GM David Ducay
INFO
Name: David Ducay
Title: Grandmaster
Rank: 9Th Degree
System: Kajukenbo
Method: Ramos Method
BRANCH: Hardstyle
School: KaJuKenBo Escrima 974 Benicia Rd., Vallejo, Ca.
LIVED: 1959-Present
TRAINED: 1972-Present
INSTRUCTOR: SGM Emil Bautista, SGM Cacoy Canete
Lineage: Sijo Adriano Emperado / Ahgung Antonio Ramos / SGM Emil Bautista / GM David Ducay
AFFILIATIONS: KSDI
Grandmaster David Ducay is a lifelong martial artist, respected instructor, and innovator within the Kajukenbo community. A 9th Degree Black Belt under the Kajukenbo Self-Defense Institute, he is the founder of Kajukenbo Escrima, a comprehensive self-defense system integrating Kajukenbo with Filipino Martial Arts. With over five decades of training, competition, and instruction, Grandmaster Ducay is recognized internationally for his technical depth, leadership, and contributions to weaponry arts.
Born and raised in the Navy town of Vallejo, California, Grandmaster Ducay developed an early foundation in athletics. He lettered in basketball and football and achieved All-American status in track and field as a hurdler in high school. He later distinguished himself as a sprinter and hurdler at Stanislaus State University in the late 1970s.
Professionally, Grandmaster Ducay built a career in corporate information technology. During the late 1980s, he and a close colleague established a martial arts training facility in San Ramon, California, designed specifically to train corporate professionals in Kajukenbo and Filipino Martial Arts—an uncommon but forward-thinking model at the time.
As an instructor, Grandmaster Ducay is known for blending functional self-defense, competitive realism, and historical preservation. He continues to coach, mentor, and develop high-level practitioners while contributing to Kajukenbo literature, instructional media, and international seminars.
David Ducay - Kajukenbo Escrima
David Ducay - Kajukenbo Escrima
Kajukenbo Escrima
David Ducay 2025 KSDI World Championship
David Ducay - Kajukenbo Escrima
History
Grandmaster Ducay began his martial arts journey in 1973, training in Moo Duk Kwon Taekwondo under Master John Nesbitt. His transition into Kajukenbo and Filipino Martial Arts defined the core of his lifelong study.
He trained extensively under the late Senior Grandmaster Emil Bautista, from whom he received his Kajukenbo Black Belt and later advanced rank, and under Senior Grandmaster Ciriaco “Cacoy” Canete, founder of Eskrido. His lineage traces directly through:
Sijo Adriano D. Emperado → Ahgung Antonio Ramos → SGM Emil Bautista → GM David Ducay
Through research, experience, and direct transmission, Grandmaster Ducay developed Kajukenbo Escrima, drawing from:
The Ramos Method Advanced Punch Art
Kajukenbo empty-hand principles
Senkotiros Arnis
Doce Pares Eskrima
Serrada Escrima
Sayas-Lastra Arnis (Largo Mano / Bolo-based)
His Filipino Martial Arts foundation began in the early 1980s under the late Master Patrick Salientes, followed by intensive training under SGM Emil Bautista. Although he holds no formal rank in Balintawak, his workshops and seminars with respected masters—including GM Ver Villasin and others—deepened his understanding of its historical relationship to Doce Pares.
Grandmaster Ducay was also exposed to Jeet Kune Do in the mid-1980s through the late GM Richard Bustillo, joined the JKD Grappling Association under the late Sifu Larry Hartsell, and continues to participate in seminars under Guro Dan Inosanto. His studies further include Pukalan Pencak Silat under family and senior instructors.
He has trained across a wide range of systems, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kodokan Judo, Eagle Claw Kung Fu, Choy Lay Fut weaponry, Kombatan, and multiple multi-style and regional Filipino Martial Arts traditions throughout the western United States.
HIGHLIGHTS
Training & Career
1973 – Began formal martial arts training (Moo Duk Kwon)
Early 1980s – Entered Filipino Martial Arts
Late 1980s – Opened corporate martial arts training facility in San Ramon, CA
Present – Founder and head instructor of Kajukenbo Escrima
Competition Achievements
1984 – Grand Champion, Northern California CKC
1987 – Top-ranked BBL Sport Karate Competitor (CA, Lightweight)
1988 – NorCal AMAPA Lightweight Competitor of the Year
1989 – Grand Champion, IMACF Modesto Championships; Professional Division competitor at Ed Parker’s Long Beach Internationals
1996 – Top 5 WEKAF World Live Stickfighter
1998 – 1st Place, NorCal Western Region Live Stick Championships
1999 – 1st Place, Vallejo KSDI Open (Live Stick)
2014 – Kajukenbo World Champion, Knife Competition
2018 – 1st Place, Mokomoko Open Invitational (Live Stick & Knife)
Instruction & Media
Produced Kajukenbo Escrima Advanced instructional series (Volumes 1–9)
Featured in Masters Magazine, Legacy DVD series (Volumes 4, 6, 7)
Featured in Black Robe: The Kempo/Kajukenbo Connection (2017)
Coach and mentor to numerous regional and national stick-fighting champions
Hall of Fame & Recognition
1998 – Instructor / Coach of the Year, Texas
2015 – Leadership & Contributions, Hollywood, CA
2017 – Pioneer Award, Portugal
2018 – Martial Arts Pioneer, Florida
2024 – Martial Arts Pioneer, Kajukenbo Escrima (India / Europe)
2025 – Spanish Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Madrid
Inducted six times into Martial Arts Halls of Fame across the U.S. and Europe
Ranks & Certifications
Kajukenbo – 9th Degree Black Belt, KSDI / BOA
Serrada Escrima – Honorary 8th Degree
Eskrido – Master Level under SGM Cacoy Canete
Doce Pares Eskrima – 1st Grade Black Belt
Pangomot – 1st Grade Black Belt
Additional Notes
Following retirement from the computer technology field, Grandmaster Ducay has devoted time to angling and outdoor pursuits while remaining actively engaged in martial arts education, preservation, and mentorship.
