Grandmaster Cacoy Canete’s
Long-Awaited Book “Eskrido” Now Available
By Jay de Leon

Originally published in WorldBlackBelt, 2004

     In a recent article, I featured Grandmaster Ciriaco “Cacoy” Canete as one of the living legends of Filipino martial arts (FMA). And indeed he is. He is a second generation grandmaster of the original “Doce Pares Club” formed in 1932, and is considered one the storied fighters of his time. He was an amateur boxer and wrestler, as well as a master of several traditional martial arts including Kodokan judo, jiu-jitsu, shorin-ryu karate, kung-fu and aikido. He served in the military, seeing action in World War II as a guerrilla. It is this spectrum of knowledge of several arts coupled with his fighting experience that has made his style a unique and formidable one. Manong Cacoy has called this style, developed over the years, as “Eskrido.”

     For years, both his peers and his students have been urging him to publish a book or produce a video of his system. On his trip to the U.S. this year, Manong Cacoy has ensured that this book became available. I have had a chance to review it, and the wait has been worth it.
     The book is soft cover, with about 170 pages. In addition to the usual short biography, picture gallery and accolades for Manong Cacoy, there is a short history of “Eskrido.” This section is interesting for two reasons. Manong Cacoy describes a defining fight when “Eskrido” was born. You will have to buy the book to find out what fight this was. The second interesting item is a personal coincidence for me. Manong Cacoy describes his martial arts journey and the components of his system, in this sequence—Kodokan judo, kung-fu, shorin-ryu (Okinawa) karate, shotokan karate and aikido. That is the exact same sequence of my martial arts training, the only difference was, by the time I took up shotokan and aikido, I had immigrated to the US.  Okay, Manong Cacoy was much better at them; I was referring to the sequence.
     In his judo training, he mentions training under Yuichi Hirose (6th Dan), official representative of Kodokan Judo Institute from Tokyo, Japan. I remember sensei Hirose well; he was a distinguished-looking older gentleman who executed throws effortlessly, and was the first martial artist I saw with a red and white belt.
     What then is “Eskrido?’ In his book, Manong Cacoy explains that, etymologically, there are two derivations for the name. One is the martial arts components of the style, namely eskrima, jiu-jitsu and judo. And the other is from the terms Eskrima and “Doce Pares.”
     The essence of “Eskrido” is that, in addition to the normal strikes, blocks and disarms in a single or double stick encounter, “Eskrido” allows you to execute locks, arm bars, chokes, takedowns, throws, sweeps and come-alongs, just like in unarmed combat, except you do it with your stick or sticks, or in some cases, with your opponent’s stick. The key to success in executing “Eskrido” techniques is to destroy or break your opponent’s balance, control your opponent’s stick hand and body, and use and leverage his weight and momentum against him. If you notice, these are the very same principles used in unarmed combat in judo, jiu-jitsu or aikido. All of these techniques, then, will also work in an unarmed or empty hands situation.

Grandmaster Cacoy Canete (right)  executes an “Eskrido” technique. (Picture not from book).

     This book is meant for at least mid-level practitioners of the art. This is a technical, well-explained, how-to manual to execute specific “Eskrido” techniques. The techniques are broken down step by step, the instructions are clear and the pictures are extremely helpful. (All the pictures are of Manong Cacoy and his son Master Dennis). Needless to say, these are excellent, necessary skills to know at medium to close-quarters range in stickfighting, regardless of what your FMA style is.
     For advanced practitioners, here are some sample drill applications I recommend , using these “Eskrido” techniques. For your single-stick, counter-for-counter drills, when you see an opening, execute an “Eskrido” technique to its completion, either a disarm, or a lock, or a throw. That should end the counter-for-counter sequence and you start again, either taking turns or either person initiating the “Eskrido” technique. You can ratchet this drill up another level, by trying to counter the initial “Eskrido” technique, possibly seguing into stickgrappling.
     I highly recommend this book as a must addition to your martial arts library. But for us dojo rats, it will not spend much time in a bookshelf. It will be on the dojo floor with us, as we try to execute the beautiful moves of Manong Cacoy”s “Eskrido.”
     You may purchase this book at selected martial arts schools and at Manong Cacoy’s seminars.
     Manong Cacoy is now well into his eighties, yet maintains a daily regimen of arnis workouts and a grueling pace of seminars, training camps, and interviews, both in the Philippines and US. The week he sent me this book in September, 2004, he was scheduled to give a weekend seminar at the House of Champions, in Van Nuys, California.
     As a parting word, he wishes to thank his students and all his well-wishers for the tremendous support all these years, especially in his efforts to promote Doce Pares Eskrima, Eskrido and Pangamot. When asked about future projects, he mentioned the upcoming publication of a Revised Doce Pares Basic Eskrima, Espada y Daga (Stick and Dagger) and the 2nd edition of the Fastest Olisi Fighter. And as a final scoop for this report, coming soon will be Manong Cacoy’s biography written by Jun Canizares of Talisay City, Cebu, Philippines. Now that will be a real treat!