Carlos Ray “Chuck” Norris (born March 10, 1940) is an American martial artist, actor, film producer, and screenwriter. After serving in the United States Air Force, Norris won many martial arts championships and later founded his own discipline, Chun Kuk Do. Norris is a black belt in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu jitsu, and Judo. Shortly after, in Hollywood, Norris trained celebrities in martial arts.

Author to famous books:

He is a noted writer, having penned books on martial arts, exercise, philosophy, politics, Christianity, western novels, and biography. He was twice a New York Times bestselling author, first with his book on his personal philosophy of positive force and the psychology of self-improvement based on personal anecdotes called The Secret of Inner Strength: My Story (1988). His second New York Times Best Seller, Black Belt Patriotism: How to Reawaken America (2008), was about his critique on current issues in the USA.

Founder of Chun Kuk Do:

Chun Kuk Do was founded by Chuck Norris, and was originally based on Norris’ Tang Soo Do training in Korea while he was in the military. During his competitive fighting career, Norris began to evolve the style to make it more effective and well-rounded by studying other systems such as Shōtōkan, Gōjū-ryū, Shitō-ryū, American Kenpo, Enshinkaikan, Kyokushin, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Arnis, Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do and Hapkido. Chun Kuk Do now emphasizes self-defense, competition, weapons, grappling, and fitness, among other things. Each summer the United Fighting Arts Federation (UFAF) holds a training conference and the Chun Kuk Do world championship tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Awards and honors:

Norris has received many black belts. These include a 10th-degree black belt in Chun Kuk Do, a 9th-degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, an 8th-degree black belt in Taekwondo, a 5th-degree black belt in Karate, a 3rd-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu from the Machado family, and a black belt in Judo.

In 1967, he won the Sparring Grand Champions at the S. Henry Cho’s All American Championship and won it again the following year. In 1968, he 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. In 1969, he won the Fighter of the Year award by Black Belt magazine. In 1982, he won Action Star of the Year at the ShoWest Convention.

In 1989, he received his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1992, he won International Box Office Star of the Year at the ShoWest Convention. In 1997, he won the Special Award of being a Texas legend at the Lone Star Film & Television Awards. From 1997 to 1998, he won for three consecutive years the BMI TV Music Award at the BMI Awards. In 1999, Norris was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum’s Hall of Fame.