Robert Wall
Encyclopedia
Robert Alan "Bob" Wall (born August 22, 1939) is an American actor and martial artist
.
. He is featured in a number of films, most notably three appearances with martial arts master Bruce Lee
. Bob Wall appeared in the film Way of the Dragon
with Lee, along with Chuck Norris
. Among the martial arts Bob Wall has studied Okinawa-te karate
under Shihan
Gordon Doversola. In 1966, Wall along with karate champion Joe Lewis opened the famous Sherman Oaks Karate Studio in Sherman Oaks, California. In 1968 Lewis sold his share of the studio to Chuck Norris
. He also had a supporting role in Lee's most famous film (in the western world) Enter the Dragon
. He later appeared in Game of Death
, Bruce Lee's incomplete film re-cut in 1979. More recently, in 2009, Wall starred as a bodyguard in the film Blood and Bone
.
An urban legend surrounding the making of Enter The Dragon claims that he never quite got along with Bruce Lee and that the fight on the parade ground where he smashed the bottles was more than just a managed fight. However, Wall and others present at the time deny this story, stating the tale was blown out of proportion and that Wall and Lee were actually good friends.
Wall has studied several arts under many notable masters. They include Judo
under "Judo" Gene LeBell
, Budo Jujutsu with Al Thomas, Okinawan Shorin-Ryu
under Joe Lewis, boxing with Chuck "The Hurricane Kid” Simonini, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
under the Machado Brothers
.
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
.
Biography
Wall is a former heavyweight world-champion kickboxerKickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
. He is featured in a number of films, most notably three appearances with martial arts master Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
. Bob Wall appeared in the film Way of the Dragon
Way of the Dragon
The Way of the Dragon is a 1972 Hong Kong martial arts film written, produced, directed by and starring Bruce Lee.- Plot :Tang Lung is sent from Hong Kong to Rome to help his friend's niece Chen Ching Hua, and family friends, whose restaurant is being targeted by the local Mafia, which has been...
with Lee, along with Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris
Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris is an American martial artist and actor. After serving in the United States Air Force, he began his rise to fame as a martial artist and has since founded his own school, Chun Kuk Do...
. Among the martial arts Bob Wall has studied Okinawa-te karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
under Shihan
Shihan
- Title of "Master" is a Japanese Honorific Title, Expert License Certification used in Japanese martial arts for Master Level Instructors. The award of the Expert License Certification is if designated by the qualification by virtue of endorsement by the [A] Association of Chief Instructors or [B]...
Gordon Doversola. In 1966, Wall along with karate champion Joe Lewis opened the famous Sherman Oaks Karate Studio in Sherman Oaks, California. In 1968 Lewis sold his share of the studio to Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris
Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris is an American martial artist and actor. After serving in the United States Air Force, he began his rise to fame as a martial artist and has since founded his own school, Chun Kuk Do...
. He also had a supporting role in Lee's most famous film (in the western world) Enter the Dragon
Enter the Dragon
Enter the Dragon is a 1973 Hong Kong martial arts co-production with Golden Harvest and Warner Bros. studios, directed by Robert Clouse; starring Bruce Lee, Jim Kelly and John Saxon. This is Bruce Lee's final film appearance before his death on July 20, 1973...
. He later appeared in Game of Death
Game of Death
The Game of Death is a 1972 film starring Bruce Lee. It was almost the last film Bruce Lee had planned to be the demonstration piece of his martial art Jeet Kune Do. Over 100 minutes of footage was shot before his death, some of which was later misplaced in the Golden Harvest archives...
, Bruce Lee's incomplete film re-cut in 1979. More recently, in 2009, Wall starred as a bodyguard in the film Blood and Bone
Blood and Bone
Blood and Bone is a 2009 American direct-to-DVD martial arts film directed by Ben Ramsey and written by Michael Andrews. The film stars Michael Jai White, Eamonn Walker and Julian Sands, and features martial artist Matt Mullins and MMA fighters Bob Sapp, Kimbo Slice, Maurice Smith, Gina Carano and...
.
An urban legend surrounding the making of Enter The Dragon claims that he never quite got along with Bruce Lee and that the fight on the parade ground where he smashed the bottles was more than just a managed fight. However, Wall and others present at the time deny this story, stating the tale was blown out of proportion and that Wall and Lee were actually good friends.
Wall has studied several arts under many notable masters. They include Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
under "Judo" Gene LeBell
Gene LeBell
Ivan Gene LeBell is a former American Judo champion, instructor, stunt performer, stunt coordinator, and professional wrestler born in Los Angeles, California. LeBell has worked on over 1,000 films and TV shows, and has authored a number of books.In 2000, he was promoted to 9th Dan in US Ju-Jitsu...
, Budo Jujutsu with Al Thomas, Okinawan Shorin-Ryu
Shorin-Ryu
is one of the major modern Okinawan martial arts. It was founded by Choshin Chibana in 1933. Shōrin-ryū combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles of Shuri-te.-History:Chosin Chibana was a top student of the great master of shuri-te, Anko Itosu...
under Joe Lewis, boxing with Chuck "The Hurricane Kid” Simonini, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
under the Machado Brothers
Machado family
The Machado family refers to the lineage of Brazilian mixed martial artists and Grapplers. They are known for being the founders of RCJ Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu...
.