Audy's Inspirational Story: ITB Student Wins a Bronze Medal at the National Championship XXVII 2023 Silat Perisai Diri
By Anggun Nindita
Editor Anggun Nindita
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id – Audy Firdausa, a second-year student in ITB's post-harvest technology undergraduate program, clinched a bronze medal at IPSI 2023 in the male F-class category at the National Championship XXVII 2023 Silat Perisai Diri. This competition awarded the rotating trophy of the President of the Republic of Indonesia. The event took place at a sports venue in Pajajaran, Bandung from Wednesday to Sunday (2-6/8/2023) and was hosted by the International Women University.
'Tanding IPSI' is a competition where two silat fighters face each other and engage in combat according to the rules set by the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI).
'Tanding IPSI' is a competition format present in nearly all silat schools in Indonesia, where class F is a classification based on body weight, with class F comprising fighters who weigh between 70-75 kg.
Despite having a relatively short preparation period of around 2-3 months before the competition, Audy and his team delivered an impressive performance. Audy mentioned that his preparation took place amid a hectic schedule, including his college classes.
For his training, he intensified his practices at ITB's sports facilities. He also mentioned that he increased the intensity as the competition day approached, shifting from his regular schedule of three times a week to nearly every day.
Audy's rigorous training involved not only his team's coach but also several other experienced coaches who each played a role in his success. One of them is Mr. Muhyi, the current head coach.
Other coaches include Mr. Mujiono, Mr. Akunc, Mr. Panji, along with a coach from Cimahi, Mr. Samsul, who played a special role in Audy's preparation for the 'Tanding IPSI' category.
During the preparation leading up to the competition day, Audy encountered numerous challenges. These challenges included recovering from typhus, with which he had recently fallen ill, and battling against the temptation of laziness in his training routine. Audy mentioned that he sought motivation by engaging in discussions and practicing with his fellow martial arts friends from ITB.
"To overcome laziness, I find enjoyment in practice, such as having more discussions with my fellow ITB friends from 'Perisai Diri'," he explained.
Furthermore, during his recovery from typhus, Audy made efforts to balance his diet by reducing the consumption of unhealthy foods and opting for healthier choices, as well as taking multivitamin supplements.
In addition to these challenges, Audy also had to juggle his training schedule with his campus organizational activities. Despite these hurdles, Audy's enthusiasm for competing never waned. Although he had to temporarily step back from certain organizational responsibilities, his determination ultimately paid off, resulting in his victory and a significant achievement.
Reporter: Hafsah Restu Nurul Annafi (Urban and Regional Planning 2019)
Translator: Sherina Wijaya
Editor: Vera C.U.