Some movements reveal the influence of Balinese dances and performing arts like the Barong dance. Although the style is very much self-defence oriented, its practitioners also participate in modern competitions and have achieved some important victories in many regional, national and international tournaments. Bakti Negara was officially created on 31 January 1955 in Banjar Kaliungu Kaja of Denpasar, Bali by four freedom-fighters who were veterans in Indonesia's struggle for independence from the Dutch. They were Anak Agung Rai Tokir, I Bagus Made Rai Keplag, Anak Agung Meranggi and Sri Empu Dwi Tantra. The task of leading and managing Bakti Negara was given to Ida Bagus Oka Dewangkara. After 1968 Bakti Negara underwent a period of further development during the transition from the older to the new generation. The Lembaga Dewan Pendekar Bakti Negara gave I Bagus Alit Dira the mandate to systemise the teaching structure of Bakti Negara with the help of other instructors. Through a process of standardization and acculturation, Bakti Negara became an integral part of Banjar or village social organisation (seka), and entered the Balinese school system. Today it is practiced in almost every town and village in Bali.
"Bakti Negara" is an institutian for learning pencak silat with four material of education, they are :
- Sport, is aimed to form techniques of pencak silat wich has sport value for making healty and rearching sport echeivement.
- Self defense, is aimed to form self defence skill.
- Art, is aimed to form the aestetic skill of pencak silat.
- Mental Culviation, is aimed to strenghten self control.
"Bakti Negara" officially formed on 31 Januari 1955 took place at Banjar Kaliungu Kaja, Denpasar, Bali by four pendekars who were veteran combatant of Indonesian freedom, they are pendekar Anak Agung Rai Tokir, I Bagus Made Rai Keplag, Anak Agung Meranggi, Sri Empu Dwi Tantra, and Ida Bagus Oka Dewangkara was entrusted as the leader and management of "Bakti Negara" at the first time.
1968 was coloured by the progress of young pendekar of "Bakti Negara" in their maturity. This is periode of transition for "Bakti Negara" from the old generation to the rising generation, especially I Bagus Alit Dira assisted by I Made Mangkling, I Wayan Tambir, I Bagus Made Suenda, I Made Wirasana, I Made Dana, I Made Mariatha, Suhaemi, Anak Agung Ngurah Manik Astawa and other pendekars , made every effort to propagate "Bakti Negara".
To facilitate the spreading, Lembaga Dewan Pendekar "Bakti Negara" gave mandate to I Bagus Alit Dira assisted by the other pendekars to formulate the kinds of martial art movements in Pencak Silat that are mastered by the founder in a systematical istruction of "Bakti Negara" foundation techniques, adopted and accommudated art and religius norm in Bali to be life guidance.
United together in a new look and uniqe form with various "kuda - kuda" and artistic movement, weapon and self defence motion that are expressing the artistic culture of Bali, like Barong dance, Oleg, Baris Tumbak, Gebug Ende and the others. Throught the standardization process and the acculturation "Bakti Negara" has been becoming integral part of Banjar or country side social organisation (seka) and event has entered educational institute / school.
"Bakti Negara" has been studied by alot of people from different of gender, age, social status. The growth of "Bakti Negara" time by time is delightful, both in quality and quantity, has expanded to all of Bali, some areas in Indonesia like NTB and NTT, and also foreign countries and a good capacity of pesilat "Bakti Negara" to reach for acievement in so many regional, national and international event.
Website : http://www.baktinegara.com
