Also known as
Carlos Ray Norris
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
sports_martial_artsJeet Kune Do
Confirmed
(1967–1972)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
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 Leelink
info
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Gene LeBell
sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō
Confirmed
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
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Independent sources state it.
“Norris continued his martial arts training with [...] Judo expert Gene LeBell”
“Bob Wall, a former world professional karate champion and a friend of
LeBell's, used to bring martial arts stars Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee to
train in karate and judo with LeBell.”
— Jacobs, Mark. (1995-04-03). Tough Guys Wear Pink:
In Any Color, Judo Master and Film Stuntman Gene LeBell Is One Hard Hombre
link
history
info
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Shin Jae Chul
sports_martial_artsTang Soo Do
Confirmed
(1958–1961)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sources
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Norris names Shin as his primary instructor; independent sources agree.
“During this time he trained in various martial arts styles [...] Tang Soo
Do-Moo Duk Kwan with Shin Jae Chul”
“One of those servicemen was Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris”
“"Grand Master Mun was one of several Korean black belts I trained under
but Jae Chul Shin was my primary instructor," said Chuck Norris.”
— (2015-07-01). Chuck Norris' martial arts roots
still planted at Osan Air Baselink
info
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Tsutomu Ohshima
sports_martial_artsShotokan
Probable
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
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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”
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Hidetaka Nishiyama
sports_martial_artsShotokan
Probable
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
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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”
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Fumio Demura
sports_martial_artsShito-ryu
Confirmed
(1966)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
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Demura's own account and Wikipedia state it.
“Norris continued his martial arts training with [...] Shitō-ryū Karate
instructor Fumio Demura”
““‘66, Chuck Norris came over to this dojo, and he want to study from me,”
Demura told Arab News.”
— (2020-07-24). Hollywood’s martial arts master
Sensei Fumio Demura keeps fightinglink
info
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Carlos Machado
sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu
Confirmed
(1988)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
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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
sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu
Confirmed
(1989)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
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
“Notable students [...] Chuck Norris”
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Jean Jacques Machado
sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu
Confirmed
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
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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
“Notable students [...] Chuck Norris”
Ranks (3)
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military_tech10 dan
Probable
Dan-Kyu System (1990)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
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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
Probable
BJJ Ranking System
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
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Awarded by the Machado family; documented in Wikipedia
“a 3rd-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu from the Machado family”
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military_tech9 dan
Probable
Dan-Kyu System (1966)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
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”
Identifiers
https://martial.is/entity/01KYFPRMG73S8Q8M1YKQ3S5EQF
Cite and reuse
CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Chuck Norris. In Martialis: Martial Arts
Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KYFPRMG73S8Q8M1YKQ3S5EQF - CC
BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KYFPRMG73S8Q8M1YKQ3S5EQF, author = {Muñoz, Frederico},
title = {Chuck Norris}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database},
year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url =
{https://martial.is/entity/01KYFPRMG73S8Q8M1YKQ3S5EQF}, urldate =
{ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
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