?He Got an Offer?: Turning a Workout Partner for Chuck Norris Proved to Be a Life-Changing Moment for Legendary Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme in 1992

American actor and martial artist Chuck Norris has expertise in both fields. After serving in the Air Force, Norris focused on the field of martial arts and became a professional. He went on to create Chun Kuk Do which is also based on another form of martial arts called Tang Soo Do.

In a 1992 interview, Norris recalls a life-changing moment with his workout partner Jean-Claude Van Damme. Like Norris, Van Damme’s early expertise in martial arts helped him step into the limelight.

Some moments to remember

Jean-Claude Van Damme is a Belgian actor, martial artist, filmmaker, and fight choreographer. His life completely transformed after he became Chuck Norris’ workout partner.

“So Jean-Claude came over and I liked him. We got along, and so he started training at my house every morning. Jean-Claude trained with us for about a year, and then I was leaving for the Philippines to do Missing in Action. And the man who traveled with me, who was like a workout partner for me, had quit to become an airline pilot. So I asked Jean-Claude if he would like to go over and work out with me and maybe get a part in a film or something. And so he did. We went over to the Philippines and started filming. We were working out together and all this stuff. And then he got an offer to do a movie in Hong Kong,? Norris said.?

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Van Damme accepted the offer, and later on, also acted in movies with Norris. Van Damme’s journey began with his interest in martial arts. When he was just 10 years old, his father put him in martial arts training classes, before Van Damme moved to Hollywood in search of career opportunities. His success in Hollywood arrived with his debut in the movie Bloodsport (1998).

A thing that Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee shared

Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee were contemporaries in their prime. They were close friends who eventually became workout partners.

The training they went through had incredibly intense sparring sessions. Although, Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee never had a serious battle, since they never tried to test their skills against each other. Respect was something both martial arts legends had in common.

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