Dan Inosanto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dan Inosanto
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| Born | July 24, 1936 Stockton, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Martial arts instructor, actor |
| Style | Jeet Kune Do, Eskrima, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, American Kenpo, Muay Thai, Pencak Silat, Tai Chi, Shoot Wrestling, Judo |
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| Children | 3, including Diana Lee Inosanto |
Dan Inosanto (born July 24, 1936) is an American martial arts instructor and actor. He is famous for teaching many different martial arts styles. He holds high-level ranks, like a black belt, in several of these arts.
Dan Inosanto studied traditional Okinawan karate, Judo, Jujutsu, Kenpo, Shoot wrestling, Systema, Filipino martial arts, and Jeet Kune Do. He was one of only three people chosen by Bruce Lee to teach at his special martial arts schools, called Jun Fan Gung Fu institutes. After Bruce Lee passed away, Inosanto became the main person to talk about and share the history of Jeet Kune Do.
Inosanto also trained many famous Hollywood actors, including Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris. He has acted in several movies, like Bruce Lee's unfinished film Game of Death (1972) and Steven Seagal's Out for Justice (1991).
Early Life and Training
Dan Inosanto started learning martial arts when he was 11 years old. His uncle first taught him traditional Okinawan Karate, and later also Judo and Jujutsu. He also learned from Ed Parker, who gave him a shodan rank (a type of black belt) in American Kenpo.
From 1959 to 1961, Dan served in the military as a paratrooper. This means he was trained to jump out of airplanes with a parachute. He was part of the 101st Airborne Division. While in the military, he continued to improve his martial arts skills.
Inosanto was one of only three people chosen to teach at Bruce Lee's Jun Fan Gung Fu Institutes. The other two were Taky Kimura and James Yimm Lee. Inosanto also traveled to learn from many other martial arts masters around the world. After Bruce Lee's death, Inosanto became the main person to explain and share the history of Jeet Kune Do.
He also had small roles in movies, including Bruce Lee's last film, Game of Death (1972). From 1964 to 1975, he taught physical education at a school in California. In 1977, the Dallas Cowboys football team asked him to teach martial arts to their players for training.
A film called I Am Bruce Lee shared an interesting fact about Dan Inosanto and Bruce Lee's friendship. Inosanto actually taught Bruce Lee how to use nunchaku. He showed Lee the basics and some exercises to help him start his weapons training. The movie Game of Death shows both Lee and Inosanto using nunchaku. In 1996, Black Belt magazine named him "Man of the Year."
Dan Inosanto holds high-level ranks in many martial arts. He is especially known for helping to make Filipino Martial Arts more popular. He introduced many lesser-known forms from Southeast Asia, like Silat. Silat is a mixed fighting style found in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. He also has a fifth-degree black belt in the Machado family style of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He learned Shoot wrestling from Yorinaga Nakamura. Today, he helps lead Lameco International, continuing the Eskrima style of the late Filipino martial artist Edgar Sulite. Inosanto has also shared videos online about training in Systema.
Famous Students
Dan Inosanto teaches many different martial arts at his school in Marina del Rey, California. His school is called the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts. He teaches The Art and Philosophy of Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Martial Arts, Shoot wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Eskrima, Muay Thai, Silat, and mixed martial arts.
Some of his notable students include:
- Diana Lee Inosanto (his daughter)
- Bruce Lee (Inosanto taught him Nunchaku and staff)
- Brandon Lee
- Denzel Washington
- Chuck Norris (not listed in the original student list, but mentioned in the lead)
- Ricky Nelson
Film Roles
Dan Inosanto has appeared in several movies and documentaries.
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 (as Daniel Inosanto)
- 1981 Sharky's Machine as Chin #1
- 1981 Long de ying zi (as Danny Inosanto)
- 1981 Skirmish
- 1981 The Chinese Stuntman as Filipino Fighter
- 1978 Game of Death as Pasquale, Filipino Fighter
- 1975 The Killer Elite as Japanese Killer
- 1972 The Game of Death as 3rd Floor Guardian
- 1966 The Green Hornet (episode title: "Praying Mantis") (Stuntman for Mako)
Documentaries
- 2012 I Am Bruce Lee
- 2008 The Legend of Bruce Lee
- 2006 Fight Science
- 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 (Brandon Lee)
- 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
- 1973 Life and Legend of Bruce Lee
Stunts
- 1996 Escape from L.A. (stunts)
- 1966 The Green Hornet (1 episode) (fight double)
See also
In Spanish: Dan Inosanto para niños
