Chuck Norris
Air Force veteran, martial arts champion and movie star Chuck Norris talks to G.I. Jobs about how his experience in the military changed his life.
By Joshua Hudson

In 1958, a shy kid named Carlos walked into his Air Force recruiter’s office with a dream of being a cop. He was an average student, a mediocre athlete and, as one of three children to a single mother, didn’t see how a half-Cherokee-half-Irish kid had many other opportunities available on his horizon.

It turned out the Air Force did provide more than opportunity; it was a turning point in his life. While stationed as a military police officer in Korea, Carlos developed the life skills for success, a black belt in Tang Soo Do, a brown belt in Judo and a new nickname, “Chuck.”

“Being raised by a single mom, without a father role model, I grew up very introverted,” said Chuck Norris. “It was the military and martial arts that turned my life around.”

When Chuck left the Air Force, he took a job as a file clerk at Northrop Aircraft. “I had a wife and child to support, so to earn extra money, I started teaching martial arts in my parent’s back yard,” said Chuck. “I fell in love with teaching and – even though I had my application complete for the L.A. police department – I decided to start a business and open my first studio in 1962.”

Of course, at that time very few people were aware of martial arts. It was hard to find students, and Chuck had never had to deal with the challenges of running a day-to-day business. If he was going to make his fledging business succeed, he was going to have to build his brand.

“To earn a reputation and get more students, I started to compete successfully in karate tournaments around the state and later around the country,” said Chuck. It was a risky move; his first tournaments ended with pulling himself off the mat and driving home empty handed.

“I lost a lot at first,” said Chuck. “Nevertheless, the tenacity and fortitude I developed in the military helped craft my experience and philosophy. I was determined that I would never lose the same way twice.”

By 1967, Chuck Norris had moved up to win the national title. His determination and passion for his sport had paid off.

“I had accomplished what I wanted,” said Chuck. “I was ready to go back and just teach, but the event manager informed me if I won the tournament twice, my name would be permanently inscribed on a silver bowl.”

Chuck Norris put his body and reputation on the line again. He won again in 1968 and proceeded to win the world title that year as well. It was a title he would keep for an amazing six years straight.

“In 1974, I was already 34 years old,” said Chuck. “It was time for me to stop competing.”

And why not? By this time he was not only internationally known as a top martial artist, but he was teaching martial arts to such famous celebrities as Steve McQueen.

Again, Chuck Norris looked back to the experience and work ethics he developed in the Air Force to meet the new challenge of Hollywood. “Those four years in the Air Force really gave me the opportunity to develop an understanding of responsibility and a maturity that turned my life around,” said Chuck. “I could focus my energies the right way. I had the perseverance and determination to overcome any obstacles.” Those were the character tools Chuck attributes to all of his success.

“I jumped into the entertainment industry with no idea of what I was doing,” said Chuck. At first he was given one line of dialogue with Dean Martin in the movie “The Wrecking Crew.” Even though the part was small, he took it very seriously.

“I had one line in my first movie, and I rehearsed it for two weeks,” said Chuck. “When I finally delivered it, my voice squeaked.” Luckily, it was only one line and everyone was worried about Dean Martin’s dialogue and not his. “I just stayed in there and stayed focused.”

Chuck Norris didn’t have to wait long before his accomplishments in the sport of martial arts, his successful training studios and new found interest in acting landed him a role in the Bruce Lee film, “Return of the Dragon,” which released in 1972. It was a role that would solidify him in the hearts and minds of Americans as a movie star for the next 30 years.

“The military teaches you if you can’t believe you can achieve it and stick with it, and then you won’t,” said Chuck. “Never give up. There will always be obstacles in anything you do.”

After the end of his long-time program, “Walker: Texas Ranger” – a show which he starred, wrote and produced – Chuck turned his attention to his passion for history and the state of the nation.

“I dedicated a lot of time researching what our country’s purpose is and how our identity has changed,” said Chuck. “Our country is a bloated bureaucracy and not what our founding fathers wanted for us.”

His resulting book, “Black Belt Patriotism: How to Reawaken America,” is a call to Americans to return to the roots and principles he believes this country was founded on. As a veteran, a businessman, an actor and activist, Chuck has a unique perspective into the state of the nation today. It is a perspective that urges him to use his celebrity and speak out.

“Politicians are so disconnected from the will of the people,” said Chuck. “Our founding father’s visions were not corrupted, but our leaders today are. Washington needs to get reconnected with America and its citizens.”

It isn’t just politicians who have lost their way. Chuck believes America, as a whole, has lost its way and “lost its moral compass” because of greed and lack of faith. Too many Americans look for happiness in the examples shown by the paparazzi.

“If you look into the eyes of most celebrities today, you will see they are lost souls,” said Chuck. “Happiness can’t be found in fame and money. The most miserable people I know are famous. Strong relationships with friends and family and choosing a career that you love, instead of a career based on pay, is the real foundation of happiness.”

Faith plays a large part in Chuck Norris’ concept of living a happy life in America. “I put my faith on the backburner and lived the celebrity life,” said Chuck. “I had everything I could buy, but had a big hole in my heart. So I understand what happens to politicians. They get lost in popularity and addicted to money.”

Chuck’s book, and work in recent years, isn’t a message of doom and gloom. Just as he has had to overcome obstacles and challenges in his personal, business and professional life, Chuck sees that all American’s can use today’s struggles to make a better and stronger America.

“I dedicated this book to the Millennials (those born between 1976-2001),” said Chuck. “And that includes those that are serving our military today. I talk to thousands of them they feel that we have lost sight of our country’s needs. They have the solution to get our country back on the right track, and I want to help.”

His book is not about politics but ways to strengthen American patriotism spiritually and physically. In addition to presenting the historical reference to dreams of the founding fathers, Chuck addresses how to get the country back on track in the kitchen and the gym. “The country needs to holistically look at itself,” said Chuck.

In the nearly 50 years Chuck has been a veteran, he has never once forgotten where he developed the skills that made him the legendary figure he is today. He has been a spokesperson for the Veteran’s Administration, an advocate for veterans and military rights, and has been to Iraq twice.

“I got over to Iraq because of the Chuck Norris Facts,” said Chuck. “General Miller called me with an invitation to meet the troops in Iraq. I told him I would do it, but I didn’t want to be on a stage waving from a distance. I want to go and meet Soldiers at places other celebrities don’t go to.”

Chuck was able to travel far outside the “green zone” to camps along the Syrian Iranian border: locations very few celebrities have ever visited. Between the 2006 and 2007 visits, he was able to shake hands with over 37,000 Soldiers and Marines.

The visits were so effective in boosting morale that one visit to a Marine camp Chuck noticed a sign that read, “The war is over. Chuck Norris is here!”

Chuck’s fame was noted in other locations as well. “Every time I went to the commode there would be Chuck Norris facts all over the walls,” said Chuck. It was in those odd moments that the man met the legend.

The legend of Chuck Norris is no match for the person. He is an example of veteran entrepreneurial spirit and proudly identifies himself as a vetrepreneur because he knows the foundation of his success is rooted in his military experience.

His journey so far has taken him out of a world of few prospects to an Airman in Korea, international martial arts champion, successful business owner, action-movie star, the voice for charities and causes and a patriotic voice for a return to the fundamentals our country was founded on.

Chuck’s advice to vetrepreneurs is equally simple: “Ask yourself, ‘what is it you want?’ What are your goals? Pursue your passion. If you are passionate about what you want to do, you can succeed.”

Milestones

• 1952: Moved to Torrance, Calif., at age 12 (by this time had moved 16 times with family) (date approximate)
• 1958: Enlisted in Air Force and sent to Korea (nicknamed “Chuck” by Air Force buddies); served in military police
• 1961: Returned to USA from Korea with a black belt in Tang Soo Do and a brown belt in judo
• 1962: Began teaching karate
• 1968: Film debut as Garth in "The Wrecking Crew"; uttered one line to Dean Martin in a bar; Bruce Lee was "karate advisor" on film
• 1968: Opened a chain of karate schools in Los Angeles, attracting a number of celebrity pupils including the Osmond family and Steve McQueen who urged him to enter acting (date approximate)
• 1968–1974: Was named World Middleweight Karate Champion; held title until retired from competition
• 1969: Earned the Triple Crown for the highest number of tournament wins; named Fighter of the Year by BLACK BELT magazine
• 1971: Karate schools went into debt
• 1973: Played a baddie, opposite Bruce Lee, in "Return of the Dragon"
• 1976: First starring role, "Breaker, Breaker"
• 1979: First successful film as star, "Good Guys Wear Black"
• 1983: "Lone Wolf McQuade" established Norris as a bonafide, crossover box-office star; played maverick Texas Ranger
• 1984: Scored big hit with "Missing in Action", which spawned two sequels
• 1985: Co-wrote (with James Bruner) the screenplay for "Invasion USA"
• 1988: Reteamed with Bruner, writing "Braddock: Missing in Action III"; first time directed by brother Aaron
• 1993: First film as executive producer, "Sidekicks"
• 1993–2001: Best known for playing Cordell Walker on the CBS series, "Walker, Texas Ranger
• 1994: Debuted as song performer of theme song ("Eyes of a Ranger") for "Walker, Texas Ranger"
• 1996: Became first westerner to be awarded an eighth-degree black belt in Tae Kwan Do
• 2002: Starred in and produced (with brother Aaron) the CBS political drama, "The President's Man: A Line in the Sand"
• 2004: Made a cameo appearance in the comedy, "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story"
• 2005: Reprised his role as Cordell Walker for the CBS Movie of the Week, "Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial By Fire"
• 2006: Began penning a column for the conservative news Web site, WorldNetDaily
• 2007: Filled in for Sean Hannity as a co-host on the popular Fox News Channel debate program "Hannity & Colmes"

Trivia

• He has founded two of his own martial arts: Chun Kuk Do ("the Universal Way") and American Tang Soo Do.
• He is the founder of the National Tang-Soo-Do Congress (NTC) and the United Fighting Arts Federation (UFAF). Chuck is also president of the latter.
• He has a 10th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do and also an 8th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do... that is, the Korean (or traditional) styles of each.
• He was voted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame three times: 1968 as Fighter of the Year, 1975 as Instructor of the Year and 1977 as Man of the Year.
• Trained many famous celebrities in martial arts, including Bob Barker, Pricilla Presley and Steve McQueen (who encouraged him to get into acting)