Joko Suseno





Pendekar Manggala Joko Suseno born in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in 1963. He trains in Pencak Silat Tapak Suci since 1975. He holds the Title of "Pendekar Utama" in Pencak Silat Tapak Suci, the fourth of fifth Master Titles. He is the youngest Pendekar Utama ever promoted in Indonesia.

Joko Suseno studied Educational Psychology in the Yogyakarta College of Education with focus in counselling and sports didactics. After his graduation, he taught 5 years in a Yogyakarta High School. During his Pencak Silat studies, he passed teachings in breathing techniques and traditional massage.

In 1986 he won the National Tapak Suci Championship held in Surabaya in the Art Class and Self-Defence Class. Since then he has participated in many seminars and training courses and was appointed as National Coach for Pencak Silat in the Sports Category in 1989 and in the Art and Self-Defence Category in 1992. As National Coach he prepared many Pencak Silat fighters from the Region of Yogyakarta for National and International Pencak Silat tournaments and Championships..

In 1990, Joko Suseno was sent to Europe by the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI) as an Instructor for the European Pencak Silat Association in order to help spread Pencak Silat in Europe. In 1999, he became Tapak Suci Technical Director for Europe. At the same time, he built up the Pencak Silat Tapak Suci Headquarters in Bonn, Germany. In October 1999, Joko Suseno was promoted National Technical Director for the German Pencak Silat Association PSUD (Pencak Silat Union Deutschland). In this function he has been participating as National Coach in the Pencak Silat World and European Championships and in the yearly German Championship. He has been teaching in many seminars in several countries and has participated in several Budo Gala demonstrations.

Notable instructors of Pencak Silat Tapak Suci who Pendekar Joko Suseno had the privilege to train and work with include:

  • T.Hadi Santoso, his own Grandfather from 1975 - 1977
  • Pendekar Utama Suharto from 1977 - 1997
  • Pendekar Utama Tenis Prasetyo from 1979 - 1981
  • Pendekar Besar M. Barie Irsjad from 1986 -2002
  • Pendekar Besar M. Rustam Djundab since 1986
  • Pendekar Besar Buchori Achmad from 1986-1990
  • Pendekar Besar Ismail Fadilah from 1992 -1998