R.I.P. Chuck Norris

[hans]

I was sad to hear of Chuck Norris passing away at age 86. 

Although he wasn't the world's finest actor, few could embody heroic virtue as authentically as he did. 

All through the 80's, I would look forward to every new movie he made.  Here are my three favorites: 

His best all-around film, Code of Silence (1984)...




His best film for martial arts fights, the ninja movie, The Octagon (1980)...




His stylish, neo-spaghetti-western, Lone Wolf McQuade (1983)...

[Nol Drek]

Chuck Norris can kill two stones with one bird.

There is no chin under Chuck Norris' beard. There is only another fist.

Chuck Norris didn't die, he defeated life and moved on to his next mission.

[Milos Gulan]

   He was cool, not one of my favs but good, probably something like early version of Jean Clade Van Damme whom I actualy I liked to watch 

[ProphetSword]

During the filming of "Return of the Dragon," Chuck Norris asked Bruce Lee who would win in the final fight of the movie.  Bruce Lee said: "I win.  I'm the star of the movie."  

At the time, Chuck Norris held a world title in martial arts, and when he pointed out that maybe he should win, Bruce Lee responded with: "No, I don't want to beat the world champion.  I want to kill the world champion."

They spent five days shooting the final fight in that movie.

When asked years later who would have won in a real fight between them, Chuck Norris said: "Bruce Lee.  Nobody could beat him."

[hans]

Here's that classic film fight ProphetSword was referencing:

Notice the message Bruce (who directed) put into the fight.  At the beginning, Bruce is losing.  Chuck is better at a traditional style martial arts fight.  So, Bruce changes his approach and starts dancing like a boxer.  You can tell Chuck is stymied by this as he looks down at Bruce's new footwork twice.  From the point that Bruce breaks out of the traditional style, he remains in control of the fight.  He's using this filmic battle to teach his martial arts philosophy:
"To be bound by traditional martial art style or styles is the way of the mindless, enslaved martial artist. But to be inspired by the traditional martial art and to achieve further heights is the way of genius."

[ProphetSword]

Apparently, he and Bruce Lee had been really close friends even before that movie was made, having met during martial arts championships.  Chuck Norris was also good friends with Brandon Lee, Bruce's son.

[hans]

There are quite a few Chuck Norris joke compilation songs on YouTube.  I think this one is the best, overall: