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TED LUCAYLUCAY Remembering a True Legend
Ted Lucaylucay REMEMBERING A TRUE LEGEND
By Allen Woodman
Photographs provided by Richard Lamoreux, Chuck Gonzaga, Allen Woodman
In the realm of martial arts, there are few names that resonate as strongly as Guro Ted Lucaylucay. With a career spanning nearly five decades, he left an indelible mark on the world of combat training. From his families boxing skills in the Hawaiian Islands to his training in the backyard of Dan inosanto, Lucaylucay's legacy is one of versatility and dedication. In this article, we delve into the life and impact of this true martial arts legend.
Born in Kauai, Hawaii, Ted Lucaylucay began his journey in martial arts at a young age. He studied various disciplines, including boxing, Eskrima, and Judo, honing his skills and developing a deep understanding of combat.
Ted’s father Lucky being credited as the originator of Panantukan Filipino boxing. However, Lucky himself believed that it was all Kali, a traditional Southeast Asian martial art that focused on blade weapons.
Although Ted originally started in the traditional Japanese martial art of Judo, he soon branched out his learning and opened his mind to new ideas and concepts. He studied some Wing Chun and even some Kempo as he grew his knowledge and base of martial understanding.
Lucaylucay's martial arts journey took a significant turn when he encountered Grandmaster Cabales and Grandmaster Giron.
Grandmaster Cabales, despite being in his 60s, possessed an endless source of energy and was known for his quickness with both the stick and empty hand techniques.
Ted’s primary FMA (Filipino Martial Arts) styles became the Serrada system directly under the tutelage of Grandmaster Angel Cabales, the Lago Mano system under Grandmaster Leo Giron, and the Villabralle / Kali style under Grandmaster Ben Largusa. Both masters shared their knowledge generously, imparting not just techniques but also a deep sense of gratitude and dedication to the art.
Moving to Los Angeles, he had the opportunity to train with Guru Dan Inosanto, who was a close friend of Bruce Lee and the inheritor of the Bruce Lee system of Jeet Kun Do. Ted was invited to private training sessions in Inosanto's backyard, where he became captivated by the proposed style of JKD. Even though he initially intended to study the Filipino art of Eskrima, he found himself drawn to this new art created by Bruce Lee himself.
Ted Lucaylucay and Jerry Poteet were the first to graduate from in the JKD lineage under Dan Inosanto and Grandmaster Leo Giron. To Ted it was such a privilege to be a part of the initial foundation of the JKD system and school it would later become.
Ted Lucaylucay was never one to search for the limelight or self-promoter, as he once told me about his days teaching the JKD system and his own association.
In the early 1970s, when the JKD system was being presented. There were so many followers, and as it became more popular, there began some controversies over the original JKD system and JKD concepts, in his own words, controversy sales. Some of the JKD people were trying to sell their politics and their products; martial arts is no different than anything else in the world, no different from any other business.
In his opinion it did not seem that the philosophy of the martial arts was being practiced. It was more than just hitting or beating up on somebody there’s a whole life associated with it, and it wasn’t being taught in that manner when Ted was young, he enjoyed the physical aspects of the practice hitting and being hit but as he grew, he later understood that was more about brotherhood and harmony within the martial arts family itself. Ted got disillusioned and disappointed this made him Choose his own path in his own association. Ted began his Temujin Lucaylucay Kali / JKD system.
The Temujin refers to the Mongolian warlord Ghangis Khan who’s birth name was Temujin.
The Chinese gave him the name Genghis Khan, but Temujin was responsible for bringing all of the Mongolian tribes together he banded them into one. I’ve let them to be great conquerors and developers.
Ted was enthralled with this ideology, and took the name for his own association, as to bring all other groups together as one to become more powerful, Ted’s teaching philosophy was to lay a good foundation and then be open minded enough to build something upon that like building a house with a strong foundation, build an even stronger bond through the martial arts.
All the principles of centerline attitude could be narrowly. focused, and would bring out, the best aspects of them all of the principles would intertwine.
The LucayLucay Kali/JKD Asso. motto is to “Show and Do” They taught not to dismiss traditions but that one should be able to apply what they know in a real fight.
Theirs was a process of elimination, not accumulation. The basic techniques, trained well, get a person through a fight.
As a proponent of the Panatukan art and his Temujin system and school, Ted developed relationships with teachers and students of various arts and styles.
Guro Ted was happy to travel and share his knowledge with others, teaching seminars and classes worldwide.
Ted Lucaylucay's legacy as a martial arts legend continues to inspire and influence practitioners today. From his humble beginnings as an eskrimador to his mastery of various martial arts disciplines, Lucaylucay's dedication and passion for the art are evident. His contributions to the Filipino martial arts community and commitment to passing on his knowledge have left an enduring impact. As we honor his memory, we recognize the invaluable lessons he taught and the indomitable spirit he embodied.
Show and Do”
LucayLucay Kali/JKD Asso. motto
Ted initiated my experience with the Filipino martial arts, leading me to a 30 year love of the art I often reflect on my friendship with Ted as a lifelong endeavor to promote martial arts in a positive light something that has not changed 35 years later as the son of the late Lucky Lucaylucay And one of Dan Santos original backyard students Ted dedicated his life to promoting martial arts with Filipino martial arts, as well as the JKD systems and Bruce Lee.
On March 30, 1996, at his home, Ted had succumbed to heart failure after suffering a dramatic, asthma attack he was only 50 years old. He has been survived by his mother, Rose, his sisters, Beverly, Arlene, Laverne Coraline, Gary, Rosalyn, and Audrey he has left his association to the executive officers of Leonard Trigg in Oregon, Greg Allen of Texas, Mark Stewart
of California all of his students. Remember his kind heart, good humor and exceptional martial arts, skill, his friends remember his warm smile, his heartwarming spirit, and the love of a man with dedication not only to his martial arts, but to his friends, his students and his family. He is forever missed in all of our hearts a true legend. My friend and teacher Ted Lucaylucay.
