Pencak Silat for Women
Strengthen your inner power with Pencak Silat, the Indonesian martial art that teaches women to defend themselves with elegance, focus, and self-confidence.
Find a School near youWhy Pencak Silat for women?
Realistic Self-defense
Learn to defend yourself in situations that really matter: on the street, in nightlife, everywhere.
Elegance & Strength
Graceful movements combined with explosive techniques. Powerful and beautiful at the same time.
Mental Resilience
Build self-confidence, learn to set boundaries and stand firmer in life.
Sisterhood
Train together with women who support, challenge, and inspire each other.
More than self-defense
Pencak Silat is a versatile Indonesian martial art that combines graceful movements, inner strength, and practical self-defense. While other martial arts mainly focus on physical strength, Pencak Silat offers a broader approach: it trains the body, mind, and character simultaneously.
For women, this is particularly valuable. The sport has three main forms, each offering something different: Tanding is the sportive sparring form focusing on technique and strategy. Seni involves rhythmic, expressive movements, often performed to traditional music, where each movement tells a story. And Bela Diri (self-defense) is aimed at realistic situations where you learn to protect yourself.
This combination makes Pencak Silat more than a self-defense course. It is a way to be stronger in life, both physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Schools with women's programs in focus
More and more Pencak Silat schools are offering an environment that is also welcoming for women. One perguruan stands out by focusing exclusively on women.
Panglipur Ratu Siliwangi
Amersfoort • Amsterdam • Huizen
Panglipur Ratu Siliwangi is a Pencak Silat perguruan that is entirely focused on women. Led by Dian Nurdini, an internationally experienced instructor, women train here in a safe, female environment in self-defense, strength, and self-confidence.
The approach of Panglipur combines traditional Indonesian martial arts with a modern view on empowerment. The training includes both Tanding (sparring) and Seni (art forms) and Bela Diri (practical self-defense). What makes the school special is the emphasis on sisterhood: women supporting, challenging, and growing with each other.
Locations
The three forms of Pencak Silat
Tanding
The sportive sparring form. Here, technique, tactics, and control are central. You learn to attack, defend, and move as an athlete.
Seni
The artistic side. Rhythmic, expressive movements, often to traditional music. Every movement tells a story. Power and elegance in balance.
Bela Diri
Practical self-defense. Focused on realistic situations, on the street or in nightlife, where you learn to effectively protect yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fighting art as empowerment
In recent years, the number of women in Pencak Silat has steadily increased. This is not surprising: the sport offers exactly what many women are looking for. Effective self-defense in a respectful environment, combined with cultural enrichment and physical challenge.
In the Netherlands, there are now several perguruan (schools) offering training where women feel welcome and safe. Panglipur Ratu Siliwangi in Amersfoort, Amsterdam, and Huizen focus exclusively on women, but even at mixed schools, there is increasing attention to an inclusive atmosphere.
Whether you want to learn to defend yourself, become fitter, or are looking for a sport that also strengthens your mental resilience: Pencak Silat is worth a try. Most schools offer free trial lessons so you can experience whether it suits you without any obligation.
Ready to get started?
Find a school near you and book a free trial lesson.