His street fighting ways led his aunt to take him to Al Dacascos to teach him discipline and keep him out of trouble, but as he learned Kajukenbo. he tested its effectiveness on the streets. He was a bouncer at his Uncle’s bar. Always testing his skills.
He quit formal training in 1968 because sport karate has rules. He knew that his stuff worked in the streets, but not in the commercialized tournament world. He was driven by his love of martial arts and not fame or fortune. He became a professional boxer because he could use full contact and follow up.
After boxing training he would blend in his martial arts/street fighting techniques and spar with his boxing friends. Ted started his own school in 1973. The school had over 250 students, but only lasted the summer because he only charged $10 per month or "whatever you can afford to pay" which was usually nothing.
After his school disbanded, Ted continued training with a core group in
his garage. The group trained on and off for nearly 20 years.
During all of this time, Ted would share and learn techniques with many
martial artists and masters of different styles (Kung Fu, Wing Chun, Muay Thai, American Boxing,
Grappling, etc.) and test their effectiveness, taking what was useful and modifying and blending it
into his expression of Kajukenbo. Ted would always find his own weaknesses to hone his skills for
effectiveness. He also continued to learn traditional kung fu, forms, and weapons from different
masters from San Francisco's Chinatown.
One time he took classes in Muay Tai at a Thai temple that was near his home. Within months he was teaching those very Muay Thai classes, and trained fighters for competition.
Every martial artist that has come into contact with Ted Sotelo has ended up in the garage to either train with him or be demolished by him. Some would come to the garage and kind of want to test or challenge Ted based on his reputation. They didn’t last very long (a matter of seconds). A few would return to learn from him for awhile. Still others were brought in by the core group to train.
GM Sotelo is a direct line Black Belt of Sijo Emperado. In 1993, he received Sijo Adriano Emperado’s blessing and official authorization to name his style of Kajukenbo Fi Kuen . Fi Kuen means flying fist or rapid fist to describe the rapid hand attack, in honor of Sijo Adriano Emperado. The Fi Kuen patch design was hand picked by Sijo himself. Ted Sotelo’s Kajukenbo basis and street-tested life experiences have been modified and blended to create what Kajukenbo Fi Kuen is today.
He is still active in Doce Pares Eskrima. His art is dynamic and is constantly evolving. He continues to teach, learn, and refine Kajukenbo Fi Kuen. “I’m always a student of the Martial Arts.” - Ted Sotelo
