Supreme Grand Master Ciriaco ‘Cacoy’ Canete opened and hosted the International Mixed Martial Arts Seminar held in Cebu City, Philippines from 7th – 9th March 2008. Martial artists from a dozen countries including, Australia, USA, Germany, England, Indonesia, Mexico, Philippines, Poland and Guro Leigh Jenkins representing New Zealand, gathered to cross sticks at the seminar nicknamed "the Gathering."
Supreme Grand Master Ciriaco ‘Cacoy’ Canete is a 12th Degree Black Belt and is world famous for surviving over 100 bloody duels of no rules, no armour stick fights from the 1940’s to the 1960’s. Over the three day period the Supreme Grand Master, 88 years of age demonstrated his arts of Eskrima, Eskrido and Pangamot Ju Jitsu with grace and precision. He impressively had the better of men a quarter of his age using the rattan stick, following up with a cheeky smile and the words “you try;” a challenge to his awestruck students.
Los Angeles based Grand Master Richard Bustillo, actor, movie star and student of the great Bruce Lee, taught Lee’s Jeet Kune Do. Grand Master Vince Palumbo of Adelaide taught Boxing and Pangamot, a system devised by the Supreme Grand Master which uses only bare hands in disarming against bare handed or weapon attacks. Chuck Cañete, Supreme Grand Master Cacoy’s Grandson, taught and explained how Eskrima was the form of Martial Arts used by Lapu-Lapu against the Spaniards at the battle of Mactan in 1521. Eskrido uses the techniques of Cacoy Eskrima, integrated with the other forms of martial arts like Judo/Jujitsu/Aikido/Karate, as well as incorporating advanced fighting techniques using the rattan stick from Filipino Stick Fighting. Finally, Australian expatriate Grand Master Anthony Kleeman taught the techniques of Kick Boxing and Eskrima.
At the conclusion of the seminar, Supreme Grand Master Canete promoted New Zealand’s Guro Leigh Jenkins to Master Level, 6th Dan Black Belt in Doce Pares Eskrima. This was a tremendous honour bestowed on Guro Jenkins. He now joins a small number of elite and highly ranked Cacoy Martial Artists around the world and is the only New Zealander to ever receive a Master rank in this discipline.
Another highlight of the seminar was the emotion filled inaugural Doce Pares Hall of Fame Ceremony held at the Holiday Plaza Hotel in Cebu with the majority of male delegates dressed in traditional formal attire, the “barong” shirt. Sixty four people from around the world were inducted into the Hall of Fame including Master Jenkins who was awarded Most Valuable Law Enforcement Instructor of the year. Grand Master Vince Palumbo, 9th Degree Black Belt and Master Jenkins’ Instructor, was honoured with the award of Most Notable Martial Arts Competitor of the year.
At the conclusion of training in the Philippines, Master Jenkins traveled to Hong Kong for a further two weeks of intensive training in Wing Chun Kung Fu. Master Jenkins has over 20 years experience in Wing Chun and considers Hong Kong to be his second home. It was in Hong Kong in 1995 when he became a fully qualified Sifu in Wing Chun under the guidance of his Sifu Yip Ching and Sibak Chu Shong Tin.
Earlier this year, the Chinese Government invited Master Jenkins to have his image included in the Chinese Wushu Stamp Album in appreciation of his contribution and achievement in Chinese Wushu. The Stamp Album is to be published worldwide before the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
If you would like to learn more about the art of Doce Pares Eskrima, Stick Fighting or Wing Chun please contact Master Leigh Jenkins at:
NZ Wing Chun & NZ Cacoy Doce Pares
11 Bernard Street, Addington, Christchurch, New Zealand
Ph: +64 [0]3 338 9032 or +64 [0]27 226 4045
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.nzwingchun.com
