Physical condition profile of Indonesian national pencak silat athletes in special preparation and pre-competition in preparation for the 2025 sea games

Abstract

This study aims to describe the physical condition profile of Indonesian pencak silat national training athletes during the special preparation and pre-competition stages ahead of the 2025 SEA Games. Physical condition is a fundamental factor in supporting pencak silat performance which demands strength, endurance, speed, agility, and quick reaction time. The method used is the measurement of physical condition tests including VO₂max, speed tests, muscle strength, power, flexibility, and agility. The results showed that most athletes were in the Superior category in almost all test components, both in the special preparation and pre-competition stages. The Sit & Reach test, T-Test and 20-meter sprint consistently showed 100% of athletes were in the Superior category in both phases. The 3 Hop Jumps test showed a dominance of the Superior category in both phases, although in the pre-competition phase there was a decrease with the emergence of 1 athlete (7%) in the Poor category. The Push Up and Sit Up tests showed an increase, marked by an increase in the proportion of athletes in the Superior category in the pre-competition phase. Meanwhile, in the pre-competition phase of the Bleep test, there was a decrease where 1 athlete was in the fair category and 14 athletes increased from excellent to superior from 1 athlete to the superior category. The results of the study are expected to provide an overview of the level of physical readiness of athletes in the special preparation and pre-competition phases, as well as being a reference for coaches in developing advanced training programs.