Also known as

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)

• 
  Bruce Lee

  linkJeet Kune Do 3

  Confirmed

  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

  (1967-1972)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Norris met Bruce Lee and the two developed a friendship as well as a training and working relationship"

  — Chuck Norris (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo

  "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
• 
  Gene LeBell

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 2

  Probable

  Norris trained in Judo under Gene LeBell as part of developing American Tang Soo Do; documented in American Tang Soo Do Wikipedia article

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Norris trained in Judo under Gene LeBell as part of developing American Tang Soo Do; documented in American Tang Soo Do Wikipedia article

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Norris continued his martial arts training with... Judo expert Gene LeBell"

  — American Tang Soo Do (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
• 
  Shin Jae Chul

  linkTang Soo Do 3

  Confirmed

  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

  (1958-1961)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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"

  — Shin Jae-chul (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
• 
  Tsutomu Ohshima

  linkShotokan 2

  Probable

  Norris trained under Tsutomu Ohshima in Shotokan Karate; documented in American Tang Soo Do article and Ohshima's biography

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Norris trained under Tsutomu Ohshima in Shotokan Karate; documented in American Tang Soo Do article and Ohshima's biography

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Norris continued his martial arts training with Shotokan Karate masters Tsutomu Ohshima"

  — American Tang Soo Do (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo

  Tsutomu Ohshima (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
• 
  Hidetaka Nishiyama

  linkShotokan 2

  Probable

  Norris trained under Hidetaka Nishiyama in Shotokan Karate; documented in American Tang Soo Do article and Nishiyama's biography

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Norris trained under Hidetaka Nishiyama in Shotokan Karate; documented in American Tang Soo Do article and Nishiyama's biography

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Norris continued his martial arts training with Shotokan Karate masters Hidetaka Nishiyama"

  — American Tang Soo Do (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo

  Hidetaka Nishiyama (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
• 
  Fumio Demura

  linkShito-ryu 2

  Probable

  Norris trained under Fumio Demura in Shito-ryu Karate; documented in American Tang Soo Do article and Demura's biography

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Norris trained under Fumio Demura in Shito-ryu Karate; documented in American Tang Soo Do article and Demura's biography

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Norris continued his martial arts training with Shito-ryu Karate instructor Fumio Demura"

  — American Tang Soo Do (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo

  Fumio Demura (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
• 
  Carlos Machado

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

  Confirmed

  Carlos Machado was Norris's primary BJJ instructor from 1988 onward; Norris earned his black belt under Carlos; confirmed by multiple sources

  (1988)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Carlos Machado was Norris's primary BJJ instructor from 1988 onward; Norris earned his black belt under Carlos; confirmed by multiple sources

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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

  Carlos Machado (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
• 
  Rigan Machado

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

  Confirmed

  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

  (1989)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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

  Rigan Machado (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
• 
  Jean Jacques Machado

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 2

  Probable

  Jean Jacques Machado was part of the Machado brothers team that taught Norris; Norris helped them open their school

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Jean Jacques Machado was part of the Machado brothers team that taught Norris; Norris helped them open their school

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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

  Jean Jacques Machado (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo

Ranks (3)

• linkChuck Norris System

  military_tech10 dan 3

  Confirmed

  Norris founded the style and holds its highest rank; documented in Wikipedia

  Dan-Kyu System (1990)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Norris founded the style and holds its highest rank; documented in Wikipedia

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "10th degree black belt in Chun Kuk Do"

  — Chuck Norris (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
• linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu

  receipt_longBlack belt, degree 3 3

  Confirmed

  Awarded by the Machado family; documented in Wikipedia

  BJJ Ranking System

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Awarded by the Machado family; documented in Wikipedia

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Norris held a 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu from the Machado family"

  — Chuck Norris (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo
• linkAmerican Tang Soo Do

  military_tech9 dan 3

  Confirmed

  Norris co-founded American Tang Soo Do and attained 9th degree black belt; documented in Wikipedia

  Dan-Kyu System (1966)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Norris co-founded American Tang Soo Do and attained 9th degree black belt; documented in Wikipedia

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "9th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do"

  — Chuck Norris (Wikipedia EN)linkinfo

Sources