Sōke (10th dan black belt) in Zen Do Kai, Shihan (5th dan black belt) in Gōjū-ryū, 6th degree black belt in BJJ, 8th dan black belt in Chun Kuk Do, Level 6 in Ukidokan Kickboxing
With fellow karateka Bob Jones, Norton is the co-creator of Zen Do Kai, a hybrid self-defense martial art intended for the security industry.[2] He is also the head of Richard Norton BJJ.[3]
Early life and training
Norton was born in the Croydon suburb of Sydney, Australia in 1950. He began studying Judo at the age of 11, and later took up Gōjū-ryū karate, earning his black belt at the age of 17. In 1970, he was hired by Bob Jones as the chief instructor for his Melbourne dojo, which later developed into Zen Do Kai, while also working as a security guard.[4][2]
Norton has been on the cover (as well as featured in editorials) of martial arts magazines including Black Belt twice (published since 1987), Australasian Fighting Arts in 1983 (published 1974 to 1998), Blitz Magazine, Impact (published 1992 to 2010) with Cynthia Rothrock in 1993, and with Jackie Chan in 1997, Inside Kung Fu, MA Training (published 1988 to 2000), Martial Arts & Combat Sports (published 1999 to 2002), and Martial Arts & Combat Sports.[8] In 2014 Norton was inducted into the Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
He also is the Head Instructor of the Richard Norton Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu organisation.[3]
Norton became the fight coordinator on Walker, Texas Ranger in 1993.[9] He was a minor (sometimes uncredited) character in several episodes (at least eight), and had a starring role as villainous businessman Frank Scanlon in The Avenging Angel; he was in the two-part finale The Final Show/Down as Jonas Graves, part of Emile Lavocat (Marshall R. Teague)'s criminal gang (he also appears in the "flashback" scenes illustrating the end of the Hayes Cooper legend, as part of Mills "Moon" Lavocat (also Marshall R. Teague)'s desperado gang).[10]
Norton served as fight coordinator on the 2007 film The Condemned (starring "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Vinnie Jones), doubling for Jones. He also starred in a contemporary drama, Under the Red Moon.
In August 2010, Norton appeared at Berlin Movie Con, a convention of martial arts where he was joined by ten other stars of Martial arts cinema in a two-day show. It was staged in the Universal Hall in Berlin, Germany. Among his fellow stars were Cynthia Rothrock, Don "The Dragon" Wilson and Conan Lee.[11]
Norton holds seminars covering such topics as street defence, martial arts weapons drills, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts. In September 2007, Norton released a two-disc DVD set on Black Belt Digital Video called Black Belt training Complexes. The DVDs show Norton executing fast and accurate examples of his skill, and some additional seminar footage is also included. They focus on the development of speed, power and continuity of movement, with explanations of the principles.
Filmography
ABBA: The Movie (1977) – as himself, bodyguard and fitness trainer (uncredited)
Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) – various roles, incl.; Frank Scanlon, Jonas Graves, Desperado, Drug Dealer # 3, Mercenary # 1 [martial arts coordinator, in at least three episodes]
The New Adventures of Robin Hood (TV Series) (1997/ 1998) – episodes; 'The Legion' ('97), Rossamar – 'Outlaw Express' ('97), Outlaw Trueco and 'Assault on Castle Dundeen' ('98), Lord Chilton [also the stunt coordinator]
