Dan Inosanto (born July 24, 1936) is an American

martial arts Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...

instructor and actor. Inosanto holds instructor or black belt level ranks in several martial arts. He has studied traditional

Karate (; ; Okinawan language, Okinawan pronunciation: ), also , is a martial arts, martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the Okinawan martial arts, indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tī'' in Okinawan) un ...

Judo is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, combat sport, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyc ...

Jujutsu Jujutsu ( , or ), also known as jiu-jitsu and ju-jitsu (both ), is a Japanese martial art and a system of close combat that can be used in a defensive or offensive manner to kill or subdue one or more weaponless or armed and armored opponent ...

Kung Fu Chinese martial arts, commonly referred to with umbrella terms Kung fu (term), kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (sport), wushu (), are Styles of Chinese martial arts, multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater Ch ...

Shooto is a combat sport and mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission (ISC). Shooto was originally formed in 1985, first as a particular fighting system and then in 1989 as a ...

Muay Thai Muay Thai or Muaythai (, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, the Art of Eight Limbs or the Science of Eight Limbs, is a Thai martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and various clinch fighting, cl ...

Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art. Initially developed for combat and self-defense, for most practitioners it has evolved into a sport and form of exercise. As an exercise, tai chi is performed as gentle, low-impact movement in which practitioners ...

Kali Kali (; , ), also called Kalika, is a major goddess in Hinduism, primarily associated with time, death and destruction. Kali is also connected with transcendental knowledge and is the first of the ten Mahavidyas, a group of goddesses who p ...

Silat Silat is the collective term for a class of martial arts from the Nusantara and surrounding geocultural areas of Southeast Asia. It is traditionally practised in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Southern Thailand, Southern Philippi ...

, and

Jeet Kune Do Jeet Kune Do (/ˌdʒiːt kuːn ˈdoʊ/; zh, c=截拳道, l=stop fist way' or 'way of the intercepting fist, j=zit6 kyun4 dou6; abbreviated JKD) is a hybrid martial art conceived and practiced by martial artist Bruce Lee. It was formed from ...

. He was one of three people who were appointed to teach at one of the three Jun Fan Gung Fu institutes under

Bruce Lee Bruce Lee (born Lee Jun-fan; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was an American-born Hong Kong martial artist, actor, filmmaker, and philosopher. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy which was formed from ...

, the other two being Taky Kimura and James Yimm Lee. After Bruce Lee's death, Inosanto became the principal spokesperson and historian for Jeet Kune Do. Inosanto is credited for training martial arts to a number of Hollywood actors including Bruce Lee,

Chuck Norris Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris (born March 10, 1940) is an American martial artist and actor. Born in Oklahoma, Norris first gained fame when he won the amateur Middleweight Karate champion title in 1968, which he held for six consecutive years. H ...

and others. He has had minor roles in a number of films, including Lee's uncompleted last film ''

Game of Death ''Game of Death'' () is an incomplete Hong Kong martial arts film, of which portions were filmed between September and October 1972, and was planned and scheduled to be released by 1973, directed, written, produced by and starring Bruce Lee. Th ...

'' (1972), and

Steven Seagal Steven Frederic Seagal ( ; born April 10, 1952) is an American actor, producer, screenwriter, martial artist, and musician. A 7th-Dan (rank), dan Black belt (martial arts), black belt in aikido, he began his adult life as a martial arts instru ...

's '' Out for Justice'' (1991).

Early life and education

Dan Inosanto began training in martial arts at the age of 11 receiving instruction from his uncle who first taught him traditional Okinawan

and later also

and

. He was a student of Ed Parker, from whom he received a shodan rank in American Kenpo. Dan served as a paratrooper with the

101st Airborne Division The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) ("Screaming Eagles") is a light infantry division (military), division of the United States Army that specializes in air assault military operation, operations. The 101st is designed to plan, coordinat ...

from 1959 to 1961. He was also a member of the

Strategic Army Corps The Strategic Army Corps (STRAC) was a command of the United States Army, with a mission of high readiness, active in the 1960s. In 1961 it was merged into the United States Strike Command (STRICOM). The word "STRAC" was also used to describe a w ...

. At Fort Campbell he refined his skills in various martial arts, training under Henry Slomanski. Inosanto is one of three people who have been appointed to teach at one of the three Jun Fan Gung Fu Institutes under Bruce Lee; Taky Kimura and James Yimm Lee are the other two people. Inosanto studied with different martial arts masters elsewhere in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...

, and Europe, including Johnny Lacoste and Chai Sirisute. After Bruce Lee's death, Inosanto became the principal spokesperson and historian for

. He has had minor roles in a number of films, including Bruce Lee's uncompleted last film ''

'' (1972). During this time period (1964–75), he also taught physical education at Malaga Cove Intermediate School in Palos Verdes Estates,

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. Dan was commissioned in 1977 by the Dallas Cowboys to incorporate martial arts into the team’s training. 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 is a traditional East-Asian martial arts weapon consisting of two sticks (traditionally made of wood), connected to each other at their ends by a short metal chain or a rope. It is approximately (sticks) and (rope). A person who has pract ...

. Inosanto explained that he introduced the weapon to Lee, taught him the basics and some exercises to get him started on his weapons training. The ''

'' movie, one of the most recognizable of the Bruce Lee films, showcases the use of the

by Lee and Inosanto. He is featured as the '' Black Belt'' magazine's 1996 "Man of the Year". Inosanto holds Instructor or black belt level ranks in several martial arts. He is 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

, a hybrid combative form existing in such countries as Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. He has also been promoted to fifth degree black belt in the

Machado family The Machado Family (also known as the Machado Brothers) are a family of Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners, mixed martial artists and grapplers. They are the founders of RCJ Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and are cousins to members of the Gracie f ...

style of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He trained

Shoot wrestling Shoot wrestling is a Japanese hybrid grappling style and combat sport. Shoot wrestling incorporates techniques from various wrestling, submission grappling, kickboxing and karate styles. It was particularly inspired and influenced by catch ...

under Yorinaga Nakamura. Currently he is the vice-president of Lameco International, carrying on the

Eskrima Arnis, also known as kali or eskrima/escrima, is the national martial art of the Philippines. These three terms are, sometimes, interchangeable in referring to traditional martial arts of the Philippines ("Filipino Martial Arts", or FMA), whi ...

of the late Filipino martial artist

Edgar Sulite Edgar Sulite (September 25, 1957 – April 10, 1997) was a teacher of Filipino martial arts. He was the creator of Lameco Eskrima and trained such notables as Dan Inosanto, Ron Balicki, Larry Hartsell, Fred Degerberg, and Diana Lee Inosanto. S ...

. Inosanto has appeared on YouTube videos talking about training in

Systema Systema () is a Russian martial art, since 1993. There are multiple schools of systems that began appearing after the end of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, with teachers claiming their respective "systems" (usually named after themselves). Tra ...

and appreciation for his teacher, Martin Wheeler.

Notable students

Inosanto teaches The Art and Philosophy of Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Martial Arts,

Shoot Wrestling Shoot wrestling is a Japanese hybrid grappling style and combat sport. Shoot wrestling incorporates techniques from various wrestling, submission grappling, kickboxing and karate styles. It was particularly inspired and influenced by catch ...

, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu,

, and other arts at his

Marina del Rey, California Marina del Rey ( Spanish for "Marina of the King") is an unincorporated seaside community in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The eponymous harbor is a major boating and water recreation destination of the Greater Los Angeles ar ...

school, the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts. * Diana Lee Inosanto *

: Inosanto taught him

Nunchaku is a traditional East-Asian martial arts weapon consisting of two sticks (traditionally made of wood), connected to each other at their ends by a short metal chain or a rope. It is approximately (sticks) and (rope). A person who has pract ...

and staff. *

Brandon Lee Brandon Bruce Lee (February 1, 1965 – March 31, 1993) was an American actor. Establishing himself as a rising action star in the early 1990s, he landed what was to be his breakthrough role as Eric Draven in the supernatural superhero fi ...

* Ron Balicki *

Denzel Washington Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. (born December 28, 1954) is an American actor, producer, and director. Known for his dramatic roles Denzel Washington on screen and stage, on stage and screen, Washington has received List of awards and nominations ...

* Jeff Imada *

Erik Paulson Erik Paulson (born June 28, 1966) is an American mixed martial artist. He is the first American to win the World Light Heavyweight Shooto Championship in Japan. Biography Erik started his career in martial arts starting with Judo at age of e ...

* Graciela Casillas-Tortorelli * Ernest Emerson *

Ricky Nelson Eric Hilliard "Ricky" Nelson (May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985) was an American musician and actor. From age eight, he starred alongside his family in the radio and television series ''The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet''. In 1957, he began a ...

* Jerry Poteet * Salem Assli * Arndt Mallepree

Publications

* ''Filipino Martial Arts as Taught by Dan Inosanto'' by Dan Inosanto * ''Absorb What Is Useful (Jeet Kune Do Guidebook Vol 2)'' by Dan Inosanto * ''Jeet kune do'' by Salem Assli and Dan Inosanto * ''Guide to Martial Arts Training With Equipment'' by Dan Inosanto * ''Jeet Kune Do: The Art & Philosophy of Bruce Lee'' by Dan Inosanto * ''Jeet Kune Do: Conditioning and Grappling Methods'' Intro by Dan Inosanto

Filmography

Actor

* 2008 '' Redbelt'' as Master Joāo "The Professor" Moro * 2007 '' Big Stan'' as Knife fighting Cook * 2003 ''Brazilian Brawl'' as Ruben * 1991 '' Out for Justice'' as "Sticks" * 1986 ''

Big Trouble in Little China ''Big Trouble in Little China'' (also known as ''John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China'') is a 1986 American fantasy action-comedy film directed by John Carpenter, and starring Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, Dennis Dun and James Hong. The ...

'' (as Daniel Inosanto) * 1981 ''

Sharky's Machine ''Sharky's Machine'' is a 1981 American neo-noir action thriller film directed by Burt Reynolds, who stars in the title role. It is the film adaptation of William Diehl's 1978 novel of the same name, with a screenplay by Gerald Di Pego. It also ...

'' as Chin #1 * 1981 ''Long de ying zi'' (as Danny Inosanto) * 1981 ''Skirmish'' * 1981 '' The Chinese Stuntman'' as Filipino Fighter * 1978 ''

'' as Pasquale, Filipino Fighter * 1975 ''

The Killer Elite ''The Killer Elite'' is a 1975 American action film, action thriller film directed by Sam Peckinpah and written by Marc Norman and Stirling Silliphant, adapted from the Robert Syd Hopkins novel ''Monkey in the Middle.'' It stars James Caan and ...

'' as Japanese Killer * 1972 '' The Game of Death'' as 3rd Floor Guardian * 1966 ''

The Green Hornet The Green Hornet is a superhero created in 1936 by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, with input from radio director James Jewell (director), James Jewell. Since his 1930s radio debut, the character has appeared in numerous serialized dramas i ...

'' (episode title: "Praying Mantis") (Stuntman for

Mako , better known by the mononym name Mako (sometimes stylised MAKO), is a Japanese Voice acting in Japan, voice actress, singing, singer and a member of the band Bon-Bon Blanco, in which her prominent role is as the maraca player. She has also perf ...

)

Documentaries

* 2012 '' I Am Bruce Lee'' * 2008 '' The Legend of Bruce Lee'' * 2006 ''

Fight Science ''Fight Science'' is a television program shown on the National Geographic Channel in which scientists and martial arts masters work together to analyze the world's fighting techniques, to compare the disciplines and to find out which one has the ...

'' * 2002 ''Modern Warriors'' * 2002 ''Bruce Lee: The Immortal Dragon'' * 2000 ''Bruce Lee in G.O.D.: Shibôteki yûgi'' * 2000 '' Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey'' * 1999 ''Famous Families'' (The Lees: Action Speaks Louder) * 1998 ''The Path of the Dragon'' * 1997 '' E! True Hollywood Story'' (

) * 1993 '' Bruce Lee: The Curse of the Dragon'' * 1993 '' Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story'' * 1977 ''Bruce Lee, the Legend'' * 1976 ''The Warrior Within'' * 1976 ''

Bruce Lee's Secret ''Bruce Lee's Secret'' is a 1977 Hong Kong martial arts action film directed by Chan Wa and William Cheung Ki, which is also a pseudo biopic of Bruce Lee. It stars Bruce Li (not to be confused with Lee) as "Bob" Lee, whose life is essentially th ...

'' * 1973 ''Life and Legend of Bruce Lee''

Stunts

* 1996 '' Escape from L.A.'' (stunts) * 1966 ''

'' (1 episode) (fight double)

References

Bibliography

* *

External links

Inosanto Academy
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Inosanto, Dan Living people American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu American eskrimadors 1936 births American Jeet Kune Do practitioners American male karateka American male Muay Thai practitioners Muay Thai trainers American martial artists of Filipino descent American male actors Filipino eskrimadors Filipino male karateka American Kenpo practitioners Silat practitioners 20th-century American sportsmen