Rizal received his early education from his mother and private tutors at home in Calamba. When tutor Leon Monroy passed away, Rizal's parents sent him to study at a private school in Binan under Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz. On his first day, Rizal defeated the school bully Pedro in a fight but later lost an arm wrestling match. While in Binan, Rizal also took painting lessons from Juancho, improving his art skills.