The legendary Chuck Norris may not be with us anymore, but his legacy still kicks harder than any workout you’ll ever know.

With his martial arts prowess and on-screen toughness, Chuck Norris cemented his place as a fitness icon. He left the world on March 19 at the age of 86, after a brief medical emergency, and the world lost a great athlete, actor, and human being.

But why is he being remembered by people all over the world? Many people may not know, so for them, here are some answers.

Chuck Norris' Impact on the Fitness World

Before becoming a global sensation, he dominated the fitness world by earning black belts in multiple martial arts disciplines like karate, taekwondo, Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and judo.

He worked for many karate schools and had notable students, including Hollywood celebrities Steve and Chad McQueen, Bob Barker, Priscilla Presley, and Donny and Marie Osmond. He later founded his own discipline called Chun Kuk Do.

Norris worked out regularly till the day he passed on. He was also the spokesperson for Total Gym for many years.

In an interview with The Healthy, he stated, “I try to stay very active, and I believe that a body that keeps moving, moves – and one that stops, stops. So before I start my exercise, whether it’s martial arts or a session on the Total Gym, I find that moment of clarity and peace is something I can’t skip.”

His impact carried over to the big screen, where he famously faced off against martial arts legend Bruce Lee in 'Way of the Dragon'. He chose roles that brought out his physical capabilities, including his lead role in Walker, Texas Ranger, making him an iconic action star.

His training routine changed as he aged, with his focus changing from peak performance to longevity. It included:

Monday/Wednesday/Friday

• 15 minutes of Total Gym
• Fast walk (2 miles)/Elliptical (30 minutes)
• Crunches (10 mins)
• Full-body stretch

Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday

• Martial Arts
• Isolated kicks
• Hand-and-feet combinations
• Pool exercises like kicking and resistance movement

In 2024, Norris warmed up with a 140kg barbell curl, which he referred to as a warm-up, and celebrated his 85th birthday last year by climbing the 3,100-meter-high Mount Lassen in California. In fact, right before his passing, he is said to have been training.

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Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil