It is not known to many that Elvis Presley was a passionate karate athlete and even held the 8th black belt in Kenpo karate.
Elvis’ interest in this martial art was first aroused when he saw a demonstration of judo and jiu-jitsu in Fort Hood, Texas in 1958 while doing military service.
Presley asked his friend Lamar Fike if he knew a martial arts instructor. This referred him to the founder of karate in Germany, Jürgen Seydel. Elvis Presley began training with Shotokan Seydel in 1958 in Bad Nauheim, Hessen.
Elvis then started train with Tetsugi Murakami, one of the first karate teachers in post-war Europe.
On July 21, 1960, Elvis received his first dan in Memphis, Tennessee. In Shito Ryu, Hank Slemansky takes the black belt exam
Ed Parker was undoubtedly the karate coach who had the greatest influence on Elvis. They first met in 1960 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Presley saw Parker’s karate demonstration in the hotel lobby
Ed Parker and Elvis trained until the singer’s death in 1977.
During his four-year training, Elvis, like all other Rhees students, chose an animal name by which he should be addressed in the training area. The rock star decided on the name “Tiger”.
Elvis trained with the other students as part of normal practice lessons without the press or the usual fan base who followed the rock star. 1973 Presley was awarded the 7 Dan. From then on, Kang Rhee allowed Elvis to teach karate himself and appointed him the official trainer in his own Pasaryu Karate Association.
Elvis was considered a tough and relentless trainer and many students were scared when he was around. One student fell so hard against Elvis’ shins during a training session that she collapsed in tremendous pain
In 1975 Presley received the 8th Dan. Many critics said that he received this degree only because of his popularity. Master Rhee replied, however, that Elvis had made a name for himself in the sport of karate and that he deserved this black belt.
Elvis met the middleweight world champion Bill Wallace through his friend and bodyguard Red West. Both men had a long friendship. In 1974 Presley was able to train with Wallace in Kang Rhee’s studio for 3 weeks. Bill was considered the fastest foot technician in the world.