Raden Mas Soebandiman Dirdjoatmodjo, also known as Pak Dirdjo, was born on January 8, 1913 in the Paku Alam Palace, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. He is the first son of Raden Mas Pakoe Soedirdjo, great-grandfather of Paku Alam II. When he was 9 years old he mastered the palace's martial arts and was authorised to train his friends in the palace. In addition to learning pencak silat, he also learned traditional dance at the Palace of Paku Alam and became friends with Wasi and Bagong Kussudiardja.