Born:March the 10th 1940
We all Know of Chuck Norris a world class Martial artist who came to fame in the Bruce Lee film ''Way of the Dragon''but before this he was a competition fighter who won numerous fights in competition and was the world Karate champion a astonishing 7 times.
But first lets take a look back.Norris was born in Ryan, Oklahoma, the son of Wilma and Ray Norris, who was a mechanic, bus driver, and truck driver. Norris' paternal grandfather (an immigrant) and maternal grandmother were of Irish descent, while his paternal grandmother and maternal grandfather were Cherokee Native Americans .His parents divorced when he was sixteen and moved away to Kansas and later on California.
As a child Norris was shy and uninterested in studies ''he day dreamed a lot''Often bullied he dreamed of beating his adversaries.Home life was hard on Norris as his father was a drinker and this affected him.
In 1958 he signed up to the Air force and became a Air Policeman (AP). It was from this that he was sent to Osan air base in South Korea and this led him to undertaking the art of Tang Soo Do.He attained Black Belts in Tang Soo Do and from this came Chun Kuk Do a art he devised himself from his training's.
He later went on to set up federations such as Kickstart ,a organisation to stop drugs in schools.Norris left the air force in 1962 while based at a base in the USA.He set up Karate schools in his local area's ,these schools had students that were famous or where about to be,like Steve Mc'Queen and Chad Mc'Queen .
In his first two tournaments Norris was beaten by the Legendary Joe Lewis and Allen Steen.
But with perseverance he continued to compete and began winning against top fighters like Skipper Mullins, Arnold Urquidez, Victor Moore, and Ron Marchini.
In 1968 Norris felt his last defeat Louis Delgado.He avenged his defeat to Delgado and in turn won the Professional Middleweight Karate champion title, which he held for six consecutive years.In 1969, he won Karate's triple crown for the most tournament wins of the year, and the Fighter of the Year award by Black Belt Magazine.
Now Chuck Norris's own Chun Kuk Do has many schools and students must abide by the Tenants set out by Chuck.In a similar way to Taekwondo's or Tang Soo Do's own Tenants.
Below they are listed for you
Chuck's first film acting role came when he was offered a part in the Dean Martin film ''The Wrecking Crew'' in 1969, but it was after attending a martial arts demonstration in Long Beach California in 1972 that changed it all for ever, because it was here that he met Bruce Lee and the two hit it off and Chuck was offered a part in ''Way of the Dragon'' , a role that Bruce Lee originally wanted Joe Lewis for but because of a misunderstanding at the time between Bruce Lee and Joe Lewis the role went to Chuck Norris.
From this he was cast by Golden Harvest in a Tan Tao Liang action-er titled Slaughter in San-Francisco (1974) , again he played the villain, but Western releases site Norris as the main star ,in some territories the film is labelled as ''Karate Cop''.
Far Left the poster for Slaughter in San Francisco , and just to the left the Karate cop version
artwork.
But in 1977 Chuck Norris was given his first starring role in Breaker Breaker which led on to the 1978 film 'Good Guys Wear Black'' which was the film that kick started his film career .
After this many films followed from the mighty ''An Eye for an Eye'' which also starred Mako and Lee Van Cleef. Other films that did the rounds and set him on the road to box office hit where ''The Octagon'' Force of One''Forced Vengeance''Silent Rage .
But some of his biggest films came from the deal with Cannon films and it's producers Israeli cousins Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus .
In 1984 Chuck starred in ''Missing in Action '' a film that dealt with the Vietnam war and it's unsung hero's .( Chuck's younger brother Weiland died in Vietnam in 1970).
The film was a huge success and spawned two sequels both dealing with ''POWS'' missing in action.
Delta Force 1986 saw Chuck Star alongside Hollywood Legend Lee Marvin. The film is inspired on the events of the taking of flight TWA847 and the raid at Entebbe.
Shot in Israel with a ensemble cast this was the first time Chuck Norris got to work with such a cast of actors and actresses including Robert Forster , Shelley Winters , Michael Balsam as well as a unaccredited early role from Liam Neeson.
The film was not with out it's critics, the film came in at a lengthy 129 minutes and it was over half way through before any real action was portrayed . The film played on creating tension for the big finale by the Delta Force.
Suzuki made a specially modified motorbike with onboard rocket launchers and gadgets for Chuck Norris's character.
The film was also sadly the last on screen appearance for Lee Marvin who passed away the following year.
A true story about a bakers in Croatia Where they put up a poster of Chuck and all their troubles ceased,read below.
*This article was taken from Tonyrogers.com who reported the story in the West.
The posh bakery shop in Split, Croatia, had been broken into almost every week until they put up the poster of the karate champ with a sign saying: "This shop is under the protection of Chuck Norris."
Now the bakery hasn't had a single burglary for more than a month.
Sales assistant Mirna Kovac said: "To be honest we just started it as a joke but it really has worked. Thieves haven't been anywhere near us for ages. People seem to respect him.
"Everyone around here has seen his films and he's quite a popular character, perhaps even among criminals, so they've decided to leave us alone."
She added though: "We have had a few customers come in and ask us whether they can get Chuck's autograph.
They really believe he is sitting in our storeroom out the back ready to pounce on any burglars."
Now that's crazy ,it seems that the facts have adverse affects on people ,maybe Chuck should run for President.
Here are some other Facts about Chuck ''You know there True!
In 1997 Chuck was awarded a 8th degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and believed to be the first westerner to achieve this Goal, but Norris was misled as some years before there where two other Westerners that achieved this and one of them received his 9th degree in the same year as Chuck.
I know i have checked!
In 2000, Norris was presented the Golden Lifetime Achievement Award by the World Karate Union Hall of Fame.And in 2005 he set up the World Combat League (WCL), a full-contact, team-based martial arts competition. Each team (consisting of 5 men and 1 woman) is from a different city or region, and the league intends to grow to more cities in the United States and have both European and Asian leagues.
On top of that he also has his own range of Gym equipment called ''TOTAL GYM'' . Right is a video of Chuck and his wife( former model Gena O'Kelley) demonstrating the system.
The Films of Chuck Norris Reviewed on site | Year |
Good Guys Wear Black - Breakthrough film for Chuck , a espionage thriler with action
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1978
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The Octagon - Chuck Fights Ninja's from his past in this classic. Also stars Richard Norton
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1980
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Expendables 2 - Chuck Joins a ensemble cast to kick some Butt!
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2012
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