Description
Chuck Norris (1940–2026) was an American martial artist, actor, and founder of
the Chuck Norris System (formerly Chun Kuk Do) and American Tang Soo Do. He
served in the US Air Force in South Korea, where he began training in Tang Soo
Do. He became undefeated world middleweight karate champion and trained
regularly with Bruce Lee, who invited him to co-star in Way of the Dragon
(1972). He later became a major action film and television star.
Teachers (9)
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Bruce Lee
(1967-1972)
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2 sources
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Norris met Bruce Lee in 1967 and they trained together twice weekly for 3-4
hours; Lee taught Norris kung fu, Norris taught Lee tae kwon do kicks;
documented in multiple sources
"Norris met Bruce Lee and the two developed a friendship as well as a
training and working relationship"
"Lee invited Norris to work out in his backyard, where they trained twice a
week for three or four hours at a time. They exchanged techniques, with Lee
showing Norris kung fu moves and Norris teaching Lee tae kwon do kicks"
— Maeda (2022) - Like Water: A Cultural History of
Bruce Leelinkinfo
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Gene LeBell
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1 source
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Norris trained in Judo under Gene LeBell as part of developing American Tang Soo
Do; documented in American Tang Soo Do Wikipedia article
"Norris continued his martial arts training with... Judo expert Gene
LeBell"
— American Tang Soo Do (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
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Shin Jae Chul
(1958-1961)
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2 sources
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Norris trained in Tang Soo Do under Shin Jae Chul while stationed at Osan Air
Base in South Korea (1958-1961); confirmed by both the American Tang Soo Do
article and Shin's dedicated Wikipedia biography
"During this time he trained in various martial arts styles... Tang Soo
Do-Moo Duk Kwan with Shin Jae Chul"
— American Tang Soo Do (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
"One of those servicemen was Carlos Ray 'Chuck' Norris"
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Tsutomu Ohshima
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Norris trained under Tsutomu Ohshima in Shotokan Karate; documented in American
Tang Soo Do article and Ohshima's biography
"Norris continued his martial arts training with Shotokan Karate masters
Tsutomu Ohshima"
— American Tang Soo Do (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
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Hidetaka Nishiyama
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2 sources
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Norris trained under Hidetaka Nishiyama in Shotokan Karate; documented in
American Tang Soo Do article and Nishiyama's biography
"Norris continued his martial arts training with Shotokan Karate masters
Hidetaka Nishiyama"
— American Tang Soo Do (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
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Fumio Demura
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2 sources
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Norris trained under Fumio Demura in Shito-ryu Karate; documented in American
Tang Soo Do article and Demura's biography
"Norris continued his martial arts training with Shito-ryu Karate
instructor Fumio Demura"
— American Tang Soo Do (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
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Carlos Machado
linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu
3
(1988)
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Carlos Machado was Norris's primary BJJ instructor from 1988 onward; Norris
earned his black belt under Carlos; confirmed by multiple sources
"Chuck Norris went on to earn his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt under
Carlos Machado"
— Chuck Norris sparring BJJ with Carlos Machado
(MixedMartialArts.com)link
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Rigan Machado
linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu
3
(1989)
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2 sources
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Rigan Machado was one of Norris's BJJ instructors for over 30 years; Norris
helped Rigan obtain US citizenship and open his academy; confirmed by multiple
sources
"When he started training, he wanted to train every day... He put mats in
his house. I started going to his house, training every day"
— Chuck Norris' Legendary Jiu-Jitsu Coach Rigan
Machado, Rickson Gracie Talk Legacy (TMZ)link
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Jean Jacques Machado
linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu
2
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Jean Jacques Machado was part of the Machado brothers team that taught Norris;
Norris helped them open their school
"We have one amazing human being and student, which happens to be Chuck
Norris"
— Jean Jacques Machado Pays Tribute to Chuck Norris
for Launching Their Jiu-Jitsu School (BJJDoc)link
Ranks (3)
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Dan-Kyu System (1990)
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Norris founded the style and holds its highest rank; documented in Wikipedia
"10th degree black belt in Chun Kuk Do"
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receipt_longBlack belt, degree 3
3
BJJ Ranking System
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1 source
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Awarded by the Machado family; documented in Wikipedia
"Norris held a 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu from the
Machado family"
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Dan-Kyu System (1966)
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1 source
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Norris co-founded American Tang Soo Do and attained 9th degree black belt;
documented in Wikipedia
"9th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do"
Linked data
https://martial.is/entity/01KYFPRMG73S8Q8M1YKQ3S5EQF