Happy Birthday Punong Guro Edgar Sulite!
Today would've been the 59th Birthday of PG Edgar Sulite & the 35th Anniversary of the founding of Lameco Eskrima!! I am reposting something Guro Dave Gould wrote to the Lameco Orenhal Facebook Group.
Today, on September 25, 2016 we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Lameco Eskrima System which was founded 35 years ago today, on September 25, 1981 in Manila, Philippines by Punong Guro Edgar G. Sulite.
Soon after arriving to Manila, Luzon, Philippines on his 24th birthday, a young Edgar G. Sulite formally founded his own personal style which he named the Lameco Eskrima System.
Several of his Masters had expected him to carry on their specific systems, but he felt that if he chose any one system over the others, he would not be able to fairly represent just the one system without disrespecting the others, since he would also be teaching by drawing from the lessons of all of his Masters but doing so in the name of the one system which he would claim to represent.
Instead of disrespecting the Masters from whom he received his knowledge, he decided to form his own system, inclusive of all the Masters’ collective knowledge, and give them each credit for their knowledge and, thus, for the founding of the system.
He came up with an acronym, “LA-ME-CO,” which represented all three major ranges in fighting, by combining the first two letters of the long range (largo), the medium range (mediyo), and the close range (corto). “Lameco Eskrima” seemed to be the perfect compromise as he would be representing all of his Masters knowledge equally and be able to give them all credit with-out disrespecting any one of them or their respective Systems.
Below is a list of the Five Major Influences, Six Minor Influences, and two of the un-credited Influences which were responsible for the creation of the Lameco Eskrima System. The Major Influences represent Masters and Systems which Edgar G. Sulite formally trained under extensively for years and was certified to teach. The Minor Systems represent Masters with whom Edgar G. Sulite trained to some degree and with whom he collaborated but never received ranking in their respective Systems.
Several of his Masters had expected him to carry on their specific systems, but he felt that if he chose any one system over the others, he would not be able to fairly represent just the one system without disrespecting the others, since he would also be teaching by drawing from the lessons of all of his Masters but doing so in the name of the one system which he would claim to represent.
Instead of disrespecting the Masters from whom he received his knowledge, he decided to form his own system, inclusive of all the Masters’ collective knowledge, and give them each credit for their knowledge and, thus, for the founding of the system.
He came up with an acronym, “LA-ME-CO,” which represented all three major ranges in fighting, by combining the first two letters of the long range (largo), the medium range (mediyo), and the close range (corto). “Lameco Eskrima” seemed to be the perfect compromise as he would be representing all of his Masters knowledge equally and be able to give them all credit with-out disrespecting any one of them or their respective Systems.
Below is a list of the Five Major Influences, Six Minor Influences, and two of the un-credited Influences which were responsible for the creation of the Lameco Eskrima System. The Major Influences represent Masters and Systems which Edgar G. Sulite formally trained under extensively for years and was certified to teach. The Minor Systems represent Masters with whom Edgar G. Sulite trained to some degree and with whom he collaborated but never received ranking in their respective Systems.
Five Major Influences on the Lameco Eskrima System:
1. De Campo 1-2-3 Orehenal (GM Jose D. Caballero)
2. Kali Ilustrisimo (GM Antonio “Tatang” Ilustrisimo)
3. Pekiti-Tirsia Kali (Tuhon Leo Tortal Gaje Jr.)
4. Modernos Largos (GM Jesus Abella & GM Pablicito “Pabling” Cabahug)
5. Sulite-Rapelon (GM Helacrio L. Sulite Sr.)
1. De Campo 1-2-3 Orehenal (GM Jose D. Caballero)
2. Kali Ilustrisimo (GM Antonio “Tatang” Ilustrisimo)
3. Pekiti-Tirsia Kali (Tuhon Leo Tortal Gaje Jr.)
4. Modernos Largos (GM Jesus Abella & GM Pablicito “Pabling” Cabahug)
5. Sulite-Rapelon (GM Helacrio L. Sulite Sr.)
Six Minor Influences on the Lameco Eskrima System:
1. Doce Pares (GM Diony Cañete)
2. Balintawak (GM Johnny Chiuten)
3. Lapunti Arnis de Abanico (GM Felimon E. Caburnay)
4. Siete Teros Serado - Serado no Puwede Entrar (GM Marcelino Ancheta Sr.)
5. Abanico de Sungkiti (GM Billy Baaclo)
6. Tres Personas Eskrima de Combate (GM Maj. Timoteo E. Maranga)
1. Doce Pares (GM Diony Cañete)
2. Balintawak (GM Johnny Chiuten)
3. Lapunti Arnis de Abanico (GM Felimon E. Caburnay)
4. Siete Teros Serado - Serado no Puwede Entrar (GM Marcelino Ancheta Sr.)
5. Abanico de Sungkiti (GM Billy Baaclo)
6. Tres Personas Eskrima de Combate (GM Maj. Timoteo E. Maranga)
Uncredited Influences on the Lameco Eskrima System:
1. Moro-Moro System (Master Alejandro Abrian)
2. Simaron Style (GM Abdul Hai Qahar Madueño)
1. Moro-Moro System (Master Alejandro Abrian)
2. Simaron Style (GM Abdul Hai Qahar Madueño)
In addition to this being the 35th anniversary of the Lameco Eskrima System, today Punong Guro Edgar G. Sulite also would have been 59 years of age were he still alive. He was born on September 25, 1957 and he passed away on April 10, 1997 at the very tender age of 39.
He died far too young but will always be remembered by many around the world for his enormous contribution to the Pilipino Warrior Arts community. He was a Giant himself who stood on the shoulders of Giants. He is missed dearly by many.
Other PG Edgar Sulite-related posts, please check out:
- Punong Guro Edgar Sulite Remembered
- Focus on training: Edgar G. Sulite (1993)
- Lameco Eskrima Goals: Edgar G. Sulite (1995)
- Ron Balicki - The Loss of a Warrior (Edgar Sulite)
- Legacy of Steel by Steve Tarani
- What Makes A Grandmaster? by Punong Guro Edgar G. Sulite
- Giving the Right Credits by PG Edgar Sulite
- IN MEMORY OF: Edgar Sulite (September 25, 1957 - April 10, 1997)
- Manong Dan Inosanto Interview on PG Edgar Sulite (Free Voice/Spring 1997)
For more information, please check out:
- Lameco Eskrima Official Site
- Lameco Eskrima Orehenal Facebook Group
- "Lameco Eskrima: The Legacy of Edgar Sulite" by Guro David Gould
- Wiki - Lameco Eskrima
- Tambuli Media
