CEBU, Philippines - Thadd Kholenn Cañete, grandson Doce Pares Supreme Grandmaster Diony Cañete, ODL, has earned his rightful place in eskrima lore during a stiff blackbelt examinations at the Doce Pares World Headquarters over the weekend.
“It did not come easy for him to take the blackbelt testing. The Masters and GMs made sure he did not get the belt because he is a Cañete. It was a stringent written and practical examinations. He earned it with an overall score of 9.4,†said Doce Pares officer King Cortel.
Thadd Kholenn is the first fourth generation Cañete to earn a blackbelt degree after SGM Diony ODL, GM Andres Cañete, Masters Michael Cañete, Reynan Cañete and Gerald Cañete.
He is truly bound to carry the legacy of his forefathers. His great grandfather GM Eulogio Cañete, Sr. is the founding president of the first Filipino martial arts organization, the world-renowned Doce Pares which has a following of at least 25 countries worldwide.
Thad Kholenn topped the blackbelt class including Japanese Hideyuki Kaneko and Italian Vito Zullino.
Kaneko has trained with topnotch instructors since November last year before deciding to take the belting exam.The Bologna-based Zullino, on the other hand, trained since April 1. He is expected to lead the group of Filipino martial artists in Italy during the 2014 World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF) Championships in Debrecen, Hungary. (FREEMAN)