The Legal Aspects of Formalizing the Sportization Development of Martial Arts Societies in Malaysia

October 15, 2025

•

by
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohamad Nizam Mohamed Shapie et al.
Leader, Combat Sports & Martial Arts Research Network (AIRBORNE)
Faculty of Sports Science & Recreation, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)

Name of Research:

The Legal Aspects of Formalizing the Sportization Development of Martial Arts Societies in Malaysia

Citations:

Hassim, J. Z., Shapie, M. N. M., Abdul Razak, S. N., Kassim, R. N. M., & Meng, L. K. (2022). IDO Movement for Culture. Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology, 22(2S), 1–12. DOI: 10.14589/ido.22.2S.1

Purpose of the Study:

To examine the legal status of martial arts societies in Malaysia and propose a framework for formalizing their sportization to promote structured development and international recognition.

Key Findings:

Current Legal Status:
- Over 2,000 martial arts societies exist in Malaysia, with 1,909 registered under the Sports Commissioner’s Office.
- Many societies are still registered under the Society Act 1966, not the Sports Development Act (SDA) 1997.
Challenges Identified:
1. Lack of National Governing Bodies:
  - 19 martial arts disciplines lack national representation, hindering sportization.
2. Conflicting Governing Bodies:
  - Disciplines like Taekwondo, Karate, and Silat have multiple governing bodies, causing confusion and legal conflicts.
3. Inconsistencies Between SDA 1997 and MASA 1976:
  - MASA 1976 is not enforced, leading to overlapping and unclear legal recognition of martial arts as sports.
4. Traditional Governance vs. Democratic Structures:
  - Martial arts societies often follow traditional leadership models (e.g., grandmasters), which conflict with democratic governance required by international federations.
Sportization Process:
- Defined as the transformation of martial arts into regulated, competitive sports.
- Requires registration under SDA 1997, adoption of modern competition rules, and alignment with international sports governance structures.
Quantitative Data:
- Martial arts societies at club (n=1144), district (n=363), state (n=361), and national (n=41) levels.
- Only 65.3% of state-level and 51.2% of national-level societies are registered as sports.

Practical Implications for Silat and Martial Arts:

Legal Recognition is Crucial:
- Martial arts societies must register under SDA 1997 to be recognized as sports and access government support.
Unified Governance Needed:
- Establishing single national governing bodies per discipline is essential for international representation and development.
Sportization Enables Growth:
- Formalizing martial arts as sports allows for structured competitions, talent development, and global participation.
Silat as a Model:
- Silat Olahraga is already recognized under SDA 1997, serving as a benchmark for other martial arts.

Tips for Application:

Athletes:

Join societies registered under SDA 1997 to ensure access to sanctioned competitions and development pathways.

Parents:

Choose martial arts programmes with legal recognition and structured governance for long-term athlete development.

Coaches & Administrators:

Align society constitutions with SDA 1997 and National Sports Policy 2009.
Advocate for unified governance and registration under the Sports Commissioner’s Office.
Promote sportization to elevate martial arts from cultural practice to competitive sport.