Elvis The Martial Artist

Elvis was very serious about Martial Arts. If you watch his performance videos or if you ever saw Elvis live, you might notice the Martial Arts influence. He was always promoting Martial Arts during his shows. Elvis became a Martial Arts student when he was in the army, in 1959. He said he was doing it every day of his life ever since..."for at least two or six hours a day."

On this page I have included information about Elvis the Martial Artist along with gifts for the Elvis fan and collector.

Image Credits Elvis Presley Gladiators:
The 1974 Elvis Karate Legacy Project Courtesy of Amazon

Do you know Elvis as The King of Rock 'n Roll or as Tiger, the Martial Artist?

"Elvis was perhaps one of biggest promoters of the martial arts during their big rise in the United States. Through his fight scenes in his movies, or his on-stage kata-inspired dance routines, Elvis introduced millions to the martial arts. Unlike many celebrities who got into the martial arts for movie roles, or because it was the "in" thing to do, Elvis truly believed in the martial arts and the benefits of martial arts study." ~~James Hom

You can see it in his films, you can see when he performs onstage. He's always promoting his martial arts training.

"It's not just self defense, it's about...self control, body discipline, and mind discipline...and breath techniques. It involves yoga. It involves meditation. It's an art, not a sport." ~~Elvis Presley

Elvis gave the following explanation of karate during one of his Vegas shows,"August of 1974:

"There are a lot of people who know that I have been involved in the art of Karate for some time.

Kung Fu and Karate are the same thing. There's no difference, it's just ah, the Chinese terminology is Kung Fu and Japanese is Ka-ra-te. Kara means open, The means hand,...Ka-ra-ate.

See, I've been doing this for 16 years. I started when I was in the army, in 1959. I've been doing it every day of my life ever since...for at least two or six hours a day."

He started karate in West Germany, earning a 1st degree black belt there. By the time he had come under the tutelage of Master Rhee, Elvis already had a 4th degree black belt.

The KING was a Kenpo practitioner! Elvis had the Kenpo crest on his guitar, and used Kenpo in many of his films (like when he knocked the leopard out in Harem Scareum?)

'Tiger' was Elvis' Pasa Ryu karate nickname, the name Kang Rhee had given him (famous golfer Tiger Woods is named in honor of Elvis' karate name).

Buy the above poster at Allposters.com

"An again confident Elvis really cuts loose here, launching into scorching versions of early classics. "That's All Right," "Heartbreak Hotel" (where he has to stop to catch his breath and remember the lyrics), and "Blue Suede Shoes" have all the fire that first made him such an arresting phenomenon. But it's the title cut, which was spliced into the TV special's second showing in August 1969, that is the showstopper. This disc instantly becomes one of the cornerstones of any Elvis collection." --Robert Baird

"An again confident Elvis really cuts loose here, launching into scorching versions of early classics. "That's All Right," "Heartbreak Hotel" (where he has to stop to catch his breath and remember the lyrics), and "Blue Suede Shoes" have all the fire that first made him such an arresting phenomenon." --Robert Baird

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