Set in the late ’70s and early ’80s when AIDS was first ravaging both urban and rural communities throughout America, The Sensei recreates the intolerant hysteria that ostracized those who first took ill, and the rampant homophobia within martial arts schools that denied young gays the opportunity to learn how to defend themselves against hate crimes accelerated by fears of the disease. Though nearly 30 years ago, attitudes have not changed as much as one might expect. When The Sensei screened in early December on World AIDS Day at the Anchorage International Film Festival, Inosanto received an enthusiastic standing ovation even as one guy told her his black belt would be stripped away if he took in a gay student. Since then she has received support from gay martial artists who remain closeted or others who feel they cannot openly take a stance.

Diana Lee Inosanto (born May 29, 1973) is a Filipino American actress, stuntwoman, martial artist and film director. Inosanto grew up in Torrance, California, and is the daughter of Dan Inosanto and Sue Ann Reveal, and godchild of Bruce Lee, after whom she was named. As a single mother she raised a son with autism. In 1995 she married Ron Balicki, one of her father's former students, and with whom she has two sons.