GM CASIMIRO “CHINGI” GRANDEZA, THE “FATHER OF KARATE IN NEGROS” AND THE 1ST FILIPINO GRANDMASTER OF TANG SOO DO

Written by Western Visayas' premier martial arts writer James U. Sy jr. at the request of FMA circle of negros Island.

Casimiro “Chingi” A. Grandeza Sensei, the founder/chief instructor of the famed White Kimono Karate-do Club, can lay claim as the teacher of most karate black belts and instructors in Negros. His students include George A. Gargalicano (Hiraken Tang Soo Do), Enriquito B. Maguad Jr. (Renbukan), “Berting” Garde (Mastodon), and Elmer V. Montoyo (Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association) among others. Grandeza Sensei is universally acknowledged as “The Father of Karate in Negros.”

Grandeza Sensei’s White Kimono was affiliated to the All Japan Karate Federation (AJKF) under its President Kainosuke Watanabe Sensei and Chief Instructor Koichi Kondo Sensei.

In the late 1964, Grandeza Sensei corresponded with Grandmaster Hwang Kee, the founder of Moo Duk Kwan, with the introduction of Col. Gregorio Agaloos

In 1968, Grandeza Sensei received an invitation from GM Hwang Kee, through the Bacolod City mayor, to attend a special training course for masters in Seoul, South Korea only offered once in every 10 years.

After one and a half months of rigid training from 4:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M., Grandeza Sensei was promoted to 6th dan black belt, appointed as Black Belt Commissioner, and licensed to establish the Philippine Chapter of the Moo Duk Kwan. Grandeza Sensei was the first Filipino to learn and become a grandmaster of tang soo do.

Upon the establishment of the Philippine Moo Duk Kwan Inc.-Korea Tang Soo Do Association, Master Grandeza affiliated his organization with the World Moo Duk Kwan Korea Tang Soo Do Association.

Master Grandeza went on to establish Korean Tang soo do and the Philippine Moo Duk Kwan Inc.-Korea Tang Soo Do Association in Bacolod City, Negros, and outwards to other parts of the Philippines. The Philippine Moo Duk Kwan held the most organized martial arts tournaments during those times. It had organized several national tournaments and had produced a lot of great fighters.

Truly, the history of Negros martial arts will not be complete without mentioning Grandmaster Casimiro “Chingi” A. Grandeza, a true pioneer, a master of masters.