Meet Dan Inosanto’s Kids: Diana Lee Inosanto, Danielle Inosanto, and Lance Arca Inosanto

Daniel Arca Inosanto, widely known as Dan Inosanto, was born on July 24, 1936, in Stockton, California, and is regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern martial arts.

A Filipino-American martial artist, instructor, and actor, his heritage profoundly shaped his lifelong dedication to Filipino martial arts (FMA), including Kali and Eskrima, which he helped popularize worldwide.

Inosanto’s introduction to martial arts began at the age of 11 when his uncle trained him in traditional Okinawan Karate. Over time, he expanded his practice to Judo and Jujutsu, laying the foundation for a diverse combat repertoire.

From 1959 to 1961, he served as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, sharpening both discipline and resilience. Afterward, he worked as a physical education teacher at Malaga Cove Intermediate School in Palos Verdes Estates, California, from 1964 to 1975, before dedicating himself fully to martial arts instruction.

Standing at 5 feet 6 inches tall, Inosanto is now 89 years old. His parents’ names are Sebastian Inosanto and Mary Arca Inosanto.

Inosanto’s legacy is inseparable from his close relationship with Bruce Lee, with whom he trained extensively. He became one of only three individuals certified by Lee to teach at the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institutes, alongside Taky Kimura and James Yimm Lee.

Following Lee’s death in 1973, Inosanto carried forward the Jeet Kune Do philosophy as its principal spokesperson and historian, authoring books, producing training videos, and founding the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts in Marina del Rey, California.

His expertise spans Jeet Kune Do, Kali, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Silat, among other disciplines, making him a global authority on the integration of martial arts.

Beyond instruction, he appeared in several films, most notably Game of Death (1972) with Bruce Lee, and even trained the Dallas Cowboys before their Super Bowl XII victory in 1977. His impact extended far beyond Hollywood and sports, inspiring generations of martial artists worldwide.

On the personal front, Inosanto has been married twice. His first marriage was to Sue Inosanto, a dancer of Irish descent, with whom he had three children: Diana Lee Inosanto (an actress, director, and martial artist), Danielle Inosanto, and Lance Arca Inosanto.

After their separation, he later married Paula Inosanto. Notably, Bruce Lee served as godfather to Diana, cementing the family’s deep ties to martial arts history.

Dan Inosanto is remembered not only as Bruce Lee’s protégé but also as a cultural bridge who elevated Filipino martial arts to international prominence. His teachings, family legacy, and enduring academy stand as living proof of his lifelong mission: to preserve tradition while embracing innovation in martial arts.

Diana Lee Inosanto

Born on May 29, 1966, in Torrance, California, Diana Lee Inosanto was named in honor of her godfather, Bruce Lee, a gesture that foreshadowed her lifelong entanglement with martial arts and entertainment.

Raised in Carson and Harbor City, California, alongside her siblings, Diana attended Narbonne High School and grew up in the epicenter of her father’s world at the Inosanto Academy. Her mother, Sue, introduced her to dance, while her aunt, actress Lilia Inosanto (known as Lona Nai), nurtured her dramatic talents.

However, it was her father’s tutelage in Jeet Kune Do, Eskrima, and Filipino martial arts that defined her early years, earning her black belt status and featuring her in magazines such as Black Belt, Martial Arts, and Inside Kung Fu.

In 2009, Black Belt named her Woman of the Year, recognizing her as a trailblazer for female martial artists. Diana‘s multifaceted career spans acting, directing, stunts, and writing. She debuted as an actress in the TV series Moonlighting and transitioned into stunt work, doubling for stars like Linda Park in episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise, such as “Countdown” and “Affliction.”

Her stunt choreography credits include films like I, Frankenstein (2012) and theater productions for East West Players, where she served as martial arts choreographer for Dan Kwong‘s Be Like Water (2008).

Behind the camera, Diana wrote, directed, and starred in the indie drama The Sensei (2008), a poignant tale of mentorship inspired by her family’s legacy. In 2020, she published her first children’s book, The Curious Mind of Sebastian, a heartfelt story drawn from her experiences raising her son Sebastian Inosanto, who is on the autism spectrum, and her older son Zachary Inosanto.

Diana‘s breakthrough in mainstream Hollywood came with her portrayal of the cunning Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth in Disney’s The Mandalorian (Season 2, Episode “Chapter 13: The Jedi,” 2020), where she wielded a beskar spear in a historic lightsaber duel against Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson)—the first on-screen lightsaber battle between two female characters in live-action Star Wars.

She reprised the role in Ahsoka (2023) and voiced it in the animated Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (2024). Married to fellow martial artist and stuntman Ron Balicki, with whom she co-founded Zen Mountain LLC production company, Diana continues to advocate for inclusive storytelling and women’s empowerment in action cinema.

As she reflected in interviews, her philosophy echoes Dr. Mae Jemison‘s: “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.”

Danielle Inosanto

Danielle Inosanto, the middle child of Dan and Sue Inosanto, has chosen a path that echoes her family’s emphasis on martial arts while embracing a more private life away from the spotlight.

Born in the late 1960s or early 1970s in California, Danielle grew up in a martial arts-saturated environment alongside her siblings, training under her father’s guidance at the Inosanto Academy.

Genealogical records confirm her as a full sibling to Diana and Lance, sharing the family’s Filipino, Chinese, Spanish, and Irish heritage. Like her sister Diana, Danielle immersed herself in Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Kali from a young age, benefiting from Dan Inosanto‘s extensive network of masters, which included influences from Bruce Lee and Southeast Asian traditions.

While not as publicly documented as Diana‘s achievements, Danielle‘s involvement in the family legacy is evident through her ties to the academy, where she has been noted in family photos and historical accounts.

She embodies the Inosanto principle of martial arts as a “practice of love—for the preservation of life, body, and family,” a quote often attributed to her father in dojo teachings. Danielle‘s contributions likely extend to supporting the academy’s seminars and private instruction, though she avoids media appearances.

Living a grounded life in California, she represents the quiet strength that underpins the Inosanto dynasty, prioritizing family and personal growth over fame.

Lance Arca Inosanto

Lance Arca Inosanto, the youngest of Dan and Sue‘s children, carries forward the family name with a nod to his paternal grandmother, Mary Arca Inosanto.

Born around 1970 in California—four years after Diana—Lance was steeped in the martial arts tradition from infancy, training alongside his siblings in the family’s Marina del Rey academy. Public records indicate that he was 54 years old as of recent years, residing in California with ties to relatives, including his mother, Sue, and extended family members.

His middle name, Arca, honors his Filipino roots, linking him directly to his grandfather Sebastian Inosanto, a pioneering Filipino farm labor contractor in California’s Central Valley during the Great Depression.

His biography is closely tied to the Inosanto Academy’s operations. Historical family photos, such as those from tributes to Bruce Lee, often feature him alongside Diana, Lilia Inosanto, and Mary Arca Inosanto, highlighting the close-knit family dynamic.

Lance‘s involvement in martial arts mirrors his father’s eclectic approach, likely encompassing Jeet Kune Do, Kali, and grappling arts, though specific ranks or competitions are not widely publicized. An email address associated with him, “koolhandlance,” suggests a laid-back personality amidst the discipline of training.

In 2013, the City of Los Angeles honored the Inosanto family with a certificate for their contributions to Philippine cultural heritage, with Lance as part of the recognized lineage.