Pencak silat is an individual sport that fosters a more personal relationship between the athlete and coach. This is because the coach tailors the training program to suit the specific needs of each athlete. The bond between athletes and coaches is crucial in the realm of sports. Effective communication serves as the bridge between an athlete and their coach once a relationship has been established. Effective communication is essential in our lives as social beings. This is especially true in the field of sports, where clear communication can make all the difference. In this research, we will be focusing on the sport of pencak silat. Every coach possesses unique communication style when it comes to training their athletes. Similarly, athletes have their own preferences when it comes to the type of coach they prefer. This research utilized the approach of Ethnography of Communication. The purpose of this research is to investigate whether the communication style of a coach has an impact on the performance of athletes in the field. This research was conducted to examine the culture within the Tapak Suci Sports Academy, specifically in the context of the sport of pencak silat. The collected data results indicate that the coach's acknowledged and utilized culture has an impact on the athletes’ performance during competitions. Some examples include how nonverbal communication are used to convey messages to athletes during training session or competition.
Keywords: communication style, pencak silat athlete, coach, interpersonal communication.