GM Dionisio 'Diony' Cañete

Grandmaster Dionisio Cañete belongs to the second generation of the famous Martial Arts advocates, the Cañete brothers of Cebu City, Philippines. He is the youngest son of GM Eulogio (Ylong) Cañete, the principal organizer of Doce Pares, who headed the organization since its founding in 1932 until his death in June 1988. Dionisio began his lessons in the Filipino Art in 1946 at the age of eight from his father and brother Iluminado, the eldest of the five children (four sons and a daughter) of Eulogio and Irenea Aventurado. He studied under GM Felimon 'Momoy' Cañete and later with GM Ciriaco 'Cacoy' Cañete, both brother of his father. He also
trained with GM Vicenter Carin and Maximo Cañete.

In 1950, during the Golden age of Boxing in Cebu, he was attracted to the sport and for five years regularly sparred and trained with several good amateur and professional boxers at that time. In 1957, together with his brothers, Dionsio was introduced to Kodokan Judo. In 1960, immediately upon his election as one of the officers of Doce Pares, rules on the acceptance of students and membership were liberalized. They started to promote and develop Arnis to a wholesome spectator's sporting event. In 1969 at the age of 22, he passed the Bar Examinations and became a fully-fledged lawyer.

In 1975, he initiated the formation of the Cebu Eskrima (Arnis) Association. All major Arnis clubs in Cebu banded together for the first time. In succeeding to organize and band together all the top Arnisadors, Dionisio, in effect, sort of 'civilized' the fighting-oriented masters and curbed them to learn to co-exist for the sake of the Filipino Art. In 1989 he was selected as sportsman of the year by the Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC). In this year the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF) was organized. He was elected Charter President.

During tournaments he prepared the tournament rules and designed the appropriate protective gear. Dionisio has pruned down his active participation in various activities related to Arnis. His private gym in Cebu, however, remains a popular training place for students and instructors, especially those coming from other countries. He sees to it that the visitors are well attended to and are assured of learning what they want to know about the art. He still makes himself always available to render service to WEKAF and NARAPHIL.