Daniel Arca Inosanto is a Filipino-American martial arts instructor from California who
is best known as a student of Bruce Lee and renowned authority on Jeet Kune Do, Filipino
Martial Arts including Eskrima and Silat.
Martial arts Dan Inosanto teaches The Art and Philosophy
of Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Martial Arts, Shoot wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Eskrima, Muay
Thai, Silat, mixed martial arts and other arts at his Marina del Rey, California school,
the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts. He was a student of Ed Parker whom he also received
a shodan from and practiced his sport in American Kenpo Karate before becoming a student of
world famous martial artist Bruce Lee. Inosanto is one of three people who have been appointed
to teach at one of the 3 Jun Fan Gung Fu Institutes under Bruce Lee, Inosanto also studied with
dozens of different martial arts masters elsewhere in the United States, Southeast Asia, and
Europe, including Johnny Lacoste, and Chai Sirisute. After Bruce Lee's death, he has
become the principal spokesperson and historian for Jeet Kune Do. He has had minor roles in
a number of movies, including Bruce Lee's uncompleted last film Game of Death. During
this time period, he also taught physical education at Malaga Cove Intermediate School
in Palos Verdes Estates, California. Although disputed by some members in the JKD
community, Inosanto is authorized by Bruce Lee to teach his system of martial arts. The
film I Am Bruce Lee provided Inosanto an opportunity to reveal a little-known fact about the friendship
the two men shared. Inosanto was teacher to Bruce Lee, introducing him to nunchaku. Inosanto
explained that he introduced the weapon to Lee, taught him the basics and some exercises
to get him started on his weapons training. Before he knew it, Lee had mastered the weapon
"as if he had been doing it his whole life". The Game of Death movie, one of the most recognizable
of the Bruce Lee films, showcases the extraordinary skill Lee exhibited in his manipulation and
use of the nunchaku. The credit for nunchaku's introduction to Lee in the first place belongs
to Inosanto. He is featured as the Black Belt Magazine's 1996 "Man of the Year".
Always a student himself, he continues to train with many highly regarded martial artists.
Consequently, he holds Instructor or black belt level ranks in numerous, different martial
arts. In addition, he is well known for promoting the Filipino Martial Arts. He is responsible
for bringing several obscure forms of the South East Asia Martial Arts into the public
eye such as Silat, a hybrid combative form existing in such countries as Indonesia, Malaysia,
and the Philippines. He has recently acquired his black belt in the Machado family style
of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He trained Shoot wrestling under Yorinaga Nakamura. Currently he is the
vice-president of Lameco International, carrying on the Eskrima of the late Filipino martial
artist Edgar Sulite. Notable students
Dan Inosanto's notable students include:
Diana Lee Inosanto: daughter, actress, stuntwoman, writer and producer
Ron Balicki: stuntman, actor, producer, and son-in-law of Dan Inosanto
Chai Sirisute: founder of the Thai Boxing Association of the USA
Richard Bustillo: martial arts instructor and founder of the IMB Academy in Torrance,
CA Denzel Washington: Academy Award-winning actor,
director, producer Edgar Sulite: founder and creator of Lameco
Eskrima Larry Hartsell: deceased martial arts teacher
and author Marc "Crafty Dog" Denny: one of the three
founders of the Dog Brothers and founder of Dog Brothers Martial Arts
Burton Richardson: One of the Original Dog Brothers and founder of JKD Unlimited
Paul Vunak: founder of Progressive Fighting Systems, Helped to popularize Defanging the
snake Jeff Imada: stuntman, actor, fight choreographer(The
Crow, Bourne series, Iron Man 2, The Green Hornet, Hanna)
Brandon Lee: deceased son of the late Bruce Lee
Forest Whitaker: Academy Award-winning actor, producer, director, writer
Nathan Jung: actor, stuntman known for his height cast frequently in "heavy" roles
Erik Paulson: Shooto champion, trainer to UFC fighters and founder of Combat Submission
Wrestling Damon Caro: actor, stunt coordinator, fight
choreographer, 2nd unit director
Graciela Casillas-Tortorelli Ernest Emerson Martial artist and custom knife
manufacturer. Ricky Nelson
Steve Grody Jerry Poteet
Tim Tackett Yorinaga Nakamura: Shoot Wrestler
Valentine Espiricueta: Founder of the Applied Sport Martial Arts Program, NFL Consultant,
Two-Time World Eskrima-Kali-Arnis World Champion Kevin Seaman: Jeet Kune Do/ Kali Full Instructor
in Syracuse, NY Greg Nelson: MMA Coach
Kyle Smith, Tech-support WonderBoy, Oxford Industries Inc.
Publications "Filipino Martial Arts as Taught by Dan Inosanto"
by Dan Inosanto ISBN 0-938676-01-6 "Absorb What Is Useful" by Dan Inosanto ISBN
0-938676-03-2 "Jeet kune do" by Salem Assli and Dan Inosanto
ISBN 2-7027-0693-2 "Guide to Martial Arts Training With Equipment"
by Dan Inosanto ISBN 0-938676-02-4 "Jeet Kune Do: The Art & Philosophy of Bruce
Lee" by Dan Inosanto ISBN 0-938676-00-8 "Jeet Kune Do: Conditioning and Grappling
Methods" Intro by Dan Inosanto ISBN 0-9531766-5-7 Filmography
Full Filmography for Dan Inosanto at the Internet Movie Database
Actor Big Stan .... Knife fighting Cook
Redbelt .... Joao Moro Brazilian Brawl .... Ruben
Out for Justice .... Sticks Big Trouble in Little China
Sharky's Machine .... Chin No. 1 Long de ying zi
Skirmish Chinese stuntman
The Killer Elite Game of Death ....
The Green Hornet Documentaries
I Am Bruce Lee Fight Science
Modern Warriors Bruce Lee: The Immortal Dragon
Bruce Lee in G.O.D.: Shibôteki yûgi Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey
Famous Families The Path of the Dragon
E! True Hollywood Story Curse of the Dragon
Bruce Lee, the Legend The Warrior Within
Life and Legend of Bruce Lee Stunts
Escape from L.A. The Green Hornet
Further reading Kelly, Perry. Dan Inosanto: The Man, The Teacher,
The Artist. Paladin Press. ISBN 978-1-58160-079-7. Balicki, Ron. Gold, Steven. Jeet Kune Do:
The Principles of a Complete Fighter, HNL Publishing. ISBN 9-531766-3-0
Seaman, Kevin, Jun Fan Gung Fu Seeking The Path Of Jeet Kune Do, S.l.: Health 'N' Life,
ISBN 0-9531766-2-2 References
Dan Inosanto's Martial Arts Lineage Tree ^ a b Kelly 2000, pp. 46–50
^ Kelly 2000, p. 24. ^ Kelly 2000, p. 31.
^ a b c Kelly 2000, p. 130 ^ a b Kelly 2000, p. 109
^ name="K130"/> ^ http:video.about.comBook-of-Eli-Denzel-Washington.htm
^ Kelly 2000, p. 51. ^ a b Kelly 2000, p. 133
^ Video on YouTube ^ April 2008 Black Belt magazine cover story
^ Imada, Jeff, The Balisong Manual, California: Unique Publications, p. 130, ISBN 0-86568-102-3
^ http:www.imdb.comnm0408001/ ^ Beasley, Jerry, Jeet Kune Do Experience:
Understanding Bruce Lee's Ultimate Martial Art, Paladin Press, p. 216, ISBN 1-58160-131-X
^ http:www.imdb.comnm0138902/ ^ Kelly 2000, p. 131.
^ Combs, Roger, "Emerson Knives", Knives Illustrated 18: 36–41, 65–69
^ Kelly 2000, p. 145. ^ http:www.thejkdbrotherhood.comJKD-Brotherhooddan-inosanto.html
^ http:www.appliedsportsmartialarts.com ^ http:www.ewmaa.com/about.html
^ ISeaman, Kevin, Jun Fan Gung Fu Seeking The
Path Of Jeet Kune Do, New York: Center Line Press, p. 180, ISBN 978-0-9839214-0-0
^ IGrahn, Andy, "Greg Nelson: Ultimate Fighter", MMA Writer
External links Inosanto Academy
Muay Thai Dan Inosanto at the Internet Movie Database