He was also one of the chief founders and head instructors of Bakbakan International and the eldest brother of the action star Ronnie Ricketts.
"Topher", as he was called by his peers, was an experienced tournament (both full-contact and point system) and street fighter.
Numerous Bakbakan members have played cameo roles in Ronnie's movies, lending credibility to the action sequences as well as drawing crowds to the theater's use of the authentic fight scenes.
He gained exposure in 1986 from a project called "Masters of Arnis", which also featured Rey Galang, Antonio Diego and Edgar Sulite.
They toured Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, giving seminars on the Filipino Martial Arts, particularly those taught as the Bakbakan curriculum.