Elvis Presley had a black belt in karate

Elvis Presley started learning karate while serving in the Army and was stationed in Germany. Since that, karate would become a lifelong interest for him. Juergen Seydel, a German shotokan stylist, is Elvis' first teacher and worked with him until 1958 at his off-base residence in Nauheim. The military offered thirty days of paid vacation (leave) every year, which was a good perk.

Tetsugio Murakami, one of Japan's best shotokan stylists, would teach him privately while he was on vacation in Paris. Tetsugio would later help establish shotokan in Europe. On one occasion, he studied with Murakami for nine days in a row for several hours each day. He also spent hours training with Rex Mansfield when he had plenty of free time.

In 1960, Elvis Presley met Ed Parker, the founder of American Kenpo, at the Wilshire Beverly Hills Hotel. Mr. Parker introduced Elvis to Hank Slomanski, an Instructor at Fort Campbell where Elvis was doing his black belt exam. On July 21, 1960, Hank elevated Elvis to "Black Belt" and personally gave Elvis his own Black belt when he promoted him. After receiving his seventh-degree black belt in 1972, he used his understanding of the fighting style to choreograph fight scenes in his films. Even at performances, he would display some of his moves on stage.