The Time Chuck Norris Taught Eva Gabor Karate

Actor and martial arts legend Chuck Norris achieved household name status after his movie appearances in the 1970s and ’80s—but he had been well-known in the martial arts community for years before. Norris won the Professional Middleweight Karate Championship Title in 1968, which he held for six consecutive years. A year after his first Middleweight title, he won karate’s Triple Crown for the most tournament victories in a year, and was later named Black Belt magazine’s Fighter of the Year.

It was this success that led to an appearance on The Merv Griffin Show on December 21, 1971, a year before The Way of the Dragon would make him famous. Eva Gabor was guest hosting that evening, so he taught her a few self-defense moves—but not before she managed to make him blush a few times. Enjoy:


November 1, 2016 – 10:30am

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