Elvis Presley & Ed Parker. Uh Huh Huh!

[Andy Murray]

Many thanks to Christopher Caile from Fighting Arts.com for permission to link this article from his site.

Not only is the article a fascinating snapshot of MA history, but you can buy the video if you read through the article.

Blue Suede GI (http://www.fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=286)

:D N.B. Posted especially for Melanie, who is a huge Elvis Fan!!!

Andy :D

[Melanie]

Er...yeah...right...

[morphus]

errrrmmmm......... If you do or don't like Elvis - karate try elviskarate.com
It still makes interesting reading plus pics!

[Chazz]

"try elviskarate.com"

Interesting site. The pics just make me *L*. Hard to think of him like that.

[HKD]

Elvis and karate, funny or not he was a 7th dan in karate and i have seen video of him dong some very cool stuff.

HKD

[pesilat]

Yeah ... from what I've heard from some people who were around, Elvis was very serious about his Karate training. Of course, it could be a matter of people not wanting to speak ill of the dead ... but I got the impression that they were sincere when they said it.

Mike

[waya]

From what I understand he was. I have seen interviews with Kang Rhee who was one of his instructors and he talks alot about how Elvis was one of his top students.

[Chazz]

From watching him in viedos of live shows, his moves make him look like he would good at this. I would love to see clips of him doing martial arts.

[HKD]

yes, the king was very good. he was into all kinds of soprts. untill he got fat ans strung out that is. there is some new footage found of him. and he was an 8th dan not 7th my f-up.

HKD

[Thomas Vince]

I guess it would fitting if I replied since Elvis did study under Sonny his bodyguard and Ed Parker who were his closest personal bodyguards.
Elvis was a Black Belt, but his first instructor was Hank Slomanski and the art was called Chito-Ryu, Ed had sent him there to see how tough he was before he took him on.
Ed and Elvis met in a Hollywood hotel where Ed was doing a seminar and the rest is history.
Elvis financed the Budweiser American Karate Team to Germany and many other Kenpo events as well as the International Karate Championships in Hawaii in 1964.
Many of you will find pictures of Elvis and the famous black acoustic "Kenpo Guitar" which he displayed in the Aloha from Hawaii satellite concert as well as many others concerts.
Priscilla Presley had a private instructor named Mike Stone which she had an affair with and has been the bruise on the Kenpo community, but was not ultimately responsible for the divorce. Mike Stone was cut off by the executioners axe never to be allowed to return!
Yours in Kenpo

[vegasbound]

A small correction Hank Slomanski was not lvis's first instructor, Elvis started shotokan Karate in1958 whilst in the army stationed in Germany, he staudied under Juergen Seydel and also tetsugio Murakami when on leave in paris often for 8 hours a day, Elvis was a brown belt on his return from the Army in 1960.

After their meeting and Elvis had been trainig further Ed parker sent him to Hank Slomanski for his Black Belt testing, this is what lasted 6 weeks after which a message was sent back stating "The Kid aint pretty but he's tough and a black belt"

Elvis was promoted to 2nd dan by hank slomanski in 1963.

He then was promoted beyond that by Ed Parker and from 1970-74 Elvis studied Pasaryu under Khang Rhee.

[Pacificshore]

Whoa!!! a blast from the past :p Most of the members that replied are no longer here ;) Good updated info tho :)

[Aegis]

I think over 4 and a half years has to be some kind of record for thread necromancy on MAP! :D

[vegasbound]

Guys

I was searching for more info on Hank Slomanski and the google search brought me to the site!!! :)

And I guess I just had to correct the inaccuracies.

further info on The Rev. Hank Slomanki....after leaving the services in during which time he had fought in the Korean war and served three tours in Vietnam, he was awarded the Silver and Bronze star and three Purple hearts.

He then entered a theologicakl college and became a Priest in the Easter orthadox church, he died on 23rd April 2000 after losing his fight with pancreatic cancer, survived by his wife and two children.