A martial artist, actor, and Chun Kuk Do champion, Chuck Norris is one of the most prominent personalities in Hollywood. From kick-starting his career with Bruce Lee’s The Way of Dragon to starring in more than 20 major motion pictures, Norris made his presence known in the entertainment industry. While many have seen Norris as an antagonist in Lee’s 1972 cult classic, very few are aware of Ground Chuck’s first screen debut in 1968. 

Way before exchanging punches on-screen with the Little Phoenix, Norris made his screen debut with the 1968 spy comedy the Wrecking Crew. However, just a day before the film’s first shooting sequence, Norris had a martial arts competition to attend. Nevertheless, before indulging in a fight, Norris made a bizarre request to his opponent.

Chuck Norris made a queer request to his martial arts competitor

In his book, Bruce Lee: A Life, Matthew Polly penned an anecdote about Norris’s movie debut in 1968. A day before the Wrecking Crew’s director called action, the Long Beach International Karate championship commenced. As it turned out, the Chun Kuk Do champion was also a participant in the competition. 

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Interestingly, Norris’ opponent was none other than ‘the greatest kicker in the history of U.S.’  Lewis Ray ‘Skipper’ Mullins. Though, both the champions were each other’s contenders, they shared a close-knit friendship. Therefore, just before the match, the actor told Mullins about his movie debut and requested, “beat on my body but try not to hit me in the face”.

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Norris further added, “I don’t want to go on the set looking like I’ve been in a brawl”. As his friend, Mullins conceded with Norris’ plea. Although Norris and Mullins shared amity, they faced each other many times in karate competitions and exchanged some severe punches and kicks.

Norris and Mullins’ martial arts rivalry

Outside the martial arts arena, Ground Chuck and Skipper used to exchange cordial wishes. However, inside the field, the karate champions served kicks and strikes in each other’s direction. Nevertheless, the friends competed against each other in the 1965, 1966, and 1967 International Karate championships. In all three events, Norris trounced Skipper in the finals. 

In 1968, the acquaintances faced each other again in the Long Beach International Karate championship. This time, Ground Chuck made a request to his friend before entering the ring, which apparently got approved in return. The duo indeed shared a great dynamic.