On an old episode of the Joe Rogan Experience with guest John Dudley, Joe Rogan spoke about Chuck Norris, reflecting on the influence Norris had on his life and early interest in combat sports.
The topic first surfaced during a lighthearted discussion about Buc-ee’s, the Texas-based chain of massive roadside travel centers. While describing the wide range of products sold there, Rogan joked that the stores carry everything from novelty snacks to outdoor gear.
Rogan mentioned there are “different kinds of jelly beans and Chuck Norris action jeans and camouflage and Yeti coolers.” That comment led to a brief exchange about Norris’ signature clothing line.
“Why doesn’t Chuck Norris make jeans?” Dudley asked.
“He used to. I used to own a pair of them bro,” Rogan replied. Looking at an image of the product, he added with amusement, “They laced up in the front. Let you do sidekicks. It has a gusset.”
Later in the episode, the conversation turned more personal after a photograph of Norris appeared on screen. Rogan used the moment to reflect on the figures who first inspired him to pursue martial arts.
“Him and Bruce Lee are the reason why I got into martial arts, 100 percent. I used to watch Chuck Norris movies when I was a kid,” he said.
Rogan then recounted one of his earliest encounters with Norris, describing it as a defining personal moment from his early days in combat sports.
“One of my proudest moments of my life was when Chuck Norris knew who I was,” he explained. “I ran into him at a kickboxing event in New Jersey, way back in the day, and he gave me this big hug. It was one of his events. I was like, holy s**t, Chuck Norris knows who I am.”
He shared that a second meeting followed years later at a formal ceremony honoring a veteran karate master, where Norris and several prominent figures from the early American karate scene were present.
Rogan said he was invited to attend and speak briefly, an opportunity he accepted without hesitation.
“They asked me to be there and say a few words,” he recalled. “I would do anything for Chuck Norris.”
The discussion eventually shifted to Norris’ film career and the lasting impression his movies left on Rogan as a young viewer. Reflecting on that influence, Rogan spoke candidly about how pivotal those films were in shaping his path.
“He changed my life,” Rogan said. “For real. If it wasn’t for Chuck Norris movies, who knows, I might not have gotten into martial arts. I watched him in films like Lone Wolf McQuade, and it was like, goddamn, that might be the coolest guy that’s ever lived.”
