Teen competed for Chuck Norris Cup
Vanessa Byrne has had a unique opportunity to combine her passion for karate and a brush with fame.
The senior at North Stafford High School met and trained with Chuck Norris in Chun Kuk Do. Byrne began her training in Chun Kuk Do when she was just seven years old at Champion Martial Arts in Stafford, which is owned by Norris.
“I started training in Chun Kuk Do, when I was seven years old, because I didn’t like dance or swimming, or anything my mom put me in,” Byrne said.
She did well, earning her first black belt in 5th grade, and her second in 6th grade. All of this training paid off for Byrne, when she began attending Norris’ karate championship in Las Vegas each year.
“He does a world championship karate tournament and conference every year in July. And we attended one back in 2009, that’s when she first had her picture taken with him and trained with him a little bit and got to know him, and we’ve been going ever since,” said Bill Byrne, Vanessa’s father.
Byrne did well in this year’s competition, where she actually got to train with Norris himself. “I got into the championship – I got into Grands – and I got to compete for the Norris cup,” said Byrne.
“It was a great honor, especially now that I have become friends with his daughter. He lives up to the expectations of what you see on TV – he’s actually as nice as he seems. He’s very personable,” Byrne said of her experience meeting Norris.
While Byrne had intended for Chun Kuk Do to be a hobby, she plans to incorporate it into her life for many years to come, with hopes of becoming an instructor.
“Especially after the competition this year, because I did very well…I plan on continuing it more than ever. I was planning on taking a break during college, but now I’m picking my college around places that teach Chun Kuk Do,” said Byrne, who is planning to attend West Virginia University.
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