Robert Wall

Robert Alan Wall (born August 22, 1939) is an American actor and martial artist.[2]

For other people named Robert Wall, see Robert Wall (disambiguation).

Robert Alan "Bob" Wall
Born (1939-08-22) August 22, 1939
San Jose, California
ResidenceLos Angeles, California
NationalityAmerican
StyleKarate, Tang Soo Do
Teacher(s)Chuck Norris, Joe Lewis, Gene LeBell, Machado Brothers
Rank  9th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do
  8th degree black belt in Kyokushin Budokai[1]
Websitehttp://www.worldblackbelt.com/

Career

Training

He has studied Okinawan martial arts under Gordon Doversola. In 1966, Wall along with karate champion, Joe Lewis, opened the Sherman Oaks Karate Studio in Sherman Oaks, California. In 1968, Lewis sold his share of the studio to Chuck Norris. Robert Wall is featured in a number of films, most notably three appearances with Bruce Lee: the 1972 film Way of the Dragon, as O'Harra in Enter the Dragon in 1973,[2] and Game of Death, Bruce Lee's incomplete film re-cut in 1978. He has small roles in Norris films, such as Code of Silence (1985), Firewalker (1986), and Hero and the Terror (1988).

Wall has studied several arts under many notable masters. They include Judo under Gene LeBell, Okinawan Shorin-Ryu under Joe Lewis, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the Machado Brothers.[3]

Conflict with Steven Seagal

Wall is particularly famous for his public rivalry with Steven Seagal, which provoked a series of challenges between the two between 1988 and 1992. It started when Seagal made disparaging commentaries about Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris and other American martial artists in interviews, culminating in two articles in the Black Belt magazine where he claimed he would fight to the death anybody who believed they could defeat him.[4]

Indignant at Seagal's slights of Lee and American martial artists, as well by his boasts, Wall gathered a group of martial artists willing to answer the challenge, who were nicknamed the "Dirty Dozen" in a reference to the 1967 war film The Dirty Dozen. The group included Benny Urquidez, Bill Wallace, Howard Jackson, Roger Carpenter, Allen Steen, Jim Harrison, Dennis Alexio, Richard Norton, Billy Robertson, Pat Burleson and William "Blinky" Rodriguez,[5] with Gene LeBell and Gerard Finot as potential members and Karyn Turner as a possible promoter for one or more matches.[4][6]

The Dirty Dozen were controversial in the martial arts community, with some deriding them as an overreaction and a promotion of violence.[7] LeBell later revealed the affair was hurting him professionally and forced him to withdraw, while Urquidez and Burleson became reportedly unhappy with the group's concept.[4][6] However, several other members claimed to be content with the campaign alone, with Rodriguez declaring, "just by not accepting the challenge, Seagal tells us where he's at."[4]

Other work

In 2009, Wall starred as a bodyguard in the film Blood and Bone.

Personal

Wall is a 9th degree black belt under Chuck Norris and the co-founder and CEO of a martial arts organization known as World Black Belt Inc.[8] In 1975, Wall authored the book Who's Who in the Martial Arts and Directory of Black Belts (Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 75-2280), the first book of its kind for martial artists.

Filmography

Films
Year Title Role Notes
1972Way of the DragonTom/FredWhile the film refers to his character as Tom, the end credits name his character as Fred.
1973Enter the DragonO'Harra
1974Black Belt JonesMob HenchmenUncredited
1978Game of DeathCarl Miller
1981Enter the NinjaThugUncredited
1985Code of SilenceThugUncredited
1985Invasion U.S.A.VinceUncredited
1986FirewalkerJose
1988Hero and the TerrorWall
1992SidekicksBob Wall
2004Sci-FighterLas Vegas announcer
2009Blood and BoneO'Hara
2018Anatomy of An Antihero 3Master Bob
2020The Search for Count Dante
2020Anatomy of an Antihero: RedemptionMaster Wall

References
  1. "IBK International Kyokushin Budokai - Blak Belts". International Kyokushin Budokai.
  2. Bax, Paul. "Bob Wall Interview: "Pulling No Punches"". Black Belt. Archived from the original on December 20, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  3. World Black Belt Inc >> Bob Wall Bio. URL accessed on April 6, 2010.
  4. David W. Clary, The Dirty Dozen: Who Are They and Why Are They After STEVEN SEAGAL, Black Belt magazine, April 1992
  5. Bill Wallace, Front Kicks: Is Steven Seagal the Baddest Dude of All? Not to This Ex-Champion, Black Belt magazine, June 1992
  6. David W. Clary, Wall Challenges Seagal to Face "Dirty Dozen", Black Belt magazine, March 1992
  7. Stephen Peto, Challenges Set a Bad Example, Black Belt magazine, August 1992
  8. Cater, Dave. "1 on 1 With Bob Wall". Inside Kung Fu. Archived from the original on May 29, 2010. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
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