chapter III

SEPAK TAKRAW

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
a. Trace the brief history of sepak takraw;
b. Analyze the nature of the game;
c. Discuss the rules and regulations, and materials of the game; and
d. Familiarize with the basic skills of the game.

Lesson 1

Nature of the game

Sepak Takraw or “kick volleyball” is a sport native to Southeast Asia. Sepak Takraw
differs from the similar sport of volleyball in its use of a rattan ball and only allowing players
to use their feet, knee, chest and head to touch the ball. It is a popular sport in Southeast Asia.
In Malaysia, the game is called sepak raga or takraw, in Thailand it is called takraw.
In Myanmar, it is known as chin lone, and is considered more of an art as there is often no
opposing team, and the point is to keep the ball aloft gracefully and interestingly. In the
Philippines, besides takraw, it is also known as sipa, meaning to kick.
“Sepak” is the Malay word for kick and “Takraw” is the Thai word for a woven ball,
therefore sepak takraw literally means to kick ball. The choosing of this name for the sport
was essentially a compromise between Malaysia and Thailand, the two powerhouse countries
of the sport.

History of Sepak Takraw

The earliest historical evidence shows the game was played in the 15 th century’s
Malacca Sultante. For its mentioned in the Malay historical text. “Sejarah Melayu”(Malay
Annals). The Malay Annals described in details the incident of Raja Muhammad, a son of
Sultan Mansur Shah who was accidentally hit with a rattan ball by Tun Besar, a son of Tun
Perak, in a sepak raga game. The ball hit Raja Muhammad’s headgear and knocked it down
to the ground. In anger, Raja Muhammad immediately stabbed and killed Tun Besar,
whereupon some of Tun Besar’s kinsmen retaliated and wanted to kill Raja Muhammad.
However, Tun Perak managed to restrain them from such an act of treason by saying that he
would no longer accept Raja Muhammad as the Sultan’s heir. As a result of this incident,
Sultan Mansur Shah ordered his son out of Malacca and had him installed as the ruler of
Pahang.
 In Indonesia, sepak takraw was spread from nearby Malacca across the strait to Riau
islands and Riau area in Sumatra as early as the 16 th century, where it is called as Sepak Raga
in local Malay tongue, at that time some of Sumatran areas were part of Malacca sultanate.
From the Malay people spread across archipelago and introduced the game to Buginese
people in Sulawesi. Then the game is developed as Buginese traditional game which is called
“Raga”(the players are called “Pa Raga). The “Raga” can trace its own origin from Malacca
Sultanate. Some men playing “Raga” encircling within a group, the ball is passed from one to
another and the man who kicked the ball highest is the winner. “Raga” is also palyed for fun
by demonstrating some tricks, such as kicking the ball and putting it on top of player’s head
holds by tengkolokbugis(Bugis cloth headgear similar to Malay tanjak).
In the Philippines, the sport is called “sipa” and along with traditional martial arts
survived the three century Spanish colonization. It is a popular sport played by the children. It
was the Philippine national sport until it was replaced by Arnis in 2009. Sepak Takraw is
included in Philippine’s elementary and high school curriculum.
In Myamnar, or Burma, it was dubbed “Chinlone”, in Laos “Kator”, “Cau May” in
Vietnam and in Indonesia “Raga” or “Sepak Takraw”. It is believed that many variations of
the game evolved from Cuju, an ancient Chinese military exercise, where soldiers would try
to keep a feathered shuttlecock airborne by kicking it back and forth between two people . As
the sport developed, the animal hide and chicken feathers were eventually replaced by balls
made of woven strips of rattan.
The first versions of sepak takraw were not so much of a competition, but rather
cooperative displays of skill designed to exercise the body, improve dexterity and loosen the
limbs after long periods of sitting, standing and working.
By the 1940’s, the net version of the game had spread throughout Southeast Asia and
formal rules were introduced. This sport became officially known as “sepak takraw”.