Earlier this year, Kick Connection was proud to host Supreme Grandmaster Dionisio Canete, Grandmaster Andres “Kano” Canete, Grandmaster Felix Gutang & Master Jerald for a one day seminar. Supreme Grandmaster (SGM) Diony is one of Master Carlos Patalinghug’s primary influences and instructors in the Doce Pares Multi-Style System and the individual mostly responsible for the worldwide spread and propogation of Doce Pares as it is known today. Grandmaster Kano is the son of the infamous “Momoy” Canete, founder and master of San Miguel Eskrima, Grandmaster Felix was Grandmaster Cacoy’s top instructors and Master Jerald is the main class instructor at Doce Pares Headquarters in Cebu, Philippines. In the words of Guro Dan when they visited Los Angeles just a few weeks later, this is “Filipino Martial Arts Royalty.”
Kick Connection is my first martial arts school, starting with Taekwon-Do at their school in Reisterstown (formerly known as Karate International), then later training in Eskrima at the current school in Pasadena. Celebrating their 25th year in operation, I have been a student of the Patalinghug family now for more than 20 years. When I moved back to Maryland from California, Miss Maria, Mr. Carlos and the family welcomed me back with open arms and I’m proud to count them as my first teachers, not just in Filipino Martial Arts but in martial arts in general! While I remember them still as little children, Mr. Carlos’ own children have grown into incredible young men and women, all impressive in their own rights in Taekwon-Do, Eskrima and even in music and dance performance as JAGMAC.
I once heard someone say a long time ago, very early into my martial arts training that it is important that your instructors continue with their training as well. This connection, or chain of learning and knowledge is important to me and is easily apparent with the Kick Connection family, with their own links to both Doce Pares International and Cacoy Doce Pares, and even with the International Taekwon-Do Federation.
Shortly after moving to the Philippines many years ago now, my brother visited Doce Pares Headquarters in Cebu City and was warmly welcomed by SGM Diony himself. If the opportunity opens up to train with students or instructors in one of the oldest organizations of Filipino Martial Arts in the Philippines and throughout the world, be sure to take it.
LAKAS FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS 