Elvis Presley and his passion for karate.

[TheSubwaysurfer]

Wallace takes a groin kick from Elvis...man! The pay mustve been real good...that's all I'm saying...poor Elvis. You can tell that in his mind, he thought he was really good.

[TheSubwaysurfer]

Could you reallly imagine Elvis sparring Bill Wallace? LOL! He would've beat him like a hound dog! LOL

[7327Jay]

His strikes don't look to effective and there very sloppy

[pipesrussell]

Elvis was to Karate what Lee Majors was to acting.

[RonSchinners]

elvis wasn't good at karate? wth are u talking about when he joined the army he was tested in real fights...and he was known to be able to hold his own in a fight...

[EenterE]

Fantastic ! Elvis could TCB !

[TheSubwaysurfer]

I think Elvis was sincere about being a martial artist, but given his celebrity status and obvious ego(the customized Gi says it all) there's no way he could legitimately train. Elvis was worth millions. Who would risk him getting busted up sparring?

[omurchu12]

@TheSubwaysurfer Exactly what Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace says in this month's Martial Arts IIlustrated in the UK. Bll says he was never allowed spar EP! - some 7th dan!

[TheSubwaysurfer]

Ed Parker achieved a lot MORE notoriety having Elvis as a student for sure, but don't get it twisted, Parker had already ade a reputable name for himself in the martial arts community before Elvis.

[TheSubwaysurfer]

Say what you want about Elvis, I know that ANY karate teacher would have sold his soul to have him as a student! Ed Parker was set for life after landing him as a student. No wonder why he promoted him!

[AgileMJOLNIR]

It's too bad Elvis's passion for Kenpo didn't help him get good at it LOL.

[toons999]

Take it for what it is...Elvis singing and making quasi karate like moves. No one took this seriously, and if there's any shame in it , it's with Mr. Parker and the rest of the 'kiss ass' martial artists so eager to make a buck off being associated with a legendary name such as Elvis. They were the ones lavishing praise, black belts onto Elvis and availing their dojos for such footage.

[omurchu12]

@toons999 No argument to that pal, shame really. Parker & Rhee should just have told him that they were only honorary from the start. You don't earn it - you shouldn't wear it,

[akrocuba]

At lest he tried to be a martial artist.......great video..thanks for uploading, I enjoyed it.

[faeriebility]

Gee whiz, all of you who have something nasty to say about Elvis's skill must be all certified 8th degree black belt karatekas! So what that he might not have earned it - if you have money, fame, singing talent, etc, people are going to kiss up to you! You might end up believing some of the things they say to you too. Elvis got beyond the novice stage, but really, it was impossible for him to get far given his celeb status. He sang and he loved MA. Seriously, have some respect for the late King.

[grichie87]

Wanker



[jango67]

Im sure I cought a glimps of  superfoot bob wallace in the backround

[MrBigdaddy8]

@jango67 I think you mean Bill Wallace. Yes, he is the man with the "star spangled" gi.

[RussX5Z]

Great live song here!!

[clearcombat]

He was so out of shape on the stage and off. Ed Parker became famous because of Elvis taking his classes. Ed parker made a lot of money doing TV and low budget films. His Kenpo was nothing more than karate with limited kicks.

[Ronin4028]

By the way folks , yes the onstage stuff looks like a Spastic Rat doing a bad Long 3 or the like. However a different point , yes there are folks in the video who could mop the mat with Elvis , so what/ That's freakin' Bill Wallace and others for cryin' out loud. The point was that a *major* entertainer of the time was an enthusiast and practitioner of the martial arts in general and the Paker sytem in particular.

[Ronin4028]

HHmmmm , some folks here need to do some research. In addition I must question whether some folks saw the same video as others , Presley is assuredly rusty here , but he exhibits *very* characteristic " Parker" movement. In addition keep in mind his working profile at the time. Elvis*did NOT* earn his first Dan rank through Parker , that was actually through Hank Slaminsky and waas in Chito-Ryu ****in the old days*** , look that up if you doubt he earned it.

[neils68]

Ever heard the term "jumping the shark"? 

[shniddles]

Blame the people who fed his delusions more than Elvis himself. Know for a fact that Red West was a brawler that could've easily resisted EP's advances across the dojo floor, and would've destroyed EP(hospitalization) with those poorly disguised "punches" to the mid section. And was that a Red Sash he was wearing!? C'mon.

[kaich0]

I love the shirt under the Dogi.....and the shoes!!!!!!!!!!!

[mrmasterlee1]

Lets get it strait, ELVIS was a Entertainer, and Martial Artist. While being a Entertainer he was the KING! While performing Martial Arts he was not. However, The KIng was ok at it, He tried, he was a GREAT Ambasador for the Arts, and He hung around Greats like Ed Parker, Dave Hebler, Bill Wallace, Kang Rhee, Hank Slowmanski, ect. Before anyone else say's one more bad word about Elvis, First give your qualifications, and did you have with these men, and did Nixon make you a Federal Marshal?

[cmomofilm]

I think its clear his grip on reality was not that tight when he was doing this stuff.

[thewsca]

I don't know how good Elvis actually was,but to the general public it looks pretty awesome,particularly when he does karate along with the drums.I think it also helped his physical condition in the early 70s when he did those sideways lunges during suspicious minds.Very difficult to do,but Elvis made it look easy.Probably as a result of his martial arts training.

[Chad01234]

So theatrical and entertaining. Presley's money bought him the belts. It was worth it for the Parker community, because what better advertsing for the art than the King of rock etc? I love Kenpo, and I love Elvis, but his sloppy arse attempts to immitate Parker techniques are at best, amusing. God bless the man though.

[SuperKenster1]

Elvis was a tenth degree in kenpo gm elvis

[runningwolfkenpo]

I say let it go. Elvis passed away years ago and with him a profound generation of great music. He brought Kenpo to more people than anyone could.

He was a fighter in his day. I believe nobody is so good to bash others at martial arts because all you are doing is sharing your own short comings.

[moominpic]

I remember reading an interview with Bill Wallace, where he said Elvis was OK at Karate and got out of it as much as he could, but he also said that there was a limit to how far Elvis was ever going to go with it as he couldn't compete or fight using it in real life due to him being Elvis.

[paulieandkaty]

Elvis actualy teaches MMA for the elderley now at our local chuch on a Tuesday night.

[toons999]

I too am a karateka, and it's a shame that in all the karate talk one man was never mentioned,

THE MAN WHO WROTE AND SANG THIS GREAT BLUES SONG, AND MADE IT POPULAR, JIMMY REED.

His music will still be around after a lot of martial arts moves faint into oblivion.

[omurchu12]

@toons999 he'll be forgotten - Martial Arts were around for thousands of years before him and will be around for thousands after....

[Geruiteindhoven]

@cuthachXaingeal It's no problem my friend! I appreciate all comments good or bad. Elvis was a great entertainer and singer but a bad karateka.

[gentlegiant6585]

@Geruiteindhoven Well said. I practiced American Kenpo, and currently Chinese (IKCA) Kenpo, and love Ed Parker, but you have to wonder if Elvis's celebrity had any influence on his advancement.

[MrBigdaddy8]

@gentlegiant6585 What is there to wonder about? There is NO WAY Elvis was a real 8th degree black belt. Ed Parker received many benefits from his association with Elvis.

[2124161]

@Geruiteindhoven maybe nobody should say if he was bad or good because he is dead, he can't give you a Give of Destruction or say you "Thanks for your gratification ^^"

[Geruiteindhoven]

@cuthachXaingeal I know, as a big Elvis fan, and long time karateka, that Elvis was a bad karateka. I have made this movie, just for fun!!

[omurchu12]

@Geruiteindhoven fair play to you mate - tell the truth and don't mind those others - half ot them never set foot in a Dojo in their lives - you look at half their channels on here and you see they're all stuck in '68-'73, the good years for Elvis - not too many posts of him as he turned out though - sad not to be able to see the truth....

[bikizuzu]

Props forever to Elvis in his capacity as a musician and performer, but if this bit (and other similar clips of him doing so-called "Kenpo') is any indication of his actual skill as a Martial Artist, he was pretty poor at it. This shows some of the most facepalm-inducing examples of his lack of skill imaginable. He might have been good at karate, but he wasn't worth the honourary degree he was given. Ed Parker must be spinning in his grave.

[omurchu12]

There are no red belts in Kenpo - it's a con he was muck at it - orange belts could do better than this.....

[ademirbeteba1]

the king!! viva elvis!!

[DianRay2]

ELECTRIFYING!!! Elvis FOREVER, Dian

[Suszama]

Elvis-Lightning

[yaminovitchable]

greatness in everything that is the KING

[omurchu12]

@yaminovitchable lay off the drugs - they have distorted your sense of reality - he was crap!

[IlyhaCos]

He's rather funny

[tonielsurfero]

ELVIS The Kinggggggggggggggggggggggggggg­gggggg of MUSIC!!!!

[HiTIVIAIN]

@tonielsurfero hahahahahahaha!

[tonielsurfero]

@HiTIVIAIN yes,jajajaja

[omurchu12]

@tonielsurfero So do I and I study it - and on this evidence Elvis was muck at it - poor form and execution - he was AWARDED his grades which is a LOT different to EARNING them - I think this is very bad Kenpo - I'm sorry someone put this up 'cos it makes Elvis look bad - I 'd say this about any bad Kenpo WHOEVER was doing it - sorry but that's the truth - great singer - but that is awful.....

[omurchu12]

@elvisworldwide Well i tell you what go read page 314 of 'Elvis by those that knew him best' and see what Rhee himself says about Elvis and his 7th dan request - in Rhee's own words - if telling the truth about Elvis's grades is a bad thing and makes me pathetic - I'd rather be that then a liar like you - who'll I'll bet never set foot in a Dojo anywhere and has'nt a clue what he's talking about - If Rhee gave them so did Parker - keep fooling yourself - Alone?- this poster here believes me...

[omurchu12]

@elvisworldwide Not alone mate - Cuthach is my missus - we were laughing our heads off at your nonsense from day 1 you dope!

[omurchu12]

@elvisworldwide Nope - I just love rubbing the fact that Elvis was only a Blue belt as certified by Ed Parker himself in '74 into you - you poor deluded muppet - as for wanker - seeing as how you worship a dead guy - what does that make you - or is that - EEEEEWWWWWW! lol!! The truth shall set you free mate - just admit it and stop trying to use that Australian website as 'proof' they know even less than you do, a yank having to try and get Aussies to prove his cornball lol!

[ELVISAPLOVER5]

@omurchu12 ..bitch if u don't like the way Elvis preforms martial arts..keep ur sorry jealous ass off the kings videos..u dumbass freak!

[omurchu12]

@ELVISAPLOVER5 It's dopes like you that should keep your faces shut - I'm about good Martial Arts - and lard ass couldn't kick snow off a rope - Jealous? I just hope I am never that bad..... you need to get some glasses if you think that's good, I think Elvis was great at music but leave the Karate to those that can...I'll bet you never even trained a day in your life...and learn how to spell, it's embarrassing trying to talk sense with illiterate trailer trash like you.

[ELVISAPLOVER5]

@omurchu12 ..LMFAO...ur the trailor trash..and u know nothing about martial arts..so cut the crap bitch!

[omurchu12]

@ELVISAPLOVER5 Listen retard - it's spelled You're and Trailer - I study the style Elvis is making a travesty of - can you guess what it is? - and it's only one of what I do - so hush now - be quiet so the adults can talk or else I'll have to Mawashi Geri you in the head a few times - ok punk?

[ELVISAPLOVER5]

@ELVISAPLOVER5 oh so you never make typing errors..wrong!..i won't hush..u know nothing about anything bitch!..eat shit and die..ur a nobody..nobody cares about you!

[omurchu12]

@ELVISAPLOVER5 You dope, you sent that to yourself - stupid! And you expect to be taken seriously? I train in Martial Arts - you know nothing, so you are nothing - You're the one that one-one will remember - I bet you're a fat geek nobody, you have to live your life thru a dead guy, your own is too pathetic.

[paulietrev1]

@omurchu12 yep you are for defo a self praising ass hole , I could whip your ass karate or not ..Elvis could really fuck you up you fat fuck

[omurchu12]

@ELVISAPLOVER5 You're the 'freak' the man is DEAD - so it ain't HIS video - it's somebody's video you illiterate muppet - and it's spelled PERFORMS not preforms - jeez! It's no wonder an idiot like you can't tell the difference between good Martial Arts and bad when you can't even spell!

[ELVISAPLOVER5]

@omurchu12 it's called a typo you dumbass freak!...like i said you're just jealous..you're a nobody who wishes he was a somebody!..you know nothing about martial arts...so eat shit bitch!

[omurchu12]

@ELVISAPLOVER5 I AM a somebody and I sincerely doubt YOU know anything about Martial Arts if you actually think(boy there's an ironic statement if ever I heard one!)-that this is any good - that only compounds your stupidity, I pity you 'living' through a dead guy - as for my ass - that's for shitting with and that's what I'm doing all over this sorry piece of video thrash and you.....

[HanSomKan1]

@omurchu12 I'm sure you know what you're talking about, however, in Elvis' defense (if you can call it that) he was heavily reliant on the meds at this point which is bound to affect his precision. He should be better than this after 14 years of devotion to the sport, so I think he's got it in him.

[omurchu12]

@HanSomKan1 Well - I would have thought so too, only recently on another of these video clips a former 1st generation student of Parker's said Ed only gave those belts to Elvis, sad really

[agentestelle]

He actually did American Kenpo and was trained by Ed Parker, the founder of American Kenpo and his bodyguard. You know that thing he did at the end of his performances? It was actually a Kenpo move and it was so he could see if Ed Parker was on that side of the stage. If he wasn't he'd go the other way.

^.^ I have a passion for American Kenpo.

[alp4a]

whats the name of the song

[Geruiteindhoven]

@alp4a; Live version, name of the song: Big Boss man, from the FTD cd Spring Tours 77.

[thekhonkhon]

he must hav been a big fan of Bruce Lee's movie, thats cool to see the real Elvis

[wirasatrya95]

chuck norris of rock n roll

[wirasatrya95]

@wirasatrya95 he knows how to deal with crazed fans

[wirasatrya95]

karate + military + rock n roll = elvis

[MyDreamside]

@wirasatrya95 lol yes

[swamps69]

Love karate, love life in the military, love Elvis - wish I could've experienced all three together..... Now wouldn't that be a memory to treasure..??!

[nathanhales1]

awesome i would of loved to have praticed with elvis and some of the others in this vid *****

[phyllisfiredwards1]

This is awesome!!***********

[pattarasila59]

No doubt why Elvis is good at karate. He practiced it a lot. I remembered the action scene in the movie Roustabout, he used karate to defend himself. This video is awesome and the song Big Boss Man is great. Thanks a lot for creating and sharing. I really love it.

[CSTANCHIK]

EXCELLENT action footage of elvis doing karate. some of it appears to be new. very good. cstanchik