Guru Besar Rita Suwanda

I am the third daughter of Pendekar Uyuh Suwanda. I grew up in a family of martial artists. Every day I saw my father training with his students. My father was always kicking me out from training, because at that time, only men were allowed to practice pencak silat, because it is a hard art. I really like challenges and also loved pencak silat, so I always hid and learned by watching my father and practicing in secret. After he saw that I practiced seriously, my father finally let me practice pencak silat with him.

When I was 14 years old, I began to compete in every competition sponsored by IPSI. I became a champion in Kembangan and Olahraga. I then became active in the IPSI organization. After my father died, and my brother moved to the US, I taught in my own school and also developed the Pencak Silat Mande Muda program in Indonesia. Besides learning pencak silat from my family, I also studied with other pendekars in IPSI. My husband, Dadang Gunawan, is also one of my teachers, because he was one of my father's best students.

After my brother, Pak Herman's, death, I was selected by my family and the Pencak Silat Mande Muda organization in Indonesia to be the third leader of Pencak Silat Mande Muda International.

I thank Kathy Ohara who helped me with my first seminars in the US, and all of the students of my brother, and all those others who have helped me and promoted Mande Muda in Indonesia, the US and Europe.