Grand Tuhon Leopold Tortal Gaje Jr.

Grand Tuhon Leo Tortal Gaje Jr., the Supreme Grandmaster and Guardian of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali System, is a three-time Hall of Fame inductee and an internationally renowned Weapons Master Instructor. Since the 1970s, he has graced the covers of numerous martial arts publications, most notably being named Man of the Year 2018 by Black Belt Magazine. In 2019, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Martial Arts Supershow.

In 1972, Grand Tuhon introduced Pekiti-Tirsia to the United States, and has since expanded the reach of his family's legacy to over 25 countries. His unmatched contributions to Close Quarters Combat and the global Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) community have solidified his status as one of the greatest living legends of modern martial arts.

Renowned for its strategic use of weaponry and blade tactics, Pekiti-Tirsia has been adopted by elite military and law enforcement units worldwide. It stands as the only officially recognized Filipino combat system employed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as well as U.S., Indian, and Austrian Special Forces.

Residing in the Philippines, Grand Tuhon remains the sole Authorized Source of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali. He continues to travel the world, preserving and teaching the indigenous blade technology that has evolved from ancient warfare to modern-day combat, ensuring the survival of this powerful Filipino martial tradition.