Self-discipline, moral values, and social competence outcomes of pencak silat and martial arts in educational settings: a systematic review

Abstract

Character education has become a central concern for schools worldwide, and physical activity is increasingly proposed as a vehicle for cultivating moral and psychosocial qualities. Pencak silat and other martial arts are widely claimed to build discipline, respect, and self-control, yet the empirical basis for these claims has not been systematically consolidated. This review synthesises peer-reviewed evidence on the contribution of pencak silat and martial arts to students' character development and identifies which character traits are most frequently reported. Following the PRISMA 2020 guideline, a structured Scopus search identified 414 records; after duplicate removal and two-stage screening, 20 studies were included and appraised with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Studies spanned quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods designs across nine countries and were synthesised thematically. The evidence indicates that martial arts can foster self-regulation, values and moral character, self-esteem, and transferable life skills, although several rigorous studies reported null or adverse effects and outcomes depended strongly on pedagogical design and traditional emphasis. Values and moral character, self-regulation, and aggression regulation were the most frequently reported outcomes, while pencak silat remained markedly under-represented. Martial arts appear to be promising but conditional vehicles for character development, requiring intentionally designed, values-explicit programmes.