Absorb What Is Useful

by Dan Inosanto

This book reveals innovative teaching and training methods that transcend mere technique and liberates and martial artist to achieve the ultimate goal of self-knowledge.

Paperback

First published June 1, 1982

About the author

Dan Inosanto teaches The Art and Philosophy of Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Martial Arts, Shoot wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Silat, mixed martial arts and other arts at his Marina del Rey, California school, the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts. He was a student of Ed Parker whom he also received a shodan from and practiced his sport in American Kenpo Karate before becoming a student of world famous martial artist Bruce Lee.[2] Inosanto is one of three people allowed by Bruce Lee to teach and spread further his Martial Arts system (Taky Kimura and James Yimm Lee being the other two), and the only one to be given Instructorship in Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do, and that of the third level.[1] Inosanto also studied with dozens of different martial arts masters elsewhere in the United States, Southeast Asia, and Europe, including Johnny Lacoste, and Chai Sirisute.[3] After Bruce Lee's death, he has become the principal spokesperson and historian for Jeet Kune Do.[1] He has had minor roles in a number of movies, including Bruce Lee's uncompleted last film Game of Death (1972). During this time period (1967–75), he also taught physical education at Malaga Cove Intermediate School in Palos Verdes Estates, California.
Only one of the three individuals authorized by Bruce Lee to teach his system of martial arts, 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. Before he knew it, Lee had mastered the weapon "as if he had been doing it his whole life". The Game of Death movie, one of the most recognizable of the Bruce Lee films, showcases the extraordinary skill Lee exhibited in his manipulation and use of the nunchaku. The credit for nunchaku's introduction to Lee in the first place belongs to Inosanto. He is featured as the Black Belt Magazine's 1996 "Man of the Year".
Always a student himself, he continues to train with many highly regarded martial artists. Consequently, he holds Instructor or black belt level ranks in numerous, different martial arts. In addition, he is well 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 countries as Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.[citation needed] 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.

Reviews

[Sylvan Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular masterpiece from Bruce Lee's number one student, showing great concepts that can be transferred to any martial arts system and tailored to your own unique training requirements. Expertly demonstrates the comparison between non essential movements and effective practical self defence and martial arts movements. This book isn't for participants looking for a quick win solution to street combat or ring craft, on the contrary it is a definite must have for any keen martial artist who is looking to get under the skin of their art and break it down to its bare essentials in order to truly understand the working mechanics behind the concept of effective strategic application management of their chosen art, without losing its integrity, ethos and tenets.