A true martial arts Master is without ego. Usually, the martial artist who does the most talking about his/her deadly skills is also the martial artist who is most insecure. The true master has no need to boast. Actions speak louder than words.
One of the best examples of a martial arts master is Dan Inosanto. He is humble, down to earth, kind and possesses legendary skills. Looking at his background, that should come as no surprise. He began training in Okinawa Te and Ju-Jitsu at the young age of ten. He then took up Judo with Duke Yoshimura in 1957 and then Chito-Ryu in 1959.
In 1961, he met a person who would have an impact on his life forever. The man's name was Ed Parker, the "Father of American Karate." Parker introduced Inosanto to Bruce Lee in 1964 at the International Karate Championships. Inosanto was in charge of showing Bruce around town. After taking Bruce back to his hotel, the two continued their discussion of martial arts throughout the night until the early morning hours. Bruce offered to spar Inosanto. The rules? Bruce would use only his jab against all of Inosanto's empty handed tools. The results? Inosanto instantly became a dedicated student of Bruce Lee!
Lee must have found something he liked in Inosanto. Inosanto quickly became one of Lee's best friends and his top student. While Lee was away filming movies, Inosanto took over the teaching duties. Inosanto was instrumental in helping Lee with the development of the concepts and theories of Jeet Kune Do. JKD was a revolutionary way of approaching the study and practice of martial arts. Instead of being bound by one specific style, Lee and Inosanto studied a variety of martial arts. Once the strengths and weaknesses of each style were understood, the weaknesses were discarded while the strengths remained within their own personal methods. The objective was not to develop a new "style" but to develop a martial arts method that will work for the individual. Because of genetic makeup (speed, timing, size, strength, endurance, etc.) and personal preference, martial artists should not be molded into the same robotic mode of self-defense. Each person is different, and therefore will express themselves somewhat differently.
Today, Inosanto keeps busy running his martial arts academy in Los Angeles. He also travels the world 48 weekends a year teaching the martial arts. Not only is he the leading authority on Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do, but he is also instructor certified in over 20 different styles of Filipino Martial Arts. He is President of the Shoot Wrestling Association, instructor certified in Thaiboxing, Krabi Krabong, Wing Chun, Kenpo Karate, Shorin Ryu Karate, Tai Chi, several styles of Indonesian, Malaysian, and Filipino Silat, Jeet Kune Do, and many more. With an empty cup he continues to learn new styles and methods. One of his latest endeavors is the study of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Dan Inosanto is without a doubt a true martial arts master. He is void of any ego and possesses world class skill.
If you ever have the opportunity to meet this living legend, do it. You won't be sorry.
Written by Tim Mousel, © Copyright 1996
