Master Vince Palumbo Receives The Title Of Grand Master

Vince Palumbo recently attended the 4th Annual Cacoy Doce Pares World Championships along with his Australian team-mates.

After several months of hard training Master Vince had a prepared a team of 9 other sport stickfighters also from Adelaide, all ready to get into the action in the Jakarta competition.

Over the days of the tournament Master Vince exhibited some great refereeing skills, which is an attribute to his 23 years of experience as a fighter.

As an observer it was an education to simply watch this man who was not afraid to get amongst the action in the “eye of the storm” when things were getting out of hand, and with his keen eye, combined with his discipline and focus, ensured that the fights in his ring were always clean bouts.

When it was time to get into the ring himself and to compete, thats when Master Vince showed everyone why he had previously acquired the nickname “Master Blaster”.

Anyone who has experienced a blow from Master Vince’s stick, knows exactly what it means to be struck by lightening or as the Filipino’s like to call it “kilat”.

The man is a powerhouse and his opponents will be the first to testify to this with the “trophies” they acquire in the form of stripes and lines on their various body parts. (Through the armour!)

Master Vince’s flurry of strikes frequently leave his opponents feeling bewildered and wondering what exactly struck them, and when will it be their turn to strike back?!

Master Vince entered into several different fight categories for the 2007 World Championships and overall he hauled a swag of medals back to Australia.(13 including 9 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze!)

Some of these medals were for the forms event, again demonstrating the diversity of skill which this man possesses, not only is he incredibly tough, but the man can be graceful too!

On the presentation evening, this is when the the Supreme Grand Master Cacoy Canete then awarded Master Vince with the well-deserved title of ‘Grand Master’, and he was also awarded the high rank of 9th Degree Black Belt in Cacoy Doce Pares Eskrima, and the 8th Degree Black Belt in Cacoy Pangamot.

There is frequently a discussion in martial arts circles about whether or not Masters and the Grand Masters should compete in these types of tournaments. As a martial arts student there is nothing more compelling and inspiring than seeing the art of Stick Fighting in action in the hands of an experienced fighter.

It is an inspiration to see an instructor “walking his talk!”

The precision and finesse, not to mention speed, power and accuracy of each strike is a big step-up from the stick-work one witnesses at the beginner’s level.

GM Vince has now had in total over 200 fights in the combat sports fighting arena, and this includes his 100 stick-fights as well.

Grand Master Vince must be complimented on his vast array of skill, as a gifted teacher (for adults and children) as a referee or judge on an International level, and as a mentor for the lives of many that really look up to him.

The Australian team would like to congratulate Grand Master Vince on his tremendous efforts.

He’s come a long way from the beginning of his training in 1974 as a junior boxing and gymnastics student!

I often hear GM Vince say the words: “To dream is to believe, so go dream, do believe, and then try hard to achieve!”, and I must say that he is living testimony to this quote.

Andrea sparring Vince