Despite Security Threats, Bruce Lee’s Iconic Fight Against Chuck Norris in the Colosseum Achieved an Insane Record

Published 12/26/2022, 3:15 PM EST

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Legendary great Bruce Lee made history with many of his stunt feats. The late martial arts pro was known for his splendid reflexes and super punch speed. Likewise, Lee was determined to set a new record by putting on a historic fight against American martial artist Chuck Norris, in his classic must-watch film.

Bruce went out of his way to shoot a scene at Rome’s famed gladiatorial venue, The Colosseum. Hence, this was a milestone uncovered in the action-film industry. But why the fight was marked as a record-setter?

Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris’s Iconic Showdown

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According to an article from Latin Times, around the late 20th century, Chuck was among the few topmost martial artists in the United States. Thus, during the shoot of one of Bruce’s classic films, The Way Of The Dragon, a grand fight was conceptualized between Lee and Norris. Additionally, this showdown was to be set in the Colosseum, which at the time was forbidden for filming.

 

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The martial arts genius apparently bribed Roman officials to get the job done. Consequently, the duo had only one hour to complete the ultimate showdown. “Bruce believed that everything had strengths and weaknesses and that we should find the strengths in each method. Clearly, one of those methods was to do anything to get the job done and The Way of the Dragon certainly benefits from that.” revealed Norris.

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As a result, they had to perform their optimum best in lieu of the security risks. Besides that, it also posed threats to their safety and health. Therefore, Lee and Norris were obliged to perform ‘the’ fastest martial arts battle to be ever filmed. Quite notably, the duo had been taking brawling sessions for two years prior to the ultimate shot.

Was Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris’ fight illegal?

The epic showdown featuring Lee and Norris in ‘The Way of The Dragon’ was in fact, shot illegally. From bribing officers to performing one of the historical face-offs, it was all a brainchild of the genius actor. The whole crew was told to act as tourists, while others smuggled shooting equipment in their backpacks.

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As per the officials, the crew was granted permission for only a few hours. Hence, the scene was greatly fragmented. Although the battle was successfully filmed in the Colosseum itself, other parts were shot in studios. The bits were later on merged to produce the most epic showdown in history. 

 

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The real-life staging of the showdown raised countless eyebrows. Audiences couldn’t get over the scene and were significantly marked in the action genre. Action fan or not, the face-off is a must-watch. Let us know what you thought of the star-studded battle.

Watch this story: Bruce Lee: Top Five Moves Of The Legend You Need To Know

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Written by:

Tiyasa Biswas

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Edited by:

Abhishek Kumar