Dan Inosanto
Daniel Arca "Dan" Inosanto (born July 24, 1936) is a Filipino-American martial arts instructor who is best known as a training partner of Bruce Lee. Inosanto is an authority on Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts including Eskrima and Pencak Silat.[1]
Dan Inosanto | |
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Inosanto in Irvine, California | |
Born | |
Occupation | Martial arts Instructor, Actor |
Style | Jeet Kune Do, Eskrima, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, American Kenpo, Muay Thai, Pencak Silat |
Spouse(s) |
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Children | Diana Lee Inosanto, Lance Arca Inosanto and Danielle Inosanto |
Parent(s) | Sebastian Inosanto, Mary Arca Inosanto |
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 Karate and later also Judo and Jujutsu. He was a student of Ed Parker, from whom he received a shodan rank in American Kenpo.[2] 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, Southeast Asia, and Europe, including Henry Slomanski[3], Johnny Lacoste, and Chai Sirisute.[4] After Bruce Lee's death, Inosanto became the principal spokesperson and historian for Jeet Kune Do.[1] He has had minor roles in a number of films, including Bruce Lee's uncompleted last film Game of Death (1972). During this time period (1964–75), he also taught physical education at Malaga Cove Intermediate School in Palos Verdes Estates, California.
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. The Game of Death movie, one of the most recognizable of the Bruce Lee films, showcases the use of the nunchaku 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.[5] 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 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. Inosanto has appeared on YouTube videos talking about training in Systema and appreciation for his teacher, Martin Wheeler.[6]
Famous students
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.
Dan Inosanto's famous students include
- Diana Lee Inosanto: daughter, actress, stuntwoman, writer and producer[7][8]
- Brandon Lee: deceased son of the late Bruce Lee[8]
- Ron Balicki: stuntman, actor, producer, and son-in-law of Dan Inosanto[7]
- 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[9]
- Edgar Sulite: founder and creator of Lameco Eskrima[10]
- Jeff Imada: stuntman, actor, fight choreographer[7][11] (The Crow, Bourne series, Iron Man 2, The Green Hornet, Hanna)[12]
- 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 (CSW)[13]
- Graciela Casillas-Tortorelli[14]
- Ernest Emerson[15] Martial artist and custom knife manufacturer.
- Ricky Nelson[16]
- Ryan Gruhn: MMA Coach, Dog Brother, BJJ Black Belt.
- Jerry Poteet[7][17]
- Yorinaga Nakamura: Shoot Wrestler
- Anderson Silva: MMA fighter[18]
Publications
- "Filipino Martial Arts as Taught by Dan Inosanto" by Dan Inosanto ISBN 0-938676-01-6
- "Absorb What Is Useful (Jeet Kune Do Guidebook Vol 2)" 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 on IMDb
Actor
- Redbelt (2008) .... Joao Moro
- Big Stan (2007) .... Knife fighting Cook
- Brazilian Brawl (2003) (V) .... Ruben
- Out for Justice (1991) .... Sticks
- Big Trouble in Little China (1986) (as Daniel Inosanto)
- Sharky's Machine (1981) .... Chin No. 1
- Long de ying zi (1981) (as Danny Inosanto)
- Skirmish (1981)
- The Chinese Stuntman (1981) (Filipino fighter)
- Game of Death (1978) (Filipino fighter named Pasquale) ...
- The Killer Elite (1975) (Japanese killer)
- The Game of Death (1972) (3rd Floor Guardian) ....
- The Green Hornet (1966) (episode title: "Praying Mantis") (Stuntman for Mako)
Documentaries
- I Am Bruce Lee (2012)
- Fight Science (2006)
- Modern Warriors (2002)
- Bruce Lee: The Immortal Dragon (2002)
- Bruce Lee in G.O.D.: Shibôteki yûgi (2000)
- Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey (2000)
- Famous Families (1999) (The Lees: Action Speaks Louder)
- The Path of the Dragon (1998)
- E! True Hollywood Story (Brandon Lee) (1997)
- Bruce Lee: The Curse of the Dragon (1993)
- Bruce Lee, the Legend (1977)
- The Warrior Within (1976)
- Life and Legend of Bruce Lee (1973)
- Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993)
- Bruce Lee's Secret (1976)
- The Legend of Bruce Lee (2008)
Stunts
- Escape from L.A. (1996) (stunts)
- The Green Hornet (1 episode, 1966) (fight double)
References
- Kelly 2000, pp. 46–50
- Kelly 2000, p. 24.
- "VeteranOfTheDay Dan Inosanto". www.blogs.va.gov.
- Kelly 2000, p. 31.
- "Dan Inosanto Profile". Martialinfo.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2017.
- Martin Wheeler (2016-09-20), Martin Wheeler - On Systema by Guro Dan Inosanto, retrieved 2019-06-21
- Kelly 2000, p. 130
- Kelly 2000, p. 109
- "The Book of Eli - Denzel Washington Interview, Comic Con". Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
- Kelly 2000, p. 51.
- Imada, Jeff (1984), The Balisong Manual, California: Unique Publications, p. 130, ISBN 0-86568-102-3
- "Jeff Imada". IMDb. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
- Beasley, Jerry (2001), Jeet Kune Do Experience: Understanding Bruce Lee's Ultimate Martial Art, Paladin Press, p. 216, ISBN 1-58160-131-X
- Kelly 2000, p. 131.
- Combs, Roger (2004), "Emerson Knives", Knives Illustrated, 18 (2): 36–41, 65–69
- Kelly 2000, p. 145.
- Kelly 2000, p. 133
- "Comments". M.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
Notes
- Tucci, Rick (1994). "Dan Inosanto Returns to Black Belt". Black Belt Magazine. Vol. 33 no. 8. p. 42-43-44-45-48-140-141.
Further reading
- Baiss, Bridget. The Crow: The Story Behind The Film. London: Making of The Crow Inc, 2000. ISBN 1-870048-54-7.
- Kelly, Perry (2000). Dan Inosanto: The Man, The Teacher, The Artist. Paladin Press. ISBN 978-1-58160-079-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Balicki, Ron. Gold, Steven (2007). Jeet Kune Do: The Principles of a Complete Fighter, HNL Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9531766-3-2
- Seaman, Kevin (1999), Jun Fan Gung Fu Seeking The Path Of Jeet Kune Do, S.l.: Health 'N' Life, ISBN 0-9531766-2-2