Chun Kuk Do (천국도, 千國道) is a
hybrid martial art founded and first taught by Chuck Norris. Norris started
to develop the style in the 1970s and, after using a number of names for his
developing style, the current name was adopted in 1990. The phrase "Chun Kuk
Do" is loosely translated as "Universal Way" - more literal translations
from the Korean are "the way of 1000 lands" or "the way of many lands."
This art evolved from Chuck
Norris' original training in Tang Soo Do, a Korean hard style striking
martial art. This development has included the evolution and integration of
Tang Soo Do with elements of Taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, Muay
Thai, Shotokan and many other martial arts.
The United Fighting Arts
Federation (UFAF) is an increasingly worldwide martial arts organization
founded by Mr. Chuck Norris. Members of the organization study the style of
Chun Kuk Do ("The Universal Way"). UFAF is the governing and sanctioning
body for the Chun Kuk Do style, providing technical standards for
instruction and advancement in the system. Black belts in Chun Kuk Do
receive certification of their rank from Mr. Norris himself - the only style
and organization in the world where this happens. UFAF is a membership
organization which provides its member students, instructors, and schools
with Chun Kuk Do rank certification, educational opportunities, special
events, online community access, and other services.
In 1969 Norris made his acting
debut in the Dean Martin film The Wrecking Crew.
In 1970, his younger brother Weiland was killed in Vietnam. Norris later
dedicated his Missing in Action films to his brother's memory.
At a martial arts
demonstration in Long Beach, Norris met the soon-to-be famous martial artist
Bruce Lee.
In 1972 he acted as Lee's nemesis in the movie Way of the Dragon (titled
Return of the Dragon in its U.S. distribution), which is widely credited
with launching him toward stardom. In Asia Norris is still known primarily
for this role. In 1974, McQueen encouraged him to begin acting classes at
MGM. Chuck Norris retired with a karate record of 183-10-2.
Norris' first starring role
was 1977's Breaker! Breaker!, and subsequent films such as The Octagon
(1980), An Eye for an Eye (1981), and Lone Wolf McQuade proved his
increasing box office bankability. In 1984, Norris starred in Missing in
Action, the first of a series of Prisoner of war rescue fantasies themed
around the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue that were produced by Israeli cousins
Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus and released under their Cannon Films banner.
Over the next four years,
Norris became Cannon's most prominent star, appearing in eight films,
including Code of Silence, The Delta Force, and Firewalker, in which he
co-starred with Academy Award winner Louis Gossett, Jr.. Many of the
aforementioned films were produced by Chuck Norris's brother Aaron, as were
several episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger. In 1986, he was involved in the
production of the Ruby Spears cartoon Karate Kommandos.
What you may not think of is
that prior to his on-screen career, Mr. Norris was a martial arts star who
won many championships. Of of his many victories are his being a six-time
undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate Champion. Mr. Norris was
also a renowned teacher in the martial arts. Some of his many students
included Steve McQueen, Bob Barker, Priscilla Presley and Donnie & Marie
Osmond.
Mr. Norris was the first
person ever voted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame. From 1965 through 1980,
he won many state, national, and international championships. Mr. Norris
received the Competitor of the Year award in 1968 and was the first man ever
to win the World Professional Karate Championship. In 1975, Mr. Norris
received the Instructor of the Year award, and in 1977, the Competitor of
the Year.
Mr. Norris is also founder of the United Fighting Arts Federation with more
than 2,300 Chun Kuk Do Black Belts all over the world.
In 1997, Mr. Norris reached another milestone in his life: he was the first
man ever in the western hemisphere to be awarded an 8th degree Black Belt
Grand Master recognition in the Tae Kwon Do martial arts system. This was a
first in 4,500 years of tradition.
Mr. Norris' intense drive and determination extended beyond his martial arts
and acting career. He was an offshore powerboat racer with speeds of 140
miles per hour. In 1991, Mr. Norris and his team, with sponsor “Popeye’s
Chicken”, won the World Off Shore Powerboat Championships. Mr. Norris went
on to set a new world record by racing a 38 foot Scarab boat 605 miles
across the Great Lakes, from Chicago to Detroit, in 12 hours and 8 minutes.
In 1988, Mr. Norris wrote his autobiography, “The Secret of Inner Strength”
(Little Brown Publishing), which reached the New York Times Best Seller
list. He followed up a few years later with a second book, “The Secret Power
Within: Zen Solutions to Real Problems”, also with Little Brown Publishing.
When Mr. Norris was asked how he would like to be remembered, his answer was
as a Humanitarian.
He has gotten a good start from the following:
Spokesperson for the United Way, doing an eight minute commercial, which
helped bring in over two million dollars.
Spokesperson for the Veterans Administration - visiting over 12 V.A.
hospitals and speaking with World War II, Korean, and Vietnam War Veterans
including on from World War I.
Winning the 1998 Epiphany award on Walker, Texas Ranger for the best
Christian Episode.
Winning the Jewish Humanitarian Man of the Year Award.
Active involvement with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for twenty years by
making dreams come true for terminally ill children.
Winning the BMI Music Television Award for Walker, Texas Ranger theme song,
“Eyes of a Ranger”.
Placement on the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame.
Working as a commissioned police officer in the city of Terrell, Texas.
Motivational speaker for many Christian ministries, including the T.D. Jakes
Ministry, Trinity Broadcasting, and Bill Glass crusade.
Mr. Norris thinks that his most rewarding accomplishment was the creation of
the Kick Drugs Out of America Foundation.
With the help of former President George Bush, Mr. Norris began teaching
martial arts as part of the curriculum at the M. C. Williams Middle School
in Houston, Texas. The program was incredibly successful in helping the
students to raise their self-esteem, instill discipline and respect, and get
them out of gangs. The program is now in 30 schools with over 4,200 youth
actively participating.
The following are the twelve points that guide Mr.
Norris' life:
I will develop myself to the maximum of
my potential in all ways.
I will forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements.
I will always be in a positive frame of mind and convey this feeling to
every person that I meet.
I will continually work at developing love, happiness and loyalty in my
family and acknowledge that no other success can compensate for failure in
the home.
I will look for the good in all people and make them feel worthwhile.
If I have nothing good to say about a person, I will say nothing.
I will give so much time to the improvement of myself that I will have no
time to criticize others.
I will always be as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about
my own.
I will maintain an attitude of open-mindedness toward another person’s
viewpoint while still holding fast to that which I know to be true and
honest.
I will maintain respect for those in authority and demonstrate this respect
at all times.
I will always remain loyal to God, my country, family and my friends.
I will remain highly goal-oriented throughout my life because that positive
attitude helps my family, my country, and myself.
Filmography
The Green Berets (1968), with Chuck
Norris as Martial arts performer.
The Wrecking Crew (1969)
Way of the Dragon (1972)
The Student Teachers (1973)
Slaughter in San Francisco (1974)
The Warrior Within (1976) (documentary)
Bruce Lee, the Legend (1977) (documentary)
Breaker! Breaker! (1977)
Good Guys Wear Black (1978)
A Force of One (1979)
The Octagon (1980)
An Eye for an Eye (1981)
Silent Rage (1982)
Forced Vengeance (1982)
Lone Wolf McQuade (1983)
Missing in Action (1984)
Missing in Action 2: The Beginning (1985)
Code of Silence (1985)
Invasion U.S.A. (1985)
The Delta Force (1986)
Firewalker (1986)
The Karate Kommandos (1986), animated children's show, with Chuck Norris
himself appearing to reveal the episode and the moral contained in the
episode.
Braddock: Missing in Action III (1988)
Hero and the Terror (1988)
Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection (1990)
The Hitman (1991)
Sidekicks (1992)
Hellbound (1994)
Top Dog (1995)
Forest Warrior (1996)
Logan's War: Bound by Honor (1998) (made for TV movie)
The President's Man (2000) Joshua
The President's Man 2: A Line in the Sand (2002) Joshua
Bells of Innocence (2003)
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
The Contender (2005)
The Cutter (2005)
