GRANDMASTER ARNULFO "DONG" CUESTA

Founder and Head Instructor of PIMA Academy

Over 38 years of experience in Filipino Martial Arts
Promoted to the level of Grandmaster in Spring 2006
9th grade Black Belt in the Doce Pares Multi-Style System
Doce Pares Multi-Style System Dean of Instruction and one of the original founding/signing members
President of WEKAF USA, 1994-1995
Head Coach of the USA Eskrima Team competing at the Second WEKAF World Championship
World Champion, Single and Double Stick Sayaw (Forms), First WEKAF World Championship, 1989
Martial Arts Choreographer - Off Broadway Show Peregrinasyon, 1998
Featured in "Martial Arts: The Real Story" a documentary that aired on The Learning Channel (TLC) , 2000

In 1981, the National Arnis Association of the Philippines (NARAPHIL) hand-picked GM Cuesta to leave his hometown of Cebu City in order to promote the Doce Pares Multi-Style System in the United States. He became involved in Eskrima at the age of 13 as a way to avoid a gang he joined and no longer wanted. After ending up as a runaway living in Pasil, the most notorious part in Cebu (akin to Tondo in Manila), and with members of his gang arrested for murder, Dong decided to take advantage of an old offer from Grandmaster Cacoy Cañete to join and practice at his gym. Dong began training in the Doce Pare System with GM Cacoy’s son, Edgar, who was concentrating on dumog (joint locks and takedown). Though his initial goal was to acquire enough knowledge to defend himself against his old gang, Dong’s love for and sincere dedication to the art continued to bloom even after the gang broke up, and his skill developed rapidly.

GM Momoy Cañete took note of Dong’s impressive talent and dedication and offered to personally train him. GM Momoy trained Dong in solo baston, doble baston, espada y daga, latigo, and combat judo, with an emphasis on grace in execution and proper technique. Dong holds GM Momoy’s skill in the utmost regard and in fact owes the grandmaster his life. Using his expertise in oración, GM Momoy healed Dong when he became very ill; this experience gave Dong a new appreciation for the healing arts which would foster his later decision to become a massage therapist. During this time, Dong continued to have opportunities to practice with GM Cacoy Cañete who emphasized eskrido/dumog and sparring.

When GM Diony Cañete entered back into the Doce Pares scene after finishing law school and building a practice, he took Dong under his wing and GM Diony guided him in all of the Doce Pares sayaw (forms). To this day, Dong works closely with GM Diony to continue the spread and growth of Doce Pares internationally. Dong describes their relationship as one of “brothers” and, even though promoted to Grandmaster, Dong still prefers to be called Guro because he does not “want it to seem as if [he is] on the same level” as his mentor.

Dong’s favorite aspects of Eskrima are sparring and sayaw. He enjoys demonstrating that sayaw is an important training tool which improves strength, speed, and coordination of the hands, body, and feet. One of the goals he’d like to see accomplished in his lifetime is a unity between all Eskrima systems and Masters/Grandmasters for the sake of the art and its deep-rooted heritage. Until that day comes, GM Dong will continue to serve the greater good of the art.

Fall 2008: GM Dong is currently in his second year of a 4-year program to be a deacon in the Catholic Church. He is happily married to his wife of 24 years and has 4 grown children and a granddaughter. He can be e-mailed directly at dpares@comcast.net


Copyright © 2008-2010 doceparesusa.com. All rights reserved.\|\|779 Bergen Ave, Jersey City, New Jersey 07306 \| 201-432-6441