Our Team

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In Loving Memory: Richard Norton

Mentor • Friend • Inspiration

Richard Norton (January 6, 1950 – March 30, 2025) was more than a world-renowned martial artist—he was a guiding light to everyone who trained beside him. His wisdom, humility, and strength shaped the very heart of our academy.Richard believed in giving without expecting, pushing beyond limits, and above all, daring to participate.

“Dare to participate.” — Richard Norton

We honor his legacy every day, through our training, our teaching, and the way we carry ourselves. His impact lives on in every student, every lesson, and every step forward.

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I have been a Martial Artist since the age of 11, including more than 28 years training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under the legendary Machado Brothers and proudly hold a 5th Degree Black Belt under the Machado brothers.

My training in BJJ began in the late 80’s, with a legend of the Gracie family, Master Rickson Gracie. I remember well my first introduction to Rickson after contacting Rorion Gracie and enquiring about private lessons.  How I came about even knowing about the existence of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, was after my dear and close friend, Master Chuck Norris, made a trip to Brazil on vacation and, after asking the locals about Brazil’s Martial Arts, was directed to a BJJ academy where he found himself in front of Master Helio, Rickson, Rorion and Royce Gracie.

Anyway, after an eye-opening training session, Chuck came back from his trip with a video tucked under his arm of Vale-Tudo (no rules) fights that Rickson had in Brazil and, as we trained together every morning at his house, Chuck was eager to share the video with me.  So that was the start of my introduction and interest in BJJ.

So here I am, standing in front of Rickson in a garage gym at his brother Rorion’s house in the Redondo beach area of Los Angeles.  Remember, this is way before the UFC came into existence.  The first thing Rickson says to me is, “Do you want to put the gloves on?”  This was prompted by Rickson knowing I had an extensive background in ‘stand up’ arts and figured I was probably wanting to test my skills against the Gracie’s art.  I very politely and, in hind-sight, wisely said no, that I was just very interested in finding out more about the Jiu Jitsu as practiced in Brazil.

My first lesson with Rickson starts with me having to mount Royce, (who later became the UFC’s first MMA champion), and try to stay there, followed by Royce mounting me and me having to get him off.  Both were impossible tasks due to my total lack of knowledge in the grappling arts except for some rudimentary Judo training when I was an 11 year old. Now of course, in this introductory lesson, there was no striking involved, but I remember so clearly leaving Rorion’s garage and thinking how much I felt like a little baby on the ground with these guys, but also so excited at the thought of how much my martial arts would improve by adding these skills to my martial arts tool box. So my BJJ journey began.

I guess I did around 8 months of private lessons with Rickson in that garage at Rorion’s house, before heading back to Australia for a visit, as at that time, I was living in Los Angeles. It was back in Melbourne that I met and did some training with Carlos Gracie Jnr and the great Renzo Gracie who happened to be doing some seminars in Melbourne. So Renzo asks me who I was training with in Los Angeles. When I told him, he then suggested I also meet his cousins, the Machado Bros, who had recently come to set up shop in the U.S.  After the initial introduction, I knew this is where I wanted to be, so I began training with Rigan, Carlos, Roger and John Machado, again in a garage matted area in Redondo Beach.  Jean Jacques was yet to travel to the U.S.

As Chuck and I had been training together every morning since 1979, I, of course, told Chuck about these amazing Bros and remember suggesting him I bring them to his Tarzana residence for a private training session with us. So the relationship began in earnest. Chuck, Bob Wall and myself then helped set the brothers up in their first academy in Encino and help with immigration, etc. and away they went. I do want to mention, that to me, the one person that should be credited with helping introduce Gracie Jiu Jitsu to the U.S as we know it is Chuck Norris. I say this because very soon after Chuck’s trip to Brazil, he had the foresight to recognize the incredible talent of the Gracie’s and invited a large contingent of Brazilians to come and teach at his annual UFAF martial arts seminar in Las Vegas. Among those who made the trip from Brazil were Rorion and Rickson Gracie, Pedro Sauer and Carlos Machado. The rest is history.

Eventually, after establishing their Encino academy, the Machado’s opened up in Redondo Beach, leaving Jean Jacques in charge of Encino. As I was already living in the Valley, I continued training every day in earnest with Jean Jacques, whilst still making training trips to the Redondo based academy.

This is a very brief history of the nearly 30 year journey in BJJ that has led to the formation of Richard Norton BJJ and the Team Norton Brazilian Jiu- Jitsu Association.

Professor Clint Harris began his martial arts journey at a young age in Maryborough, Victoria, under the guidance of his father and uncle, who ran a local Taekwondo club. Growing up immersed in the martial arts, Clint developed a deep respect for discipline, movement, and self-improvement early on. Always curious and eager to evolve as a martial artist, he explored every style and system available in his area. This led him to Freestyle Combat Karate, a hybrid style that opened the door to Muay Thai, Filipino Kali, and foundational grappling techniques.

Clint’s real growth began when he relocated to Melbourne, where his martial arts world expanded dramatically. It was here that he met Professor Jeremy Ta’kody—a pivotal moment in Clint’s journey. Under Professor Ta’kody’s mentorship, Clint was introduced to Mixed Martial Arts, Wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, sparking a deeper passion for grappling and cross-discipline training. Through this connection, he was also introduced to the legendary Professor Richard Norton, with whom he built a strong affiliation that continues to this day.

Driven by a hunger to improve and challenge himself, Clint traveled to the United States to train at Team Alpha Male, one of the world’s most respected MMA camps, home to numerous UFC fighters. Upon his return to Australia, he began teaching professionally in 2014 and quickly became known for his technical knowledge, clear instruction, and ability to inspire students of all backgrounds.

In January 2020, Clint was awarded his Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Professors Norton and Ta’kody—a proud milestone that reflects years of hard training, study, and dedication to the art.

Clint’s teaching style focuses heavily on helping students understand the why behind techniques, not just the how. He emphasizes the importance of concepts, structure, timing, and adaptability, encouraging students to develop their own style within the framework of solid fundamentals. This approach makes his classes accessible to beginners while still offering depth and challenge to experienced practitioners.

With a Diploma in Fitness and all relevant Working with Children Checks, Clint brings both professional training and personal care into every session. He has a natural ability to connect with a wide range of students, from young children to competitive athletes, adults seeking self-improvement, and everyone in between. His patient, supportive, and positive nature creates a space where students feel safe to learn, ask questions, and push their limits.

Clint currently leads the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program at Team Norton Academy Melbourne, located within Saxon Sports—one of the most equipped sports performance facilities in the state.

His weekly schedule includes:

• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Gi and No-Gi)
   
• Kids Martial Arts (BJJ, Striking Fundamentals)
   
• Kickboxing & Boxing
   
• MMA Fundamentals
   

Whether you're stepping onto the mats for the first time or preparing for competition, Clint’s goal is always the same: to help you grow—not just as a martial artist, but as a person.

Clint’s energy, passion, and dedication are felt in every class. His leadership reflects the legacy of the mentors who shaped him, and his approach continues to inspire a new generation of martial artists across Victoria.