Richard Norton, a legendary martial artist (as well as a 6th degree BJJ black belt) and movie star from Australia, has passed away at the age of 75.
Long before he became a fixture on the silver screen, Norton was already making waves in the martial arts scene.
His journey began with Judo and evolved into Karate, where he became a black belt and instructor.
During the 1970s, he worked as a security professional – guarding A-list stars – and kept sharpening his skills with kickboxing, Muay Thai, and eventually BJJ.
Norton’s film career launched in the 1980s, where he shared the spotlight with martial arts legends like Jackie Chan and Chuck Norris.
He didn’t just act alongside Norris, he trained with him too, along with other icons such as Jean Jacques Machado.
It was Machado who introduced Norton to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and awarded him every belt rank through his 6th degree black belt.
Even as he built his reputation in the movie business, Norton remained a student and teacher of martial arts.
He continued training, evolving, and mentoring others throughout his life.
Remarkably, Norton remained active in Hollywood well into his later years. He appeared as the Prime Imperator in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) and again in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024).
Norton was among the first to embrace a blended approach to fighting styles, long before it became mainstream.
His work in film and his contributions to martial arts will continue to influence generations to come.
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