Kung Fu Fighting with Elvis

Elvis and Karate
Music by Fatboy Slim

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Elvis
• Karate
• Kung
• Fu
• Dance

[Coolrockndad]

@omurchu12 Yes, I always thought the math didn't add up. I thank you very much for you input.

77-21= 1956 and Elvis didn't get into martial arts till he was in the army which was 1958.

[omurchu12]

@Coolrockndad I would think probaby 1st degree - there is a crowd called tracykenpo google their website on it I found this; "... He (Presley) qualified for 1st degree black belt in 1960 in Memphis with the late Hank Slemansky, a Chito-ryu stylist. Slemansky was killed on active duty in Vietnam sometime in the mid 1960s." and that's it - it takes a mininum of 3 yrs for each dan - so 7x3=21 which means if he was legit 1981 was when he would have earned an 8th or '79 his 7th. He died in'77.

[omurchu12]

@bdkage I found a copy of his Blue belt cert of rank - meaning he graded - was tested - for blue belt in August '74 - in Kenpo - Parker - who also gave him honorary ranks in Kenpo - signed that one too - He was also with Rhee ONLY from '70 - '74 and in '73 Rhee made EP 7th because EP asked him to - you can't go from beginner to 7th degree Black in 3 years mate - you'd be lucky to make 1st degree - but you'd want to be a LOT better than EP ever was - here he's awful bad. Blue sounds right.

[bdkage]

Those who criticize obviously didn't see the real documentary. He was going slow in a lot of this footage because it was a demonstration for students. He is explaining as he is going along.

[bdkage]

Elvis owned the school that is being used in this video. He loved the arts. He had Bill Wallace and Red West run his school in Memphis. Elvis trained with Ed Parker as well as Kang Rhee and others.

He got hooked on the Martial Arts while in the Army. He was in to it before it was cool. He would have demonstrations on his movies sets in the 60's. He was in the process of producing a documentary on Martial Arts.

[bdkage]

@omurchu12 How do you know?

[omurchu12]

Well look - i'm in the same boat, my dad did'nt call my sister Lisa Marie for nothing! I loved all his movies growing up - but it's an old rock and roll story at this stage. I have nothing against the man - but there has to be honesty - I think at one point he was good - but it wasn't his calling - the singing was - so enjoy that and the image - but just know the real bits - none of us are perfect. He was just a man afterall.

[Coolrockndad]

@omurchu12 I love Elvis's music and image but this does say a lot about a person who would want something without working for it as well as the people that would let that happen. Yes it is a shame. : (

[omurchu12]

@Coolrockndad It's a shame really - but as you said - the teachers and Elvis mutually benefited from their asociation - and of course - having Elvis on your books would have been a bonus for any business, and let's not forget, it was to those guys. Well Elvis would have been a prodigy in Martial Arts to make 8th in 18 years - my Grand Master made 10th in 35 years - so there you go - something just does'nt add up not for that level of ability.