TAPAK SUCI ACROSS TIME” THE TRAJECTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF ISLAMIC MARTIAL ARTS IN SUKOHARJO (1963–2025)

Abstract

This study examines the development of Tapak Suci as an Islamic martial art in Sukoharjo Regency from 1963 to 2024. As part of Indonesia’s intangible cultural heritage, pencak silat functions not only as a form of self-defense but also as a medium for character formation and spiritual cultivation. Tapak Suci Putera Muhammadiyah emerges as a martial arts institution grounded in Islamic teachings, distinguished by its rejection of mystical practices and its emphasis on the purification of faith (aqidah). This research employs the historical method, encompassing heuristic data collection, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography, to trace its developmental dynamics. The findings indicate that Tapak Suci has experienced significant growth in Sukoharjo, serving both as a platform for youth development and as a medium of Islamic propagation (da’wah). The organization not only teaches martial skills but also instills values such as discipline, responsibility, leadership, and the strengthening of faith and morality. Through a rational, systematic, and non-syncretic approach, Tapak Suci has maintained its relevance amid competition with other martial arts schools, while contributing to the formation of a religious and ethically grounded society.