Posted on 04/30/2007 10:04:37 AM PDT by SirLinksalot
Parade magazine this past week conducted an online poll, asking the question, "Who would you rate as the toughest martial-arts star ever on the big screen?"
America was given five choices: the late Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Steven Seagal, Jean-Claude Van Damme and me. The results can be read online.
Of course, movies are quite different than real life. Fighting in the ring is definitely much more difficult than brawling in front of the camera. I always preferred the opened cuts and broken bones on film!
The Parade survey prompted a close associate to ask me, "Chuck, so who is the greatest martial-arts champion ever?"
Decades of gifted contenders
Martial arts have evolved over the last 50 years, with modern forms largely originating from China, Okinawa, Korea, Japan and Brazil. And great fighters have fine-tuned and mastered the techniques developed from each of these countries.
I easily get nostalgic thinking about the competitive champs of yesteryear, men like Allen Steen, Skipper Mullins, Roy Kurban, Benny Urquidez, Mike Stone, Joe Lewis and Bill Wallace. I will always treasure the fights and the fellowship I had with many of these vintage combat warriors.
Of course, our contemporary protégés of mixed martial arts, such as those involved in Pride, have become fearsome contenders in their own right: men like Fedor Emelianenko, Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson, Mark Coleman and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. Others from the World Combat League include Ray Daniels, Tim Connors, Steve Thompson, Jennifer Santiago and Jeri Sykes – just to mention a few of the great fighters today.
What about Bruce Lee?
Bruce Lee was very fast, and he learned from everybody. He never believed in only one style, or that one style was the best. He said that everything had strengths and weaknesses, and what he wanted to do was find the strengths in each. He had a very open mind, constantly learning from others.
When I first started working out with Bruce, he only believed in kicking below the waist from his training in Wing Chun. I told him not to limit himself, and at least develop the ability to kick high, whether he used it or not.
I started to do my spinning heel kicks and hitting the pads. Then Bruce started doing it, and in six months he could do it as well as anybody. He worked out with me, Joe Lewis and Mike Stone – he learned from all of us, as we learned from him. And in doing so, he added to his repertoire of techniques, as we did. Bruce Lee was far ahead of everybody else in that field. He had a vision that was years ahead of everyone.
As formidable an opponent he was on-screen and off, however, many today don't realize he never competed professionally. Although I believe if he had, he would have been a world champion. His fame was established with the "Green Hornet" television series and immortalized with such movies as "Enter the Dragon" and "Return of the Dragon," in which Lee and I fought in the now-famous fighting sequence inside the Roman Coliseum.
In addition to his lighting speed and incredible strength, Lee was a master marketer – a fact demonstrated by his ability to talk the world karate champion, me, into being defeated on-screen! Still, as I pointed out in a previous WND column on Bruce, I totally enjoyed sparring and just spending time with him. He was as charismatic and friendly at home as he was on film.
What about Joe Lewis?
Some years back in Black Belt Magazine, there was a poll asking who was the greatest martial arts champion of all time. Opinions narrowed to two: Joe Lewis and me.
Joe was a great fighter with superb technique. I'll never forget in 1967, when he and I had won all our matches at the Internationals, we found ourselves in our third fight together for the grand championship in two years! Unlike the last two fights I'd had with him, this one was more of a chess game – neither of us wanted to make a wrong move. The match went into overtime with neither of us scoring. The one who scored the first point would be the winner and Grand Champion.
I attacked Joe, but he defended magnificently. I relaxed for a moment as though I had finished my attack. When I saw him relax too, I shot forward, executing a backhand strike to his face. The judges raised their flags signifying the point was scored – I was the International Grand Champion!
Joe and I fought one more time at Allen Steen's tournament in Dallas, Texas. This time, Joe beat me for the Grand Championship. I graciously congratulated him on the win and, from that defeat, we finally became friends.
So who is the greatest?
As much as I love competition, the more I study the Bible, the more I realize that beating someone is no way to feel fulfilled in life. Gratification at another's expense is not a commendable trait, but building up others at our own expense is.
Speaking of developing potential, some might question my efforts to teach martial arts to young people by calling it a form of violence, but actually it is just the opposite. It's the bullies in this life who are afraid and do all the fighting, not those who develop a sense of worth and security by learning self-defense. They grow in self-esteem and are trained to respect others, not beat them up. When we mature that form of significance in these youngsters, and all of a sudden they have no reason to fight, it's the most gratifying feeling in the world.
So who's the greatest?
The truth is I'm not worthy enough to answer that. But there is One who is. And His answer applies to the martial arts as well as any other field of discipline, study or work.
When an argument broke out among Jesus' disciples as to who was the greatest, He called over a child to their sides, then replied, "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest … those who are the greatest should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant."
It isn't being the greatest champion, but the greatest servant that ultimately matters. I know that might seem easy for me to say, having been a six-time world champion, but I mean it. It took me too many years to realize that it isn't the ladders we climb but the service we offer in this life that truly makes us great.
What? No Pat Morita? Anybody that could turn Ralph Macchio and Hillary Swank into karate champions has to be the greatest ever.
Since Chuck Norris was born, Deaths by Roundhouse Kicks have increased 315%....
RLTW
That’s easy—Indiana Jones. He can drop a sword slinging Arab with one finger.
Benny “The Jet” Urquidez.
The coveted pink belt......
Yeah, but what are the statistics on flies caught in chopsticks since Mr. Miyagi taught us that one?
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I saw Bill Wallace. Very, very fast and skilled. But, of course, these things always depend on if you count grapplers. Those guys have their own skill-sets. |
The guy that did those 1-800-CALL-ATT commercials was pretty good too.
Now, THAT......
Made me laugh out loud.
Chuck Norris doesn’t catch flies with chopsticks...
He just stares them down until they die of sheer intimidation....
RLTW.
Mr. Norris certainly learned his Bible well. The United States should take this view to heart. Look at all of the world's poor that could easily be supported by the U.S. if only we, as citizens, were willing to live more like the poor of the world do. We, as a nation, should be "building up others at our own expense".
I'm sure you all agree with me since so many on this board love to preach self-sacrifice while decrying selfishness as awful.
Go Chuck!
B R U C E L E E
On screen?
Has to be Sonny Chiba. The sound effects put him over the top.
Jackie Chan was no slouch in his younger days, either.
I don’t know much about martial arts, especially re the movies where much is coreographed and fake, but for a FACE that could intimidate you, it has to be Steven Segal.
The man has dead, shark eyes. Damned intimidating expression!
Now that he’s older and well fed, I don’t think he can do what he once did, but if we’re talking about ‘martial artists’ in their prime for comparison- I’d have to say Segal.
The cold, killer face gives him the edge, IMO.
"Some kids piss their name in the snow. Chuck Norris can piss his name into concrete."
"Chuck Norris once visited the Virgin Islands. They are now The Islands."
Joe Lewis on the right, back in the day. Lewis was the heavyweight champ Norris was the middleweight champ.
You really have to respect a guy like Norris to give an answer like that. A real class act. Pound for pound, it is hard to go against Bruce Lee though.
Oh please, Van Damme was an amateur body builder who learn some martial arts moves for the movies. Chuck Zito pounded him into the ground several years ago at a night club, for running his mouth. There was also a kick boxer in the 90's doing B action movies (the real deal, I cannot recall his name) who said Van Damme was a fraud, and challenged him to a real match, and Van Damme went running away like his hair was on fire.
I'm glad Superfoot Bill Wallace made the list, he was one of my favorites growing up, like Chuck was. I like the Mixed Martial Artists of today much better than the pure kick boxers though. They are well rounded in actually fighting, by employing real world fighting skills and martial arts.
I remember reading that Chuck Norris had never been in a real 'brawl' as an adult.
Yep, Bill “Superfoot” Wallace.
My husband participated in martial arts for years and needed a hip replacement when he was barely 40. Noticing that stretch of Bill Wallace in that photo and then thinking about Church Norris...both of them have needed hip replacements too. I don’t think the sport is too good for the hip joint.
What an open ended question. It depends on what you consider "martial arts". How about Toshiro Mifune's swordplay or Jackie Chan's athleticism? Or, for the Real Deal, how about Audie Murphy?
I would vote for Carlson Gracie.
Steven Siegal makes me laugh when he runs. His swinging man-teets are just too much. Good times!
That's the point, isn't it?
We should send Chuck Norris to Iran.
I dont know who the best fighter was, but this article convinces me Chuck is the best man.
Tony Jaa. Hands down.
I think Stevan Segal would win that contest.
Who is the old guy with the shocking white beard and white hair that flys around when he kicks people. He is unstopable!
Mas Oyama was probably the greatest martial artist ever. One of the few who actually reached the 9th Dan.
He could kill a Bull with his bear hands and did just that.
Read all about him here :
http://www.fightingmaster.com/masters/oyama/
I heard that Van Damme was more of a dancer and they just made him open up his spins so it would look like a kick...OK I made that up but he was really a putz! Time Cop my ass!
Santa Claus?
Great article. I think Chuck just said Bruce would not have beat him so Chucks the greatest on screen, but Joe Louis beat him in real fighting.
Then he shined the light on God and reminded us of what is really important.
Speed and reflexes are great things, but have you seen how hard someone like Segal can hit when he puts all the size and weight behind it? I would rather be kicked and punched 5 times by Bruce that once by Segal in his prime.
Santa can throw the haymakers but...No, not santa.
It isn't being the greatest champion, but the greatest servant that ultimately matters. I know that might seem easy for me to say, having been a six-time world champion, but I mean it. It took me too many years to realize that it isn't the ladders we climb but the service we offer in this life that truly makes us great.
Well, my opinion of Chuck Norris just went up about 10 more notches, if that's possible.
I'll have to start wearing my Chuck Norris pajamas again. :-)
I have a door key from the Stardust Casino from 1967 with Norris and Debbie Reynolds in karate clothes staging a hold. Quite the collector card.
He is a class act, isn't he? He's so gracious, he even has a nightlight... because dark's afraid of him.
Toshiro Mifune in the Musashi Trilogy taught the trick to Miyagi Sensei.
"Van Damme began martial arts at the age of 10, enrolled by his father in a shotokan karate school.[1] He eventually earned his black belt in karate,[2] later winning the European Professional Karate Association's middleweight championship[1] (although he has claimed that he was "twice world champion"[3]). He also started lifting weights to improve his physique, which eventually led to a Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title.[4] At the age of 16 he took up ballet, which he studied for five years. He says of ballet that it "is an art, but it's also one of the most difficult sports. If you can survive a ballet workout, you can survive a workout in any other sport."[5] "
It comes down to a mistake.
Does Mas Oyama get a clean hit or does Carlson Gracie pull him down to the ground first?
In full contact fighting, my money is always on the locker.
If by “building up others” he is talking along the lines of teach a man to fish, I’ll cut him some slack and chalk it up to sloppy syntax.
If he means “give a man a fish every day for life,” he’s crazy.
Most likely a sign that he uses his wits well too
any gracie, for that matter. :)
any gracie, for that matter. :)
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