International Pencak Silat Federation

• Asian Pencak Silat Federation (APSIF)
• European Pencak Silat Federation (EPSF)
• Pencak Silat Federation of Americas (PSFA)
• African Pencak Silat Federation (APSF)

Tanding sparring is a full contact event that takes place on a 10 x 10 meter matted arena inscribed with a circular match ground that is 8 meters in diameter. Tanding matches are carried out in three two-minute rounds. Competitors wear black uniforms and black body torso protectors covering the chest, ribs, and back. Attacks to the head are not permitted. Technical points are weighted as follows:

• 1 point - Successful and visible hand attack / contact (punch, hand-strike, elbow strike, etc.)
• 2 points - Successful and visible leg attack / contact (kick, knee-strike, etc.)
• 3 points - Successful dropping technique (throw, sweep, scissor, etc.)

To obtain a technical score, an athlete must apply the Pencak Silat Principle wherein attacks are linked together with Step Patterns (Pola Langkah) and On Guard Positions (Sikap Pasang).[9][10]

In 2021 the IPSF updated tanding rules to include a wider variety of permissible techniques, added emphasis on the ``Pencak Silat Principle``, and additional ground techniques and submissions.[9][11]

The tunggal or solo performance event requires the athlete to perform Jurus Baku Tunggal, a pre-defined solo routine that showcase a variety of pencak silat moves. The jurus consists of three sections: 1) empty hand, 2) golok and 3) toya (staff). Performances are judged objectively on the presence of all required sections and motions, time (3 minutes +/- 5 seconds) and subjectively on stability, stamina, comprehension and depth of motion.[12]

In the ganda or choreographed pairs performance a duo of athletes perform their own specially choreographed routine consisting of any combination of attack and defense sequences. In 2021 permissible weapons were expanded to include a wider variety of weapons hailing from Southeast Asia including, but not limited to cambuk/pecut (whip), clurit (sickle), golok (machete), knife, kerambit, toya (staff), tekpi / cabang (truncheon/sai)[11][12]

Regu or synchronized group performance features a trio of athletes performing Jurus Baku Regu, a pre-defined routine in sync as a team. Regu features a showcase of Pencak Silat motion, but unlike the Tunggal category is performed solely empty-hand without weapons.[12][10]