Pencak Silat is a traditional Indonesian martial art that requires exceptional defensive skills, particularly in blocking techniques. Shadow fighting training has emerged as a potential method to enhance blocking speed and reaction time in athletes. This study aims to investigate the effect of shadow fighting training on blocking speed performance in Pencak Silat athletes. We conducted a quasi-experimental study with 30 Pencak Silat athletes, aged 18-25 years, dividing them into experimental (n=15) and control groups (n=15). The experimental group underwent 8 weeks of shadow fighting training (3 sessions per week, 60 minutes per session), while the control group continued regular training. Blocking speed was measured using reaction time tests and blocking movement analysis before and after the intervention. The experimental group showed significant improvement in blocking speed (p<0.05), with mean reaction time decreasing from 0.47±0.08 seconds to 0.32±0.06 seconds. The control group showed no significant changes (p>0.05). Post-intervention comparison between groups revealed significantly faster blocking speed in the experimental group (p<0.01). Conclusion: Shadow fighting training effectively improves blocking speed in Pencak Silat athletes and can be recommended as a supplementary training method for enhancing defensive performance.
Downloads
- Akbar, S., Soh, K. G., Jazaily Mohd Nasiruddin, N., Bashir, M., Cao, S., & Soh, K. L. (2022). Effects of neuromuscular training on athletes physical fitness in sports: A systematic review. Frontiers in physiology, 13, 939042.
- Avanzino, L., Gueugneau, N., Bisio, A., Ruggeri, P., Papaxanthis, C., & Bove, M. (2015). Motor cortical plasticity induced by motor learning through mental practice. Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience, 9, 105.
- Castaño-Zambudio, A., Repullo, C., & Jiménez-Reyes, P. (2024). Enhancing Acceleration Capabilities in Professional Women’s Football Players: A Comparative Analysis of Game-Based Versus Resisted Sprint Trainings. Applied Sciences, 14(22), 10327.
- Chen, Y., Li, L., & Li, X. (2024). Correlation analysis of structural characteristics of table tennis players' hitting movements and hitting effects based on data analysis. Entertainment Computing, 48, 100610.
- Cid-Calfucura, I., Herrera-Valenzuela, T., Franchini, E., Falco, C., Alvial-Moscoso, J., Pardo-Tamayo, C., ... & Valdés-Badilla, P. (2023). Effects of strength training on physical fitness of olympic combat sports athletes: a systematic review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(4), 3516.
- Corrado, S., Tosti, B., Mancone, S., Di Libero, T., Rodio, A., Andrade, A., & Diotaiuti, P. (2024). Improving mental skills in precision sports by using neurofeedback training: a narrative review. Sports, 12(3), 70.
- Deng, N., Soh, K. G., Abdullah, B., Huang, D., Xiao, W., & Liu, H. (2023). Effects of plyometric training on technical skill performance among athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Plos one, 18(7), e0288340.
- Fadilah, A. N., Syafikah, N., Ismalasari, R., Rochmania, A., Hafidz, A., & Ashadi, K. (2021). The Comparison of Strategies for Physiological Recovery Coach and Province Level Fencing Athlete during the Pandemic Covid-19. In ISMINA 2021: Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Sports, Health, and Physical Education, ISMINA 2021, 28-29 April 2021, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia (p. 204). European Alliance for Innovation.
- Franchini, E., Cormack, S., & Takito, M. Y. (2019). Effects of high-intensity interval training on olympic combat sports athletes' performance and physiological adaptation: A systematic review. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 33(1), 242-252.
- Gumienna, R., Machowska-Krupa, W., & Kosendiak, J. (2024). Speed of performing complex movement tasks under decision-making conditions as a determinant of the tactical preparation level in kickboxers. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 3002.
- Havenetidis, K., Bissas, A., Monastiriotis, N., Nicholson, G., Walker, J., Bampouras, T. M., & Dinsdale, A. J. (2023). Combining sport and conventional military training provides superior improvements in physical test performance. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 18(5), 1567-1576.
- Kartomi, M. (2011). Traditional and modern forms of pencak silat in Indonesia: The suku mamak in Riau. Musicology Australia, 33(1), 47-68.
- Kurniawan, M. F., Ihsan, N., Irawan, R., Puta, A. N., & Ockta, Y. (2024). Development of android-based self-assessment application for basic pencak silat techniques. Research and Development in Education (RaDEn), 4(2), 863-875.
- Leech, K. A., Roemmich, R. T., Gordon, J., Reisman, D. S., & Cherry-Allen, K. M. (2022). Updates in motor learning: implications for physical therapist practice and education. Physical therapy, 102(1), pzab250.
- Li, L., & Smith, D. M. (2021). Neural efficiency in athletes: a systematic review. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 15, 698555.
- Mahlangu, S. B., Mathunjwa, M. L., Millard, L., & Breukelman, G. J. (2024). Essential visual skills required for boxing: A review. African Vision and Eye Health, 83(1), 981.
- Manoarfa, R., Duhe, E. D. P., Hidayat, S., & Pulungan, K. A. (2022). Pengaruh Latihan Hollow Sprint dengan Latihan Shadow Fight Terhadap Daya Tahan Atlet Pencak Silat. Jambura Sports Coaching Academic Journal, 1(1), 1-7.
- Martin, Ș. A., Gavra, M. G., & Martin-Hadmaș, R. M. (2024). Analyzing Targeted Muscle Strength: Impact on Speed, Endurance, and Performance in Female Volleyball. Applied Sciences, 14(23), 10951.
- Maryono, O. O. (2023). Pencak Silat in the Indonesian archipelago. Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia.
- Milazzo, N., Farrow, D., & Fournier, J. F. (2016). Effect of implicit perceptual-motor training on decision-making skills and underpinning gaze behavior in combat athletes. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 123(1), 300-323.
- Mojtahedi, D., Dagnall, N., Denovan, A., Clough, P., Dewhurst, S., Hillier, M., ... & Perry, J. (2023). Competition anxiety in combat sports and the importance of mental toughness. Behavioral Sciences, 13(9), 713.
- Moore, B., Dudley, D., & Woodcock, S. (2023). The Effects of a martial arts-based intervention on secondary school students’ Self-Efficacy: A randomised controlled trial. Philosophies, 8(3), 43.
- Moreira, P. E. D., Dieguez, G. T. D. O., Bredt, S. D. G. T., & Praça, G. M. (2021). The acute and chronic effects of dual-task on the motor and cognitive performances in athletes: a systematic review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(4), 1732.
- Mubarak, J., Yudistira, S., Solechah, S. A., & Norhasanah, N. (2023). The Relationship between Physical Activity and The Level of Physical Fitness of Pencak Silat Athletes. Sport and Nutrition Journal, 5(1), 50-58.
- Mulyana, B., & Lutan, R. (2021). The lost inner beauty in martial arts: a pencak silat case. The International Journal of the History of Sport, 37(12), 1172-1186.
- Prasetyo, Y. T., Cahigas, M. M. L., Patrick, E., Rodney, M., Nadlifatin, R., & Persada, S. F. (2024). Indonesian martial artists’ preferences in martial arts schools: Sustaining business competitiveness through conjoint analysis. Plos one, 19(4), e0301229.
- Roderick, I. (2009). Bare life of the virtuous shadow warrior: The use of silhouette in military training advertisements. Continuum, 23(1), 77-91.
- Sañudo, B., Sánchez-Hernández, J., Bernardo-Filho, M., Abdi, E., Taiar, R., & Núñez, J. (2019). Integrative neuromuscular training in young athletes, injury prevention, and performance optimization: a systematic review. Applied Sciences, 9(18), 3839.
- Sinulingga, A., Kasih, I., Hasibuan, S., Daulay, D. E., & Abdullah, N. M. (2024). Unveiling technology’s integral role in pencak silat: A systematic literature review. Journal Sport Area, 9(1), 20-29.
- Schöllhorn, W. I., Rizzi, N., Slapšinskaitė-Dackevičienė, A., & Leite, N. (2022). Always pay attention to which model of motor learning you are using. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(2), 711.
- Theofilou, G., Ladakis, I., Mavroidi, C., Kilintzis, V., Mirachtsis, T., Chouvarda, I., & Kouidi, E. (2022). The effects of a visual stimuli training program on reaction time, cognitive function, and fitness in young soccer players. Sensors, 22(17), 6680.
- Wang, R., Li, Q., & Xue, W. (2024). Effects of small-sided game training on lower limb explosive strength in handball players: a single-arm meta-analysis. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 6, 1477347.
- Yearby, T., Myszka, S., Grahn, A., Sievewright, S., Singer, A., & Davids, K. (2024). Applying an ecological dynamics framework to mixed martial arts training. Sports Coaching Review, 1-28.
- Zhao, W., Wang, C., Bi, Y., & Chen, L. (2021). Effect of integrative neuromuscular training for injury prevention and sports performance of female badminton players. BioMed research international, 2021(1), 5555853.
Copyright (c) 2025 M. Irfan Hasanuddin

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Similar Articles
- Nur Najemunnisa, Ahmad Adil, Andi Ridwan, Physical and Cognitive Predictors of Badminton Short Serve Mastery in High School , ETDC: Indonesian Journal of Research and Educational Review : Vol. 5 No. 4 (2026): September
- Naila Ardianti, Mustamin Mustamin, Saharuddin Saharuddin, Predictive Role of Industrial Practicum and Organizational Experience on Career Readiness of TVET Students , ETDC: Indonesian Journal of Research and Educational Review : Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026): September - December
- Suwardi Suwardi, Sudiadharma, Nurussyariah, Muh. Adnan Hudain, Juniarto Jamaluddin, Knowledge of Game Rules and Speed on The Performance of South Sulawesi Association Football Referees , ETDC: Indonesian Journal of Research and Educational Review : Vol. 3 No. 2 (2024): March
- Iqbal Nasir, Muhyiddin Tahir, Baso Akbar, Leadership Style of the Head of Religious Affairs Office in Fostering Employee Discipline: An Islamic Education Perspective , ETDC: Indonesian Journal of Research and Educational Review : Vol. 3 No. 2 (2024): March
- Ajeng Ajeng, Rinto Rinto, Nurwanti Fatnah, The Effectiveness of PjBL-STEAM Using GeoAI Media: Junior High School Students' Creative Thinking Skills , ETDC: Indonesian Journal of Research and Educational Review : Vol. 4 No. 4 (2025): September
- Sitti Habibah, Visionary Leadership Styles of School Principals in the Era of Independent Learning: Challenges and Implementation Strategies , ETDC: Indonesian Journal of Research and Educational Review : Vol. 5 No. 1 (2025): December
- Joseph B. Quinto, Via Amor B. Perillo, Joyline N. Saldo, Deviant Grammatical Features of Philippine English: Acceptance among Educated Philippine English Users , ETDC: Indonesian Journal of Research and Educational Review : Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026): September - December
- Dilan Oksahmi ZT, Ahmad Adil, Andi Attsam Mappanyuki, The Influence of Explosive Power, Flexibility and Self-Confidence on the Smash Skills of Badminton Athletes at High School , ETDC: Indonesian Journal of Research and Educational Review : Vol. 5 No. 3 (2026): June
- Akbar Yusuf, Arifuddin Ahmad, Muh. Sabir Maidin, The Values of Physical Education from the Perspective of the Hadith , ETDC: Indonesian Journal of Research and Educational Review : Vol. 5 No. 3 (2026): June
- Amalia Septyani Amirullah, Ummiati Rahmah, Yasser Abd Djawad, Pedagogical Efficacy and Psychomotor Impact of Wokwi Simulation-Based Interactive E-Modules in Mechatronics Vocational Education , ETDC: Indonesian Journal of Research and Educational Review : Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026): September - December
<< < 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 > >>
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.


















