Grandmaster Alfredo Bandalan Sr.

Grandmaster Alfredo Bandalan Sr. was born in Hawaii on the Island of Lanai in 1939. His introduction to Eskrima came at the hands of his Grandfather Pedro Blanko who was from Mandawi, Cebu. Although his Grandfather never actually taught him Eskrima, feeling it too dangerous an art, Grandmaster Bandalan did catch glimpses of his grandfather's Eskrima style during demonstrations at family gatherings and when he played childish pranks on his Grandfather.

In 1975, he met Grandmaster Angel Cabales in Livingston, California and trained with him and his Guro Mike Inay. He had continued his training in Hawaiian Kenpo, and in 1975, Professor Marino Tiwanak awarded him his Black Belt. Professor Tiwanak is the second Filipino to receive his Black Belt from Prof. William Chow, considered the foremost Master of Hawaiian/Chinese Kenpo. In 1976, Professor Tiwanak, founder of the Central Hawaiian Activities III (C.H.A. III.), awarded Grandmaster Bandalan his Chief Instructor ranking and designated him head of the San Jose Chapter of C.H.A. III Kenpo.

During this time Grandmaster Bandalan felt that Eskrima in America was limited. Early in 1977, Grandmaster Bandalan wrote to the Philippines asking for information on Eskrima. His letter was forwarded to Doce Pares and he received his first reply from Grandmaster Cacoy Canete. Within a month Grandmaster Diony Canete arrived in San Jose, California and Grandmaster Bandalan received his first training in Doce Pares. Later that year, Grandmaster Bandalan flew to Cebu and was greeted by all the Doce Pares masters. Grandmaster Bandalan was fortunate to be allowed to see The Book of the Doce Pares. Later, Grandmaster Bandalan was invited to, and attended, the 50th Anniversary of Doce Pares. This was documented in a special BBC television documentary of Doce Pares.

Grandmaster Bandalan is considered the Doce Pares original founding member here in the United States and knows the history of Doce Pares in depth. In 1988, Inside Kung Fu did an exclusive interview with Grandmasters Bandalan and Grandmasters Diony Canete.