Actor and martial arts legend Chuck Norris achieved household name status after his movie appearances in the 1970s and '80s—but he had been well-known in the martial arts community for years before. Norris won the Professional Middleweight Karate Championship Title in 1968, which he held for six consecutive years. A year after his first Middleweight title, he won karate’s Triple Crown for the most tournament victories in a year, and was later named Black Belt magazine's Fighter of the Year.

It was this success that led to an appearance on The Merv Griffin Show on December 21, 1971, a year before The Way of the Dragon would make him famous. Eva Gabor was guest hosting that evening, so he taught her a few self-defense moves—but not before she managed to make him blush a few times. Enjoy: