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GRANDMASTER VINCENTE CARIN
Doce Pares
Vicente Carin is one of the most popular grandmasters of Doce Pares and his track record in real Eskrima confrontations is legendary. Many grandmasters talk about their rela fights in the past, the so-called death matches, but many times there isn't any proof. Carin's fights on the contrary are very well-known and many Filippinos can tell you about them. Carin was taught Eskrima at an early age by his famous uncle Ponciano "Ponsing" Ybañez. During World War II he fought against the Japanese, where he was able to test his skills in man-to-man combat. After the war he started training under grandmaster Momoy Cañete of Doce Pares. Momoy Cañete immediately recognised his great talent and skills and made him senior instructor in the Doce Pares organization almost instantly.
Carin fought many fights and most of the time he got out totally inharmed. One fight is much worth mentioning though, which took place a long time ago on may 19, 1950. Carin was invited by a friend to visit a party in Mabolo in Cebu. What he didn't know was that his friend was surrounded by a band of enemies from that neighbourhood. Carin tried to help out his friend, but his friend managed to escape. Now he was on his own. Carin doesn't remember how many people he fought, but the police report stated there were more then 10 attackers.
They were armed with knives, sticks, stones, chairs and tables. Carin himself was unarmed. Carin disarmed one of them and used the knife against his opponents. The fight ended when the police arrived. One of his attackers was seriously injured by the knife and some others ended up in the hospital. One of them died later on. Carin himself was also seriously injured and everyone assumed that he had died ans his family took him to the mortuary.
Eulogio Cañete, president of Doce Pares at that time, heard the news and rushed over to the mortuary. He had the feeling that carin was still alive and took him to the hospital. On the way over there Carin started breathing again and regained consciousness. He survived no less then 10 wounds caused by knife attacks, although some of these wounds alone would have been serious enough to kill a man. Carin believes that God kept him alive for a special reason, but of course it was also due to his amazing Eskrima skills that he got through it alive. Carin always claims he is the one who fought the most matches to life and death, and nobody disagrees. He earned a lot of respect by all other grandmasters this way and he will be remembered as a legendary Eskrima warrior.
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