Chuck Norris
World karate champion turned actor who helped the Machado brothers set up their first US academy and was promoted to BJJ third-degree black belt at 75.
Biography
Sources for this profile
CNN, Rebekah Riess, "Chuck Norris, action hero and 'Walker, Texas Ranger' star, has died", updated March 20, 2026.(opens in a new tab)
CNN reported on March 20, 2026, that Chuck Norris had died aged 86; a family statement posted that Friday morning said he had died the previous morning.
Where in the source: Opening paragraphs, quoted family statement — "yesterday morning"
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Norris's first memorable film role was as Bruce Lee's opponent in The Way of the Dragon (1972); he later played Cordell Walker in the television series Walker, Texas Ranger (1993–2001).
Where in the source: Section Beginnings — "Bruce Lee's formidable opponent"
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Norris told CNN's People Now that he started training in Korea, began teaching after leaving the service, and became a karate fighter in order to attract students to his school.
Where in the source: Section Mastering the martial arts, Norris quote — "I became a karate fighter"
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Norris told CNN in 1982 that after retiring as world karate champion he was looking for a new goal, and that Steve McQueen encouraged him to pursue acting.
Where in the source: Section Mastering the martial arts, 1982 quote — "encouraged me to pursue it"
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Norris's martial arts students included Steve McQueen, Bob Barker, Priscilla Presley and the Osmonds.
Where in the source: Section Mastering the martial arts — "Among Norris' many students"
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Variety, Carmel Dagan, "Chuck Norris, Action Icon and 'Walker, Texas Ranger' Star, Dies at 86", March 20, 2026.(opens in a new tab)
Variety reported on March 20, 2026, that Chuck Norris, the martial arts champion and star of Walker, Texas Ranger, had died aged 86, citing a statement from his family.
Where in the source: Headline and first paragraph — "He was 86."
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Variety's obituary listed Norris's ranks as a black belt in judo, a third-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a fifth degree in karate, an eighth degree in taekwondo, a ninth degree in Tang Soo Do and a tenth degree in Chun Kuk Do.
Where in the source: Paragraph on his credibility as an action star — "3rd degree black belt"
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United Fighting Arts Federation, "Chuck Norris Memorial Tribute" event page, 2026.(opens in a new tab)
The United Fighting Arts Federation, together with the Norris family, announced a public memorial tribute for Norris scheduled for July 18, 2026, at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas; the event page gives his dates as March 10, 1940 – March 19, 2026.
Where in the source: Event information box, "Honoring" — "March 10, 1940 – March 19, 2026"
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA News, "#VeteranOfTheDay Air Force Veteran Chuck Norris", March 10, 2020.(opens in a new tab)
Carlos "Chuck" Norris was born on March 10, 1940, in Ryan, Oklahoma, and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1958 after finishing high school, joining as an air policeman.
Where in the source: Second paragraph of the profile — "Ryan, Oklahoma"
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Stationed at Osan Air Base in South Korea, Norris was given the nickname "Chuck" by a fellow airman and took up martial arts there, going on to earn a Tang Soo Do black belt (a Korean karate style); he trained with Grandmaster Jae Chul Shin and Grandmaster Do Sik Mun.
Where in the source: Second and third paragraphs, Osan Air Base — "Jae Chul Shin"
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After Korea, Norris served as an air policeman at March Air Force Base in California until his discharge in August 1962 with the rank of airman first class.
Where in the source: Third paragraph, after Korea — "airman first class"
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After leaving the Air Force, Norris applied to become a police officer but was placed on a waiting list; meanwhile he opened a martial arts studio in Torrance, California, which grew into a chain of studios, and he began entering competitions.
Where in the source: Fourth paragraph, after military service — "his town of Torrance"
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According to VA News, Norris first took the world middleweight karate title in 1968 and then kept it six years in a row.
Where in the source: Fourth paragraph, competition years — "six consecutive years"
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- Conflicting accounts
VA News states that Norris retired from competition after a victory in 1974.
Where in the source: Fourth paragraph, end of competition — "retired after his victory"
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Black Belt Magazine, George Chung, "Before Hollywood: The Untold Legacy of Chuck Norris, As Told by Those Who Knew Him", 2026.(opens in a new tab)
Karate champion Carlos Bunda recalled beating Norris at the 1965 Long Beach Internationals and again at the Winter Nationals, then meeting a changed fighter in the 1966 Internationals grand championship round robin: instead of attacking with kicks, Norris waited for Bunda to move, and Bunda found he could not counter him.
Where in the source: Carlos Bunda testimonial — "1965 Long Beach Internationals"
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Mitchell Bobrow recalled watching Norris at the 1966 All-American Open at Madison Square Garden, where Norris answered an opponent who grabbed his uniform, against the rules, with a judo hip throw that put the man on his back.
Where in the source: Mitchell Bobrow testimonial — "high hip judo throw"
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Joe Corley said he met Norris at Madison Square Garden in 1968; after the tournament Norris invited him to train with him, and introduced him to Pat Johnson, an experience Corley credits with shaping his own path in martial arts.
Where in the source: Joe Corley testimonial — "come train with him"
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Roy Kurban, who as a teenage brown belt sat ringside when Norris won in Dallas at the 1968 US Karate Championships, and later trained under him several times, said Norris's teaching of sparring concepts was second to none, and that after retiring from the ring Norris turned to developing kickboxing, to films and to his KickStart program.
Where in the source: Roy Kurban testimonial — "1968 US Karate Championships"
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Kickboxing champion Benny Urquidez said he trained Norris in kickboxing in the early 1970s and later gave seminars, with his wife, for Norris's UFAF organization.
Where in the source: Benny Urquidez testimonial — "in Kickboxing"
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Rigan Machado called Norris, whom he knew as Carlos, a friend and brother, and credited him with helping the brothers make their way to the United States.
Where in the source: Rigan Machado testimonial — "helped the Machado brothers"
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Black Belt Magazine, George Chung, "The World Bows: Remembering Chuck Norris (1940-2026)", 2026.(opens in a new tab)
Black Belt magazine, in its tribute after his death in Hawaii, said Norris first appeared on its cover in 1967 and described his path from Tang Soo Do black belt to world champion, instructor and film star.
Where in the source: Tribute, opening and third paragraphs — "very first cover"
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- Conflicting accounts
Black Belt magazine's 2026 tribute gives 1968 as the year Norris entered the magazine's original Hall of Fame.
Where in the source: Tribute, opening paragraph — "original Black Belt Hall of Fame"
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Black Belt Magazine, George Chung, "Black Belt Hall of Fame 2024 Instructor of the Year: Celebrating the Machado Brothers!", September 15, 2024.(opens in a new tab)
- Conflicting accounts
Black Belt magazine's article on the Machado brothers' Hall of Fame honour lists Chuck Norris among past Hall of Fame inductees, as Class of 1975.
Where in the source: Introductory paragraph on the Hall of Fame — "Chuck Norris (Class of 1975)"
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Black Belt magazine wrote that Carlos Machado's Dallas school operated from the same building as the Walker, Texas Ranger studio, where he taught and choreographed Brazilian jiu-jitsu scenes for the show, and that Rigan Machado trained Hollywood figures including Norris.
Where in the source: Sections on Rigan and Carlos Machado — "same building"; "choreographing BJJ scenes"
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- Conflicting accounts
United Fighting Arts Federation, "About the Chuck Norris System".(opens in a new tab)
According to the United Fighting Arts Federation, the Chuck Norris System is a Korean-based American hard style that Norris founded on his Tang Soo Do training in Korea and broadened during his competitive career by studying other systems; it was called Chun Kuk Do from 1990 to 2015, took Norris's name again in July 2015, and emphasises self-defence, competition, weapons, grappling and fitness.
Where in the source: About the Chuck Norris System, first two paragraphs — "Chun Kuk Do from 1990 - 2015"
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United Fighting Arts Federation, "About UFAF".(opens in a new tab)
The United Fighting Arts Federation (UFAF), founded by Norris, governs three systems he founded (UFAF Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, UFAF Krav Maga and the Chuck Norris System); members' ranks in these systems were certified by Norris himself, and KickStart Kids, also founded by him, is the federation's official charity.
Where in the source: About UFAF, opening and closing paragraphs — "founded by Mr. Chuck Norris"
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Chuck Norris, "The Many Benefits of a Life of Martial Arts Training", C-Force column, Creators Syndicate, June 12, 2015.(opens in a new tab)
In a June 2015 column, Norris wrote that after 30 years of Brazilian jiu-jitsu training he had just received the rank of third-degree black belt from the United Fighting Arts Federation, a body he said he had set up in 1979.
Where in the source: Column, first paragraph — "third-degree black belt status"
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Norris wrote that martial arts had been the cornerstone of much of his life, that he and his wife regarded KickStart Kids, a martial arts programme for at-risk middle-school children run since 1990, as their life's work, and that it had more than 80,000 alumni.
Where in the source: Column, fourth and ninth paragraphs — "more than 80,000 alumni"
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MixedMartialArts.com, Kirik Jenness, "Chuck Norris awarded 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu", May 30, 2015.(opens in a new tab)
On May 30, 2015, Norris, then 75, announced on social media that David Dunn had promoted him to third-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, with Jean Jacques Machado endorsing the promotion; Norris noted it was the first black-belt grading in UFAF's own BJJ programme, which Dunn led as chief instructor with Reggie Cochran as director.
Where in the source: Quoted post in the article body — "promoted me to 3rd degree black belt"
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Fightland (VICE), Fightland Staff, "Chuck Norris Earns 3rd Degree Black Belt in BJJ", June 1, 2015 (Internet Archive copy).(opens in a new tab)
Fightland reported in June 2015 that early in 2015 Norris and David Dunn, who had long trained under Jean Jacques Machado, set up UFAF Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, offering yearly tournaments, online training courses with ranking options and training camps, and that the third degree was the first black belt promotion under the programme.
Where in the source: Final paragraph — "founded the UFAF BJJ in early 2015"
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Fightland, summarising a 2012 interview, wrote that on holiday in Rio de Janeiro Norris kept being told to see the Gracies; already a judo black belt, he found Rickson Gracie far beyond him, and Hélio Gracie choked him unconscious and invited him to stay and train, but he had to return to Los Angeles for a film. There he trained at Rorion Gracie's school before moving to the Machado side of the family, where he earned his black belt.
Where in the source: First two paragraphs — "go see the Gracies"
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Bloody Elbow, "Chuck Norris describes his first encounter with Helio, Rickson, and Royce Gracie to learn jiu-jitsu", December 4, 2012.(opens in a new tab)
In a 2012 video interview recorded by Team One Productions and published by Bloody Elbow, Norris described his first meeting with the Gracie family in Rio de Janeiro, where he grappled with Royce, Rickson and Hélio Gracie, was tapped out by each, and Hélio apologised after choking him out.
Where in the source: Article introduction to the video segment — "Helio has to apologize"
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Bloody Elbow, "Chuck Norris talks about his chance to invest in the UFC before UFC 1", December 6, 2012.(opens in a new tab)
In a second segment of the same 2012 interview, Norris recalled that, before the first UFC event, Rorion Gracie offered him a stake in the no-rules fighting event Rorion and his partners were setting up.
Where in the source: Article introduction to the video segment — "no rules fight promotion"
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Bloody Elbow, "Chuck Norris And His Real Role In American Growth Of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Video)", June 27, 2012.(opens in a new tab)
Bloody Elbow wrote in 2012 that Norris began training under Carlos Machado in the mid-to-late 1980s, became a strong advocate for Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the U.S. martial arts community, worked its techniques into his own Chun Kuk Do, secured demonstrations at large conventions, got the Machado brothers onto Walker, Texas Ranger, and was by then a black belt under Carlos Machado.
Where in the source: Closing paragraphs — "black belt under Carlos Machado"
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Bloody Elbow described a 1988 video of Norris presiding over a Gracie jiu-jitsu seminar in Las Vegas, and rejected the uploader's claim that Norris brought the Gracies to the United States: Rorion Gracie had opened the first Gracie academy in the U.S. in 1978, a decade earlier.
Where in the source: Opening paragraphs on the video and its caption — "Gracie Jiu Jitsu seminar"
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Grappling Insider, Alex Lindsey, "BJJ History: Chuck Norris Builds the First JJ Machado Academy in the USA", August 12, 2019.(opens in a new tab)
Grappling Insider reported that Jean Jacques Machado told Joe Rogan's podcast in 2019 that the brothers were teaching in a garage in Redondo Beach when Norris, already a judo black belt who had trained with members of the Gracie family, walked in; they became friends, and after a few months Norris took them to a unit with mats in a shopping centre near his home in Encino and told them it was their school.
Where in the source: Second to fifth paragraphs, quoting Machado — "this is your school"
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Grappling Insider wrote that Norris received his third-degree black belt in 2015 and had trained under Jean Jacques Machado since the Machado brothers' early days in the United States.
Where in the source: First paragraph — "trained under Jean-Jacques Machado"
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Machado Method Jiu-Jitsu (Carlos Machado), "Lineage & Legacy" page.(opens in a new tab)
Carlos Machado's academy dates Rigan Machado's arrival in the United States to 1988, ahead of his brothers, with Carlos and John following in 1990; it says that in the early 1990s Norris came to the Machados looking for a new art, became a student and lifelong friend, helped set up the family's first academy, in Tarzana, featured them on Walker, Texas Ranger, and that friendship brought Carlos Machado to Texas in 1995.
Where in the source: Timeline 1988–1995 and section on Norris and the brothers — "first academy in Tarzana"
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Chuck Norris, "My Personal Workout Program", C-Force column, Creators Syndicate, October 14, 2010.(opens in a new tab)
In a 2010 column, written at 70, Norris said martial arts had been part of his life since 1960 and that three days a week his training consisted of stretching, slow isolated kicks, combinations on a heavy bag and, when he had a partner, jujitsu practice.
Where in the source: Column, weekly schedule, Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday — "I will practice my jujitsu"
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Wikipedia, "Chuck Norris", revision current on September 29, 2026.(opens in a new tab)
Wikipedia calls Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris an American martial artist and actor who also wrote screenplays and books.
Where in the source: Lead sentence — "was an American martial artist"
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