THE FOUNDER OF C.D.P.W.F. ORGANISATION: SUPREME GRAND MASTER CIRIACO 'CACOY' CANETE! 12th Degree Black Belt Cacoy Doce Pares Eskrima

Supreme Grand Master Ciriaco 'Cacoy' Canete is a 12th Degree Black Belt rank, and he lives on the Island of Cebu which is in the Philippines, and he's world famous because of all  his over 100 'No-Rules' stickfighting matches that he had in the 1940's,1950's, and 1960's.
Supreme Grand Master Cacoy Cañete, was born in August 1919 in San Fernando which is some 30 kilometers south of Cebu City, which is on Cebu Island, in the Philippines.

He's the youngest of twelve children, and at the age of seven he was initiated into Eskrima training, learning from his brother "Momoy" who in turn learned this fine art of Eskrima from his father Gregorio, and from the uncles on both sides of his mother's and father's families.

Because of Cacoy's real open mindedness and desire for knowledge, he has also trained in many different styles of Martial Arts such as- Ju Jitsu, Boxing, Kung Fu, Judo, Wrestling, Aikido, and Karate, so with all this training, his acknowledge and spectrum of skills through a life-time of practice, he has gained a deep insight, and a broad understanding of combat.

And with all this culmination from years of learning, he has now fused it into the style that he now calls 'Eskrido', because this style combines the very essential basics from all of the different martial art techniques that he has learned over the very many years of his training.

The Filipino's all believe that he is linked by blood lineage to Rajah Lapu Lapu, who was the Chieftain of Mactan Island near Cebu, and this Filipino famous warrior killed the Spanish explorer by the name of Ferdinand Magellan at the famous battle of Mactan Island in 1521, this is when the very first fleet of Spaniards tried to invade/conquer the Philippine Islands.

Rajah Lapu Lapu and his many warriors all rebelled against the foreign aggression to their Island, and they fought against that very first attempt of the Spanish invasion of their land.

The Filipino warriors only fought with fire hardened rattan sticks, spears and hand made swords to fight against the advanced weapons of the Spaniards which then consisted of the Cannons, Rifles, Pistols and Sabre Swords, and yet the Filipino's still won that battle. 

Rajah Lapu Lapu had the final showdown of that battle when he fought against the leader of the Spanish expedition, the explorer Ferdinand Magellan, and it was there at that real epic duel, that the skills of the Philippines was really put to the test against that fine swordsman.

Rajah Lapu Lapu and Ferdinand Magellan fought eachother on the beach at Mactan Island, and it was there that Lapu Lapu killed Magellan, when he cut his enemy's head off with his sword called a Kampilan, and it was rite at that moment of the battle when it all just stopped momentarily, just as the Chieftain Lapu Lapu held up Magellan's head up to show everyone,

and he yelled these words, " I bow before no Spanish King, my allegiance is to my people!"

The Filipino tribe all cheered out loud as the Spanish fled to their boats, and left the island!

Lapu Lapu was described by a Spanish chronicle writer known as Antonio Pigafetta, and he described him as using a very superior combat form of stick and knife fighting that the natives called Pangolisi, and it is documented that Lapu Lapu was the first acknowledged Master of Filipino Stickfighting, and this fighting art has been passed down from generation to generation, and with that bloodline of lineage always going back to Chieftain Lapu Lapu.

The great Supreme Grand Master Cacoy Canete was taught the art of Pangolisi by his own  father and uncles, then they were taught by their fathers, so it goes rite back to Lapu Lapu!

When Supreme Grand Master Cacoy Canete walks down the street in San Nicholas, all of the people living in that area will bow their heads to their great Filipino warrior icon, and the children will run up to him in the street so as they can get his blessing from his 'God Hand'.

This is because all of the locals really believe that he has got the blood of Lapu Lapu in his veins, so they show respect to their stickfighting hero and Supreme Grand Master of Cebu.

When I received the title of 'Grand Master' from the Supreme Grand Master Cacoy Canete, it makes me a part of the lineage that goes rite back to the era of Lapu Lapu in 1521, and this honour allows me to become one of few Westeners to get that real great priveledge.

I am a product of all the great warrior men before me, and I shall strive to continue teaching this Filipino martial art, and to always give reference to Lapu Lapu, Doce Pares Eskrima, Ciriaco 'Cacoy' Canete and his brothers that established the famous Doce Pares Society.

Salamat Po Manong Cacoy!