Pencak Silat as a Medium for Student Character Formation in Physical Education

Abstract

Physical education is not limited to the acquisition of movement skills; it also provides a strategic context for developing character through structured learning experiences. This study aimed to describe how pencak silat learning was used as a medium for student character formation in secondary schools in Bengkulu City in 2023. A qualitative case-study approach was employed in Physical Education, Sport, and Health classes at two secondary schools that implemented pencak silat content. Participants were selected purposively and consisted of two physical education teachers and sixteen students. Data were collected through lesson observations, semi-structured interviews, and documentation of instructional materials, and were analyzed thematically through data condensation, coding, theme construction, and conclusion drawing. The findings identified six prominent character values: discipline, responsibility, respect, self-control, cooperation, and self-confidence. These values did not emerge from technical practice alone, but from repeated routines such as respectful greetings, compliance with safety rules, paired practice, post-lesson reflection, and teacher modeling. Character formation was strengthened when teachers consistently reinforced values, maintained a supportive class climate, and connected training experiences with students’ everyday situations. Pencak silat therefore has strong potential as a contextual medium for character education when character objectives are explicitly planned alongside movement-skill objectives.