Chuck Norris & Bruce Lee

[Mursi]

Found this on Wikipedia and thought I'd ask y'all's opinions. Wikipedia has a rep of being fairly accurate, so this is kinda suprising. Anyway, here it is;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Norris

But another important moment happened in 1964: at a demonstration in Long Beach, Norris met the soon to be famous, Bruce Lee, who would ingrain Norris in martial arts history forever with his portrayal as Lee's nemesis in The Way of the Dragon. But while the two were publicly friendly, contrary to what many (including Norris himself) state, they were not close friends. Lee had repeatedly humiliated Norris during a mock sparring session in the hotel hallway at the Long Beach International Karate Championships in 1964. And Norris had offended Lee when he publicly claimed to be a better fighter than Lee. When word got back to Lee, he called Norris and openly challenged him, threatening to drive to his school to fight (Norris was teaching his black belt class at that time). According to eye witnesses, Lee made Norris hold the phone receiver up and shout in front of his black belts, "Bruce Lee is a better fighter than me!" Later, Norris wrote an apologetic letter to Lee; the original letter is currently in the care of Lee's student, Dan Insanato. Yet despite these conflicts, the two managed to set aside any differences in pursuit of their mutual film aspirations and develop a friendly public persona toward one another.

So, what's your opinion on this?

[The Nephilim]

Could have been. Hard to tell unluess the actual letter is placed on the Internet to say that it is true.

I don't know if anyone has heard this story before, but would be nice to find out.

[Dennis Monk]

So, what's your opinion on this?
Chuck Norris is still alive. He wins.

[The Nephilim]

Chuck Norris is still alive. He wins.

Good point. But Lee is still more talked about though.

[Jeff C.]

By all accounts Chuck Norris is a philanthropic, humble, and genuinely nice man. He has also proven himself to be an excellent fighter, excellent instructor, an average actor, and a great businessman.

Any martial artist who challenges people to fights and attempts to publicly humiliate others has some serious insecurity issues.

So we are left with a negative rumor about two martial arts icons who did a lot of positive work, a rumor that can never be proved conclusively.

What's the point?

Jeff Cook

[Right To Defend]

Well said Jeff C. Both of these men have done great things for martial arts, what is the point in running either of the two down? And besides I have heard so many rumors about Bruce Lee that I don't believe 99% of what I hear about him until I see some type of unrefutable proof.

[ezzthetic]

As Norris himself graciously admitted, "David Carradine is about as good a martial artist as I am an actor."

:laugh:

Tongue in cheek!

[Erik]

Norris does BJJ, so he's cool in my book. :D

JKD is so 1980s... :laugh:

(note - I loved doing JKD and it's what got me into judo and bjj - I'm just making fun here)

[DragonMind]

By all accounts Chuck Norris is a philanthropic, humble, and genuinely nice man. He has also proven himself to be an excellent fighter, excellent instructor, an average actor, and a great businessman.

Any martial artist who challenges people to fights and attempts to publicly humiliate others has some serious insecurity issues.

So we are left with a negative rumor about two martial arts icons who did a lot of positive work, a rumor that can never be proved conclusively.

What's the point?

Jeff Cook
He was very gracious the time I met him. A room of 60 MAs who happened to be in Dallas and he took time out of his busy schedule on Walker to come by and say hello. He made sure to stop and talk to every person individually.

[Bad Karma]

To sum that up, Bruce Lee was the better martial artist of the big three (or 4) of that era - Joe Lewis, Chuck Norris, Bill Wallace, Mike Stone (mentioned, but not as well known for some reason). I doubt that conflict was as serious, if it happened, as presented because the above have trained with Bruce. However, there was animosity between Bruce and Chuck on the set and the final fight scene shows it. Wish someone would find and release the out-takes of that one!

Peace

[Ramirez]

To sum that up, Bruce Lee was the better martial artist of the big three (or 4) of that era - Joe Lewis, Chuck Norris, Bill Wallace, Mike Stone (mentioned, but not as well known for some reason). I doubt that conflict was as serious, if it happened, as presented because the above have trained with Bruce. However, there was animosity between Bruce and Chuck on the set and the final fight scene shows it. Wish someone would find and release the out-takes of that one!

Peace

Tony, that is the first I have heard of that. I find that strangely out of character for Chuck too , he admitted in his autobiography that he was schooled by the Gracies when he met them in Rio. Like it has been said here he is a very gracious man.

[Bad Karma]

Chuck has always been a stand up guy, but he was in his prime and considered "the man" by having beaten Joe lewis 2 out of 3 meetings in competition. I wouldn't expect Chuck to bring out the dirt from the past that involves a deceased martial artist - especially one that was, and is, as popular as Bruce Lee. Besides, neither has spoken of it and it comes from those on the set. Out of character for either involved to speak of publicly.

Peace

[ChristianTSD]

According to Norris' autobiography, they were friends....and that doesn't sound to friendly. I think this is just a rumor, personally.

[Tony Dismukes]

By all accounts Chuck Norris is a philanthropic, humble, and genuinely nice man. He has also proven himself to be an excellent fighter, excellent instructor, an average actor, and a great businessman.

I agree with all of that except the "average actor" part. I would call "average" a very generous assessment of his thespian skills.

I'll give him all the respect in the world for being a great martial artist and all-around cool guy, though.

[ezzthetic]

You know the most amazing thing is despite his acting ability he has had a long run on the big screen. He has made upwards of 20 movies + TV show.
I thought his TV show was a bit hokey pokey too but it aired for 10 years before he decided to call it quits.
CBS called him this year and asked him to do a made for TV movie of Walker and he is shooting that now.
Guys 67 and still making action films.
He will go down in history as a true legend not matter what a few envious people think.

Like Eric said.
And anyone working towards a BJJ BB at his age, he is Brown now. Guys cool with me.
Course I am one of his Black Betl so I might be a bit bias.


The man has charisma, just not great acting skills. It shines to anyone who wants to see it what kind of person he is.

[Cameron]

This is all quite interesting... I always assumed Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris were friends or at least friendly.

Mr. Dadi, I now read any thread I see with your name on it. Your posts are always so interesting.

[ezzthetic]

Mr. Dadi, I now read any thread I see with your name on it. Your posts are always so interesting.

Thank you. Please check out my website. Also, have you asked your instructor about his lineage? Send me a PM if you want.

[Ramirez]

Oh where Oh where, did David Johnson go oh where Oh where did he go.

Guy comes here defames two of our country greatest Martial artist gets the attenion of all of us and then doesn't respond.

I have to say seems like he has a hidden agenda.

Hope he is not the David Johnson I know from THe NBL Tournaments, Kata Guy.

Chris, in fairness to David Johnson, he just asked about a posting on Wikipedia, if I had seen that I might have asked about that myself. I suppose there is an outside chance he wrote that entry but we should give him the benefit of the doubt.

[ezzthetic]

Chris, in fairness to David Johnson, he just asked about a posting on Wikipedia, if I had seen that I might have asked about that myself. I suppose there is an outside chance he wrote that entry but we should give him the benefit of the doubt.

If you look at his profile, you can see he is hardly a regular here. He posts once every month or so.

[Cameron]

Thank you. Please check out my website. Also, have you asked your instructor about his lineage? Send me a PM if you want.

No, I meant to yesterday during class, but it slipped my mind. I am glad he does not come to budoseek, I would be embarassed about questioninghis school (Not that he would be upset, it would just be quite awkward.) I will ask about lineage on Monday after class.

[DungeonWorks]

.......So we are left with a negative rumor about two martial arts icons who did a lot of positive work, a rumor that can never be proved conclusively.

What's the point?

Jeff Cook


Yep, what he said! ;) :)

[Jeff C.]

To sum that up, Bruce Lee was the better martial artist of the big three (or 4) of that era - Joe Lewis, Chuck Norris, Bill Wallace, Mike Stone (mentioned, but not as well known for some reason). I doubt that conflict was as serious, if it happened, as presented because the above have trained with Bruce. However, there was animosity between Bruce and Chuck on the set and the final fight scene shows it. Wish someone would find and release the out-takes of that one!

Peace

Tony, are you sure you aren't confusing Chuck with Bob Wall? Wall and Lee had a well-known falling-out on the set that reflects in their fight scene. I suspect you may be talking about him.

Jeff Cook

[ezzthetic]

Tony, are you sure you aren't confusing Chuck with Bob Wall? Wall and Lee had a well-known falling-out on the set that reflects in their fight scene. I suspect you may be talking about him.

Jeff Cook

The Lee-Wall antagonism was something Enter the Dragon director Robert Clouse made up. Unless you are referring to something different?

[Bad Karma]

No confusion on my part, Jeffro, and I'm along the line of thought presented by Chris McLean.

Peace

[Jeff C.]

Thanks Tony, Chris, Dadi. I guess I just brought up another example of why rumor-talk is somewhat pointless. ;)

Jeff Cook