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Kali is the forerunner of most Philippine martial arts. Kali was probably introduced to the Islands before the Fifth Century. It was with this system that the Spanish conquistadores were defeated on the Island of Mactan in Cebu. Ferdinand Magellan lost his life as he discovered that the Filipinos would not be enslaved or devestated as easily as the Incan and Axtecan civilizations.
The Filipinos continued to struggle against Spanish dominion. Especially in the southern islands, the Spanish were under constant attack. Techniques were studied and borrowed from the Spanish military. Excrima (Eskrima), the Latin word for skirmish, was used to collectively describe the scores of fighting systems utillized in the Philippines.
The armor of the hands refers to the leather trapping that was used by Filipino folk dancers. The dances performed kept the ancient techniques of Kali alive. All martial practice was banned by Spanish law; however, the Spanish could not correctly interpret the so-called Arnis de Mano movements.
What is now labeled Arnis de Mano, contains techniques brought from India, Malaya, Indonesia, and China. During the time of the Hindu-Malayan and Madjapahit Empires (5th and 12th centuries), more advanced military techniques bolstered indigenous military technique. The military experience gained through battles with the military forces of Spain were also used to improve the techniques which already existed before the 16th century.
Most of what is now called Arnis de Mano has been synthesized from Kali and Escrima. Because there exist numerous systems, it can be speculated that self-experience as well as trial and error have influenced family and regional systems that have survived to the present time.
Knife, Stick and everyday objects may be used as weapons of self-defense and although a separate subject from, are quite interwoven with empty-hand methods or an extension thereof. Sungkite Kali Derecho (SKD) is a method with a strong Filipino root that includes influences from Western and Japanese fencing. Sungkite is a term that may be defined as "hooking" but more accurately defines the close relationship of thrusting and slashing and how they work together. (To thrust with the slash and slash with the thrust.)
The term Kali may be interpreted many ways. In SKD it more accurately defines the ability to "flow like a river". Derecho is a term that means "direct" and refers to the emphasis on directness and efficiency in technique, in order to end the fight quickly. SKD is an art that includes both drilling and freestyle sparring with padded weapons and safety gear. SKD also includes CQD/Mano-Mano techniques designed for defense against weapons and close quarter defense. Guro Stewart considers SKD to be directly inspired from Guro Ted's Kali, with emphasis on "Obtik". Obtik is defined as the use of stepping, pivoting and sinking or raising to power and time the stroke.
In 1987 Ted Lucaylucay began to teach a small group of dedicated students at the Inosanto Academy in Marina Del Rey, CA. Guro Stewart was among this group of students and participated from 1987 to 1991. In 1991 Stewart was awarded his Associate Instructor's certificate and went on to become an Executive Officer of Guro Ted's LK/JA Lucaylucay Kali/JKD. Guro Stewart subsequently trained with Lucaylucay on a private and semi-private basis until the passing of Guro Ted in March of 1996. Prior to training with Lucaylucay, Stewart had trained in both Doce Pares and Pikiti Tirsia under Guro Edgar Guevara from 1979 to 1985.
"Ted Lucaylucay was one of the kindest and most generous men that I have ever met. He was like an older brother to me and I will never forget him. I can see him now, wearing his suspenders, laid back and casual but with distinct depth, form and flair. Guro Ted was a man of structure and solid basics.
During the period that I trained with him, (1987-1996) Ted emphasized three distinct, yet aligned areas with me. These areas were Boxing/Kickboxing (Jun Fan and Panantukan-Sikaran), Gung Fu (Wing Chun and Jun Fan) and Weaponry (Kali and Fencing) .
Boxing/Kickboxing: Ted emphasized modern western boxing that was influenced by Panantukan as taught by his father "Lucky" Lucaylucay, Richard Bustillio and his own research and development. He liked to refer to his boxing as blade awareness boxing. In the last few years before his death, Ted primarily emphasized the Panantukan aspects with me. I feel that this was a process of refinement towards further alignment of the three areas that we trained in. Ted emphasized kicking that he learned from Jun Fan Kickboxing. Very direct and powerful, but with a snap. Like most Ted also incorporated the Muay Thai hook kick, but was not fond of using the Thai pads like the Thais do (holding both pads together allowing for a broad point of impact). Ted preferred instead to use one Thai pad and one focus mitt. He preferred a smaller target for accuracy and used the focus mitt as a brace to absorbe the shock. Ted was also highly influenced and fond of the kicks of Savate which he felt was like fencing with the feet. Like most, Ted also included the use of elbows and knees, but they seemed to have their place and were not over emphasized. Although the term Sikaran was used and we did learn some classical kicks from the source, the term was used to describe kicking in general.
Gung Fu: Ted empahsized classical wing chun techniques, drills and strategy including chi sao. Ted also taught the basic trapping routes from Jun Fan Gung Fu. When I look at Ted's empty hand sets, I see a high influence of wing chun combined with mano mano. In the last few years before his death I began to get more interested in Bruce LeeTM and Jeet Kune DoTM again. Although Ted would never clearly define a physical Jeet Kune DoTM, he did share with me what he called the earlier training methods. This was in reference to training in Dan Inosanto's backyard when they still called what they did Jeet Kune DoTM, however Ted was more comfortable with calling this Chinese Kickboxing or Jun fan Kickboxing. Ted prefered the orthodox boxing lead vs. strong side lead and also was not fond ot the verticle fist, lead straight punch.
Weaponry: Although we used a variety of weapons, Ted emphasized heavy weapon training with us. This was to build a solid structure and basics with the ability to end the fight quickly. He was fond of using the term Obtik which is to utilize, stepping, sinking and turning to power the stroke. Ted was a big beleiver in the importance of footwork, especially angulation. In the last few years prior to his death, Ted emphasized western fencing techniques (Serafino influence), training methods and strategies with the stick. He also emphasized the attached hubud drill stressing cqd with and without weapons (knife/stick/mano mano) with locks, takedowns and chokes/submissions.
Ted always emphasized sparring, with and without weapons. I remember that his main concern for me, over the years, was to help me to develop a strong left hook. Most if not all of my private sessions with Ted included sparring with him personaly and it was a great experience. In regards to Bruce LeeTM and Jeet Kune DoTM, Ted did not like the term JKD Concepts, he thought that it would cause confusion and he was right. However, he did say that he learned Jeet Kune DoTM as a concept, andquot;from Dan Inosantoandquot;. Ted was fond of classical martial arts, self defense, combative sports and always balanced his training and teaching accordingly. Cultivation and quality are the words that I choose to remember Guro Ted's approach by. He was the greatest and I miss him dearly.
- Mark Stewart