National Federation (NF) as a member organization of Guardian Girls Japan. Additionally, IPSF and the Indonesian government have set the future adoption of Pencak Silat as an official Olympic sport as a key goal, with President Prabowo actively promoting this vision under 'Pencak Silat Goes Global: The Road to the Olympics'. GGPS is an international project that promotes the safety, independence, and leadership development of women and girls through Pencak Silat. Going forward, GGI and IPSF will collaborate with national Pencak Silat federations, government agencies, UN bodies, educational institutions, and local communities to implement GGPS Seminars (short-term projects), GGPS Academies (medium to long-term projects), GGPS Women's Leadership Training Courses, and GGPS International Exchange Programs, contributing to the empowerment of women and girls. This project aims not only to contribute to the promotion of cultural and sports exchange between Japan and Indonesia but also to advance the empowerment of women and girls worldwide, fostering the next generation of female leaders, developing local communities, and realizing a peaceful and inclusive society. The ceremony also featured a Pencak Silat demonstration by newly certified Indonesian female instructors, showcasing self-defense techniques, discipline, leadership, and its value as Indonesian culture. Comment from Shin Koyamada: 'Pencak Silat is more than just a martial art; it symbolizes cultural identity, discipline, resilience, and unity. Through this historic partnership with IPSF, we aim to provide new opportunities for women and girls and share Indonesia's proud cultural heritage with the world.' Following the global launch of GGPS, GGI, IPSF, and the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI) held the first GGPS Instructor Training Course at 'Padepokan Pencak Silat Indonesia' in Jakarta, known as the headquarters of Pencak Silat. Female instructors from across Indonesia participated, learning about women's empowerment, leadership, safeguarding, and self-defense education in local communities using Pencak Silat. At the opening ceremony, Chairman of IPSF Benny G. Sumarsono and Secretary-General of GGI Shin Koyamada gave speeches, emphasizing the importance of developing female leaders and international cooperation. Upon completing the practical and educational programs, participants were certified as GGPS-certified instructors. A strategic meeting was also held involving officials from IPSF, IPSI, GGI, and Guardian Girls Indonesia (GGNC).