Trivia

Daughter of Dan Inosanto, Filipino American martial arts icon and Bruce Lee's protege and training partner. Dan Inosanto is an authority on Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts including Escrima and Pencak Silat. Advocate for introducing other multiple martial arts styles on the world stage.

Named at birth, "Diana Lee", after the legendary Bruce Lee when her father,Dan Inosanto decided to honor his famous close friend and martial arts Mentor & teacher.

She is of Filipino, Irish, Chinese, Spanish, and French descent.

Diana's paternal grandfather, Sebastian Inosanto was known as the founder of the Filipino Agricultural Laborers Association, the first union for farm workers in California. Before that, Sebastian Inosanto was a scholar sponsored by the Philippine Islands, then a territory of the United States to study agriculture in the 1920's at the University of California at Davis, later to become one of the pioneer Filipino farm labor contractors in Central California who provided jobs to many Filipinos as well as housed on his property several Filipino families during the Great Depression.

On June 1, 2013, Diana Lee Inosanto would receive on behalf of the Inosanto Family, a certificate by the City of Los Angeles, signed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilmember, Jose Huizar for her family's story of achievements and contributions to betterment of their fellowmen and to the preservation and promotion of Philippine cultural heritage and history, so that their story may be an inspiration to people of all cultures and heritage.

Father of American Kempo Karate, Ed Parker, played matchmaker to Diana Lee Inosanto's parents, Dan Inosanto and Sue Ann Reveal.

Diana comes from a family of women warriors from the Inosanto side of her family. Her first cousin, Celeste Ryan served in law enforcement for 20 years in Los Angeles before becoming a Clinical Psychologist. Her other cousin, Captain Susan Sobrepena served in the US military and received the Bronze Star for her service in Afghanistan.

Diana Lee Inosanto was named "Woman of the Year" by Black Belt Magazine in 2009, serving as a role model for women martial artists and other athletes, while also gracing the cover of "More" magazine designed to empower women over 40. Other covers she graced were Black Belt Magazine, Martial Arts Illustrated, Inside Karate, Self Defense and Inside Kung Fu.

Diana's grandmother's side of the family is from Hawaii. Her grandmother Mary Arca was born on the pineapple plantation fields of Kauai, Kaumakani (formally known as Makaweli ) during the early turn of the 20th century. At that time the islands were a commonwealth of the United States of America before entering statehood.

After the death of her honorary uncle and god-father, Bruce Lee, martial artist and original student, Richard Bustillo became her second god-father.

Diana's paternal, first cousin, Melody (Howe) McLaren who was the daughter of actress Lona Nai (aka Lilia Inosanto) was a successful speech writer for King Charles III in his earlier years as His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales who was the President of Business in the Community, while her cousin's husband, Ian McLaren, was the Financial Development Director for two charities- NSPCC and the MS Society which Anne, Princess Royal was the patron.

Diana's paternal grandparents, Sebastian and Mary Arca Inosanto helped found the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Stockton's historic Little Manila, serving as an ordained elder and the church's Clerk of Session for about 25 years, and later authored a book about its history, tracing its roots as the Filipino Christian Fellowship. Sebastian and Mary also helped form a non-profit corporation called the Filipino Oral History Association which chronicled the history of early Filipino immigrants in Stockton, California and published the book "Voices", which became a valuable resource for other books, writers and historians.

Diana's maternal grandfather, Robert Reveal, was a Trappist monk for the Catholic Church.

Husband is Ron Balicki, Producer, stuntman, Fight Choreographer and Martial Artist and retired professional fighter.