MANILA, Philippines – Ciriaco "Cacoy" Cañete, a legendary Filipino martial artist, passed away on Friday, February 5, according to reports. He was 96.
Cañete reportedly died in a hospital due to the recurrence of his prostate cancer, which was diagnosed in 2008.
Cañete, a Cebu native, was the last surviving pioneer of the Doce Pares Eskrima Club, a Filipino martial arts organization founded in 1932 that "focuses primarily on stick fighting, knife fighting and hand-to-hand combat but also covers wrestling and other weapons."
The 12th degree black belt also developed his own version of the Doce Pares – the Cacoy Doce Pares Eskrima, which utilizes a 29-inch rattan stick.
Eskrima, which is also known as Arnis or Kali, is the national sport and martial art of the Philippines. – Rappler.com