Actor Cecep Arif Rahman Showcases Indonesia's Pencak Silat in Kazakhstan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Embassy in Astana, Kazakhstan, once again presented a series of cultural promotions, a day after the successful ASEAN Summer Festival, through a Pencak Silat Workshop held at the Indonesian Cultural Center in Astana on August 24, 2025.

The collaboration event between the Indonesian Embassy in Astana and the Indonesian Ministry of Culture was part of the celebration of Indonesia's 80th Independence Day and the 32nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Kazakhstan.

The Pencak Silat Workshop was directly led by an artist, martial artist, and international actor, Cecep Arif Rahman, who was attended by more than 150 participants, ranging from 6-year-old children to 84-year-olds.

The popularity of Indonesian Pencak Silat has spread widely in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, the United States, and Japan. As of 2019, more than 70 countries worldwide practice Silat as a sport. Meanwhile, around 140 countries use traditional Pencak Silat as the basis for their martial arts.

In Kazakhstan, Pencak Silat has also experienced rapid progress and has been officially recognized by the National Olympic Committee in the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan as one of the martial arts disciplines since 2019.

The Secretary of the Republic of Indonesia Ambassador to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, Andi Zulkarnain, stated that when he met people in Kazakhstan, they always mentioned two things related to Indonesia: Bali and The Raid, a film showcasing the martial art of pencak silat. "It is for this reason that we brought its 'star' here. Because diplomacy is the 'art of presenting what is liked,'" said Zulkarnain as quoted from Antara, on Friday, August 22, 2025.

The Pencak Silat Workshop event was attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, Fadjroel Rachman, the Secretary of the Directorate General of Diplomacy, Promotion, and Cultural Cooperation of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Insan Abdirrohman, as well as the Vice President of the Pencak Silat Association of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Saken Nariman.

Ambassador Fadjroel emphasized that Pencak Silat is not only a martial art but also a symbol of Indonesian cultural values that uphold sportsmanship, friendship, and peace. This was followed by the support provided by the Silat Body Protector and the Pencak Silat Book from the Ministry of Culture, Insan Abdirrohman, to the Pencak Silat Association of Kazakhstan, as strong support from Indonesia for the development of Pencak Silat in Kazakhstan.

On the same occasion, the Bestarmak Club Team from the Astana Federation, led by Mr. Zhannat Tuyakbaev, also presented souvenirs to the Indonesian martial arts team led by Kang Cecep as a symbol of friendship and appreciation for the close cultural collaboration.

Profile of Cecep Arif Rahman

According to IMDB, martial artist and actor Cecep Arif Rahman, born on August 18, 1972, in the Garut Regency, West Java, has not only appeared in the film The Raid 2. He has also starred in various films, including those on an international scale.

After successfully appearing in The Raid 2 in 2014, Cecep also appeared in the films Alif, Lam, Mim, and Skakmat in 2015. In the same year, Cecep also appeared in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens.

Subsequently, in 2016, he appeared in three films at once, namely Pre Vis Action as an Assassin, Iseng as John, and Juara as Kobar. Not only that, Cecep also appeared in the short film The Gate as Rafael and O: Ther Organization.

In 2018, Cecep appeared in the film 212 Warrior as pirate B agaspati. The following year was Cecep's best year. In addition to appearing in the TV Series Strike Back as Jericho and the film KL Vampires as Rudi Hikayat, Cecep also appeared in two major films, Gundala and John Wick: Parabellum. In John Wick, Cecep engaged in a martial arts scene with the film's star, Keanu Reeves.

In 2021, Cecep Arif Rahman played as Ki Jempes in the film Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash. The following year, Cecep starred in three films simultaneously, namely Satria Dewa: Gatotkaca as Pandega, Qodrat as Rochim, and Emergency Landing. In 2025, Cecep also appeared in Qodrat 2.

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