Long before the world came to know Chuck Norris through the lens of entertainment, he had already earned deep respect where it mattered most—on the mats, in the dojo, and among those who truly understood discipline.
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Gotta protect the brand.
He competed in the 80’s ?(well obviously he did since you write so, I’m just surprised)
I thought he got into movies through friendship with Bruce Lee….and so the other Hollywood actors that studied with B.L ?I had a lot of respect for Chuck Norris, one of the greatest tournament fighters (both in point and full contact sparring) and his kata was also at a high level. I saw him compete in the late 60's where he outclassed his opponents with his combinations, competed in his Four Seasons karate tournament and later met him at the Internationals. Equally important, he was a terrific ambassador for the art, by all accounts one of the "good guys." Now, that said, let's all keep it real.
Hollywood is not real, nor IMO was his acting ability. He was fortunate his brother was in the business and helped get him get into acting where he (somehow) became a star to the non-MA public. I liked him best as a television spokesperson for the home gym - his sincerity and regular guy persona clearly showing. (I also liked Christly Brinkley, one of the cutest women ever! who appeared with him
I want to keep things in perspective, honoring him as a martial artist and as an individual, rather than an overblown media superstar. He had millions of fans who watched Walker, Texas Ranger, and that's OK for the general public. But I'd hate to see that fame overshadow his standing in the TMA community and the skills he dedicated himself to attaining. He was someone, like us, who drilled, strived, sweated and strengthen his character in pursuit of his art.
He was still bringing it in the early '80's. They were friendlies so, not for accruing points in the circuit. Competition is hard to get out of your system.
Chuck's school was on Ventura Blvd. which runs along the north base of the Hollywood Hills, an area home to many in the entertainment field so he had much exposure to them, aside from his brother and Bruce Lee. There was a combination of things which facilitated his move into the field.
I have come to understand C.N learned ”karate” while stationed in Korea(he was already into Judo), was this also the case with his brother , or did C.N teach his brother when he came back to the US?
I beleive Aaron Norris learned his MA from his brother and help organize the Chuck's MA organization
No need for quote marks, IMO. TSD in those days was just considered another karate style as practiced in Korea. Chuck's fighting/kata looked much like everyone else's, only a bit better.
Negative ghost rider. Hwang Kee did have strong influence from Japanese Karate and Chinese styles, but TSD was his (Korean) project starting sometime around 1936..
Not making a representation of TSD origins, just that it did not look much different from all the other styles competing back then (I saw Norris both spar and do forms - looked like karate) and within the general MA community was "considered" and often referred to as a Korean karate style.
Chuck Norris got his first black belts in Korea in Tang Soo Do under Master Mun Sik Do
