Wona Sumantri, President

Wona Sumantri is currently the head instructor of Silat Martial Arts Academy and the president of the USA Pencak Silat Federation. Kak Wona Sumantri has been studying pencak silat for over 30 years and comes from a family of pencak silat practitioners. His native roots are of Sundanese ethnicity of West Java. He was born in Jakarta, Indonesia and raised in the USA. He was exposed to pencak silat through his father who trained in a traditional West Javanese pencak silat called Cimande. His knowledge of pencak silat draws respect from pencak silat practitioners from different styles in Indonesia. Over the years he has studied various pencak silat systems that includes Panca Sakti (West Java), Cimande (West Java), Harimau Singgalang (West Sumatra), and Al-Azhar Seni Bela Diri (East Java). Kak Wona frequently travels to Indonesia to continue and expand his pencak silat training. He has an understanding of both Indonesian and American cultures. He frequently performs demonstrations at various local events and teaches seminars.

A. Malik Ahmad, Vice President

Abdul-Malik is currently the vice president of UPSF and has been practicing Pencak Silat  since he was 15 years old. He is the founder of the Pencak Silat Virginia branch in 1999 and has taught over 100 students.  A. Malik has studied in Silat Indonesia with great masters such as Pak Rifai (Cimande) and Pak Ismail (Takap Suci and Al-Azhar). A. Malik has competed in internationally in martial arts competitions and has won first place in many tournaments. He was the first American to compete in the World Pencak Silat tournament in Indonesia and then the following year in Thailand in both Tanding (sparring) and Seni (artistic). In 2014, Abdul-Malik and instructor Kak Wona Sumantri were the first Americans to complete and pass the Wasit (Judge/Jury) course to be able to referee Pencak Silat tournaments. He officiated both as a judge and jury in the 2014 World Pencak Silat tournament in Phuket, Thailand and again in 2016 in Bali, Indonesia.

Richard Subaran, Vice President

Richard Subaran joined pencak silat in 1988. He was one of the first Americans to join Pencak Silat under the perguruan Al-Azhar Seni Bela Diri. He obtained his instructor level under former Al-Azhar head instructor Kak Ocenk Basri. He continues to train and teach and promote Pencak Silat in the USA and was in the corner during the well-known “Silat in Octagon” match. In 2014 and 2016 he was one of the coaches for the USA national Pencak Silat team. In 2016, as a coach alongside Alpha Pereira, Richard Subaran was able to help athlete Adam Pereira to win Bronze medal at the 17th World Pencak Silat Tournament. He has also represented the USA Pencak Silat Federation at the 4th Indonesian Diaspora Congress in Jakarata where he was able to meet former president Barack Obama in person.

Poppy Budhiastuti, Secretary

Poppy Budhiastuti Poppy has practiced Silat for over 3 decades and has taught and tested many students including several current Silat instructors. She was one of the organizing members for USA team at the world 17th Pencak Silat Tournament in Bali, Indonesia in 2016. Poppy was born in Indonesia, and came at an early age to the USA to study. Her accomplishments in Pencak Silat include being part of demo team for Silat Martial Arts Academy and teaching women self-defense seminars in 2015. She has also trainied with Kak Jojo and Bang Sam who are members of Persaudaraan Pencak Silat Salamun Alaikum (PPSSA) and Steven Benitez who is the founder of the Satria Fighting Arts.

Salahudin Tauhidi, Treasurer

Salahudeen Tauhidi began studying Pencak Silat in the late 70’s with the perguruan Al-Azhar in Washington, DC. Since then he has continued his training at the Pencak Silat Martial Arts Academy in Maryland and also with Kalimasada, an internal form of Silat. He was one of the organizing members for USA team at the world 17th Pencak Silat Tournament in Bali, Indonesia in 2016, and trained and tested for one part of his Black Belt test with Kak Jojo and Bang Sam who are members of Persaudaraan Pencak Silat Salamun Alaikum (PPSSA). He also has a strong interest in health and wellness and encourages fellow Silat practitioners to accompany their training with proper dieting. Despite being in his 60’s he continues to train in Pencak Silat.

Erna Pereira

 Erna Mulyatno-Pereira was born in Indonesia, but came to the USA at an early age. Her family has strong roots in Pencak Silat, particularly in Silat Betawi and Tiga Berantai. She is a relative to the well-known Pencak Silat star Iko Uwais (Merantau, Raid, Raid 2,  Beyond Skyline). She was one of the organizing members for USA team at the world 17th Pencak Silat Tournament in Bali, Indonesia in 2016. Her daughter and son were both members of the USA team. Amanda Pereira competed in Tunggal or single person form and her song Adam Pereira competed in Tanding or sparring and won bronze medal for team USA.