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8th
Degree Black Belt
Master Chip Wright |
If you've watched Chuck
Norris's hit television show, "Walker, Texas Ranger," then
you've seen Mr. Chip Wright
at work as Mr. Norris' stunt
double. Both are fierce competitors and men of high caliber.
Mr. Wright began down the Black Belt path in 1974, training with Mr. Bob Barrow, and was awarded his first Black Belt three years later in 1977. He currently holds the rank of 8th Degree Black Belt, acquired in 2002.
In addition to heading the 2007 Chun Kuk Do School of the Year, an award he's garnered three times, he's the 2008 recipient of the coveted Weiland Norris Award. Also a member of the: UFAF National Board of Directors and the UFAF/ Chun Kuk Do Director of Tournament Development. He coaches the Chun Kuk Do National Team.
As a competitor, Mr. Wright was named Open National Champion in 1984, 1986, 1987. A member of the Trans World Oil National Karate Team from 1986 to 1991, he won the title of United Fighting Arts Federation (UFAF) National Champion 14 of 17 years, from 1984-2001. Named 4-time UFAF Competitor of the Year, he was inducted into Black Belt Magazine's Hall of Fame in 1991 and the UFAF Fall of Fame in 2002.
His energies also kept him busy out of the fighting arena, working on Walker, Texas Ranger from 1993-2002/2005; and films including: GymKata, Eye for an Eye, Side Kicks,
Top Dog, Forest Ranger, The Cutter, Missionary Man, and Walking Tall 2.
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5th Degree Black Belt
Shantell Dawson |
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Fifth Degree Black Belt
and multi-year Chun Kuk Do Champion, Instructor and
General Manager Ms. Shantell Dawson,
inspires the students with her incredible technique and
fighting prowess.
She
started her martial arts training in the summer of 1993.
Five years later, at the age of 12, she would receive
her black belt under the instruction of Master Chip
Wright.
Curious in competition, she entered
her first tournament as a black belt in 1998. It was
then, at the Tiger Balm Internationals in British
Columbia, Canada, that she would discover her
competitive spirit. That spirit would be the driving
force behind her martial arts training for the next few
years. She went on to compete in many national
tournaments the next 11 years.
In 2000,
Dawson won the most points of any
junior martial artists in the Pacific Northwest
Conference. Earning her a spot in the National Black Belt
League Hall of
Fame. The National Black Belt League (NBL) is the world’s largest and most
prestigious karate league, and each year one junior and
one adult get this honor.
As
a teenager, Mrs. Dawson collected the title of
Chun Kuk Do Junior Competitor of the Year in 2002 and
2003. Named 5-time Adult Female Competitor of the year, Dawson excels in all aspects of
martial arts, from sparring to forms. In 2006, Ms.
Dawson took home both "Norris Cup" Trophies. One for
Traditional forms and the other for women's Sparring.
“It’s basically a traveling trophy, you have to give it
back at the end of the year....or you can win it again."
Dawson says smiling. And she would do just that. In 2007
she defended both of her titles in forms and sparring to
become the only female to win both Norris Cups
back-to-back years.
Dawson’s fighting prowess and approachable style, make
her an asset to Chip Wright Champion Karate.
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2nd Degree Black Belt
Nick Alden |
| Second degree Black
Belt Mr. Nick Alden, started his karate training
in January of 2000 and at 16 years of age attained the
level of Black Belt in 2005. Currently a full-time
college student, Mr. Alden enjoys instructing both youth
and adult martial arts students since 2004, as well as
training with four other members of his family. |