Leuven - Vechtsportzaal - Dojo - Sportzaal - Kwoon

Doce Pares

Circa Cañete, or 'Cacoy' as he is known by his Filipino nickname, was born in August 1919 in San Fernando approximately 30 kilometers south of Cebu City, on Cebu Island, in the Visayas region of The Philippines. He was the youngest of twelve children. At the early age of seven he was initiated into Eskrima, learning from his brother Filemon or "Momoy" who had in turn learned Eskrima from his father Gregorio and uncles Gavino, Pedro (from his fathers family) and Juancho (from his mothers family). Because of his open mindedness and desire for knowledge, he has trained in many different styles of Martial Arts. Some of the styles he has learnt include Ju Jitsu, Boxing, Kodokan Judo, free style wrestling, Shorin Karate and Aikido. With his acknowledged spectrum of skills through his lifetime of training, he has gained a deep insight and a broad understanding, with mastery of the concepts of self defence and combat. The culmination of years of learning fused into the style that he teaches which is called 'Eskrido'. This style combines the refined essential elements of every martial art he has learned through his life.

Ciriaco Cañete's Eskrido Doce Pares syllabus: Single, double stick, and stick/dagger single person patterns or katas. Ammara/ Pinki Pinki double stick training routines (drills sometimes called Sinawali in the northern regions of the Philippines), breakfalls and throws. Stick and dagger defence, locks and throws. Semi free sparring in close, medium and long range with single stick and stick and dagger. Disarms are one of Cacoy's main emphasis.

Cacoy's Twelve Basic strikes; #1 top of head, #2 right temple, #3 left temple, #4 right ribs, #5 left ribs, #6 right waist, #7 left waist, #8 right knee, #9 left knee, #10 right cheek thrust, #11 left cheek thrust, #12 stomach thrust.

Doce Pares: 'Doce Pares' is an Eskrima/Arnis Martial Arts Club that was founded in Cebu City in January 12, 1932. Originally it was a breakaway group of students and instructors from the 'Labangon Fencing Club' of the 1920's which was influenced heavily by the Saavedra and Cañete families. The original instructors of the Doce Pares taught their own particular families, islands or regions styles of Eskrima and their particular interpretation of their own styles. The Doce Pares was made famous in the international scene during the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's by the Cañete family, especially Ciriaco 'Cacoy' Cañete. The term 'Doce Pares' is a Spanish term translated into English to mean 'Twelve Pairs'. This term the 'Twelve Pairs' has been given several meanings to it. One refers to the twelve basic strikes that are common to most Eskrima styles and schools and their twelve basic block and counters to these strikes. Another more romantic explanation is of the reference to the twelve pairs of 'Compadres', the bodyguards for the King Charlemagne and how the club should emulate the friendship of these warriors. The final explanation is that supposedly there were twelve original master members of the Club. There are no Grandmasters alive from the original founding members of the Doce Pares. However there are several senior instructors or Grandmasters of the second generation of Eskrimadors/Arnisadors still alive that teach their own interpretation or styles of Eskrima/Arnis within the club the Doce Pares.