A Tulsa team will be among those vying in the actor's new martial arts fighting league.

Chuck Norris doesn't just fight, he creates fighting leagues.

Whether he's the champion of martial arts or television's star of martial law, Ryan, Okla., native Chuck Norris is still going strong.

Now 67 and living on a Houston ranch, his second-year martial arts "World Combat League" is coming Friday to the Tulsa Convention Center.

"It's been an idea for me for 30 years," Norris said. "I had to decide between a film career and the league then. After I finished eight years of 'Walker, Texas Ranger' I started rethinking the league and the team concept."

This "team concept" is what sets Norris' WCL apart from mainstream mixed martial arts groups such as Ultimate Fighting Championship, he said. In addition, ground combat is disallowed, but rounds are fast-paced.

"Watching UFC over the last 20 years, when fighters go to the ground, they have become so proficient in avoiding submissions so it becomes boring," Norris said.

"'Knockouts, not tapouts,' is what we say."

Another difference is the type of gloves fighters use. To prevent concussions, boxing gloves instead of "bag gloves" which leave fists exposed are used.

"That's way too dangerous from what I want," he said. "We also have an open area with no ropes and no wires that obstruct views."

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While the team bears the state's name, Norris said it is Tulsa's team.

"Cook is a good friend of mine, and he's from there," Norris said. "Right now it's Tulsa and will probably stay in Tulsa. We're looking for the cities that will support it most."

Norris knows firsthand how martial arts can change lives. Kickstart, a charity that brings martial arts training to at-risk youth, is the beneficiary of the WCL, he said.

"All the money that comes from the league goes straight to Kickstart," Norris said.

Norris said he has lofty goals for his league. To make it a true "World" Combat League, he said he wants 36 teams in the United States and 24 each in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

"We're still new, so we'll see how it goes," he said.

While he will not be at the event Friday because of prior obligations, he said he will be coming to Tulsa for the next WCL event, currently scheduled for March.

"My heart has always been in martial arts and it's been part of my life for 47 years," he said. "I think if people come and see it, they'll become fans of the league. I hope they get behind their team."

Althea Peterson 581-8361
althea.peterson@tulsaworld.com