Elvis Demos His Karate Training

Elvis Presley was a dedicated student of karate and attained the rank of 8th-degree black belt in the martial art. He was introduced to karate in the early 1960s by a Memphis karate instructor named Hank Slemansky and continued to study and train in the martial art until his death in 1977.

Elvis’s passion for karate was reflected in his music and personal style, as he often incorporated karate moves and imagery into his stage performances and clothing. He even wrote a song called “Karate” and included it on his 1975 album “Today”.

In addition to his own practice, Elvis also helped to popularize karate in the United States by introducing it to other celebrities and incorporating it into his films. His dedication to the martial art helped to elevate its status and promote its values of discipline, focus, and physical fitness.

Among some interesting facts we learn here was that Elvis’s karate outfit was custom made for him, and Elvis would sometimes lead meditations where he spoke of Bible verses. Also seen in this video is well-known member of the “Memphis Mafia,” Red West.