Chuck Norris is one of the most decorated and legitimate martial artists of the modern era. He holds the rank of 10th Dan in Chun Kuk Do (which he created), 9th Dan in Tang Soo Do, 8th Dan in Taekwondo ( first westerner with this rank), a 5th degree black belt in Karate, and a 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Also, he is 6 times Karate world champion
Chuck Norris on the first jiu-jitsu lesson with Gracie Family:
“When I started in Jiu-Jitsu, I was in Rio de Janeiro on vacation and was going around to all the different martial arts schools and working out. And at every school I went to, the name Gracie Jiu-Jitsu kept popping up. So I said, ‘I’ve got to find out who they are.”
“So I asked if I could work out with them. And they said–very cordial–, ‘Of course.’ And I was a black belt in judo, so I thought I had some pretty good grappling skills. Anyway, I got on the ground with Rickson Gracie, and it was like I’d never had a lesson in my life. He played with me. And then I went and worked out with Royce for a while.”
On rolling with Helio:
“Mr. Gracie said, ‘Chuck, let’s you and I grapple. So we started working out, and I mounted him. And he says, ‘Okay, Chuck, punch me.’ And I said, ‘Mr Gracie, I’m not going to punch you.’ And he said, ‘No, no, no. Punch me.’ So I brought my hand back [to punch him], and that’s the last thing I remember. The next thing I know, I’m waking up. I’d been choked so hard I could hardly swallow. He said, ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do it so hard.”
Chuck Norris fight against Rickson Gracie in the video below:
