Lee Becker has been a student of Inti Ombak Pencak Silat for nearly two decades. A lifelong student of the martial arts, he has studied several styles including Tae Kwon Do, Tai Chi, Chinese Kung Fu and more. However Pencak Silat is the art that captures his attention and imagination.
Immediately after his first class with Guru Daniel Prasetya in 2004, he realized that silat could provide endless opportunities and avenues for exploration. Specifically he most enjoys silat’s emphasis on angles, footwork and mechanical principles. Lee’s commitment to silat has only grown since that first lesson, and he has also been fortunate enough to spend a year training with Guru Daniel’s brother Ki Poleng Sudahmala in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Within Inti Ombak Pencak Silat, Lee holds a 7th degree black belt.
Beyond his ties to his mother style, Lee also serves as Secretary-General for the United States Sport Silat Association — the governing body for pencak silat competition in the US.
[1] In Indonesian the word guru simply means teacher. This is one term of respect used for instructors in Pencak Silat, and does not necessarily carry spiritual connotations.