New "Elvis Presley Gladiators" DVD To Debut in Fall 2009

[rocknroll]

Like many of the folks on the board I'm also a black belt.

I too am a black belt.

I also can bench press 600 pounds, dunk a basketball from the half court line and I swam the pacific in 1968 after getting the CMH in Nam.

[Pacerstar]

It's not about making something 'popular' or someone 'taking up martial arts.'

It is about the influence a particular person - Elvis, in this case - had on people that made them look at or take an interest in something they might not have otherwise.

It is about exposure to the art through things as simple as Elvis' karate moves on stage and even the early gii-style of his stagewear. Its about learning there were different styles to karate since his favorite was Kenpo. It was about the learning of different levels of karate and the acknowledgement of mastery through a 'color belt' system. It was about Elvis merely talking about karate on stage to his thousands of fans that created added exposure or introduction to the art.

I don't find this difficult to believe. Elvis was an influence in many areas throughout his lifetime - music, style, concert merchandising, movement on stage, charity involvement, sideburns.....and the list goes on. And I don't believe his intentions were ever to make any of these things popular!!! He just hoped fans would buy his 'records'..............

I agree. Is it so hard for people to give Elvis credit that he does deserve?

[Brian]

I agree. Is it so hard for people to give Elvis credit that he does deserve?

This is more about fans giving Elvis credit for things he doesn't deserve.

I am a realist.

[Pacerstar]

This is more about fans giving Elvis credit for things he doesn't deserve.

I am a realist.

If celebrity alone does not influence people, why do advertisers pay big sums
to celebrities to endorse their products and causes?

[Junebug]

That's what i'm saying Elvis didn't influence other people to take up martial arts that weren't previously interested in it.

I think his bodyguards got into it for a hobby because of him but that's about it.

I believe you missed the point ENTIRELY.

[Brian]

I believe you missed the point ENTIRELY.

I did not miss the point

I believe you missed my point which is what you replied to.

What you said is true but it's only partially what I was talking about.

Your'e previous posts just proves my points.

[Brian]

If celebrity alone does not influence people, why do advertisers pay big sums
to celebrities to endorse their products and causes?

Elvis didn't influence that many people to start taking karate lessons.

people do pay big sums for celebrities to endorse their products but a lot of time it does not work and besides we're talking about Elvis and his influence over Karate which was minimal at best.

[Merry]

Elvis didn't influence that many people to start taking karate lessons.

people do pay big sums for celebrities to endorse their products but a lot of time it does not work and besides we're talking about Elvis and his influence over Karate which was minimal at best.

Hi Brian,

How can you make such a sweeping comment, speaking for millions of people?

[Brian]

Hi Brian,

How can you make such a sweeping comment, speaking for millions of people?

I just know it.

it's just one of those things that you just know.

Go ask 100 people that study Martial arts if they wanted to get into because of Elvis Presley.
then ask 100 more.

I would bet you money right now that none of them say Yes.

[molokai123]

Elvis was okay, but he certainly was nothing great. Some of the '74 footage is a little embarrassing.

yea i gotta agree he was maybe acomplished at best,but not the smoothest but hey he still looked cool onstage well sumtimes xcept for sum of that 74 footage!

[Merry]

I just know it.

it's just one of those things that you just know.

Go ask 100 people that study Martial arts if they wanted to get into because of Elvis Presley.
then ask 100 more.

I would bet you money right now that none of them say Yes.

Well, I did for a while, (not for very long, I sprained my wrist then other things happened) and so did my son, that's two.

Two of my friends from AEK, one was a 2nd or 3rd Dan Blackbelt (he wouldn't talk about it), his two daughters were Blackbelts, too, I think 1st Dan. One of his daughters was named after Elvis.

Then there was another friend of mine, an Aussie, from AEK, too, plus another from The States.

So, somehow or other, the majority of my friends on AEK, including their children, were involved in Martial Arts because of Elvis (and top people, too).

Furthermore, pity I can't get into the archives to post what they wrote about Elvis. They were successful people, and just loved the ground that Elvis walked on, because he influenced their lives for the better in other ways too, musically wise, they becoming successful musicians because of their love of Elvis' music, as well as Elvis.

[Brian]

Well, I did for a while, (not for very long, I sprained my wrist then other things happened) and so did my son, that's two.

Two of my friends from AEK, one was a 2nd or 3rd Dan Blackbelt (he wouldn't talk about it), his two daughters were Blackbelts, too, I think 1st Dan. One of his daughters was named after Elvis.

Then there was another friend of mine, an Aussie, from AEK, too, plus another from The States.

So, somehow or other, the majority of my friends on AEK, including their children, were involved in Martial Arts because of Elvis (and top people, too).

Furthermore, pity I can't get into the archives to post what they wrote about Elvis. They were successful people, and just loved the ground that Elvis walked on, because he influenced their lives for the better in other ways too, musically wise, they becoming successful musicians because of their love of Elvis' music, as well as Elvis.

Sure, some really big die hard fans would.
did the daughters really get into because of Elvis or was it because of their parents.
The parents as you say got into because of Elvis.
If you were to ask people who weren't Elvis fans they'd probably all say no

I meant ask 100 people at random

So I don't think Elvis influence on Karate is enough to warrant an induction into the Karate HoF.



I'd still say 96% of the people practing martial arts weren't influenced by Elvis.

.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

The police badges were all honorary, despite Elvis' claims otherwise. And yes, he may have been an actual "sheriff" in Memphis or wherever, but that meant nothing.

I know that, I was being sarcastic. I was pointing out that he held police badges and had'nt earned them but somebody made the decision to grant those to Elvis even though he hadn't done any training to earn them.

Martial arts degress should be bestowed because of ability, not celebrity charisma.

Yet when we watch Elvis it would suggest different
From my experience of Karate, there are many elements e.g. Mental Growth, Kata's and the physicality of the sport. Do you suppose that the person training Elvis wasn't blinded by his celebrity?

[romar]

the 74 footage was just a shot at one day. Doesn't mean or say anything if he was good or not. He was not sharp that day for whatever reason
Brain. Elvis studied the arts for 15 years. Do you think mabye he did learn something and he became pretty good at the art?
You do not get to become a black blet just like that.
And yes his status is one reason for the hall of fame to take him in. But also Elvis did influence a lot of people end he exposed karate on stage en movies and tv specials and clothing so it is fair to give him some credit. And to put him in the hall of fame.
But that is just my personel opinion. I studied Karate also. Just for one year. Found it very rich. Had to stop because of my knee .

[Pacerstar]

Elvis didn't influence that many people to start taking karate lessons.

people do pay big sums for celebrities to endorse their products but a lot of time it does not work and besides we're talking about Elvis and his influence over Karate which was minimal at best.

Brian, I don't believe that Elvis actively recruited people to Karate. He spoke
about it and used some of it in his shows because he was interested in it
and because he enjoyed it. If Elvis had tried to actively recruit people to
Karate, IMO, he would have been vastly susscessful!

[Pacerstar]

Sure, some really big die hard fans would.
did the daughters really get into because of Elvis or was it because of their parents.
The parents as you say got into because of Elvis.
If you were to ask people who weren't Elvis fans they'd probably all say no

I meant ask 100 people at random

So I don't think Elvis influence on Karate is enough to warrant an induction into the Karate HoF.



I'd still say 96% of the people practing martial arts weren't influenced by Elvis.

.

Maybe Elvis' influence was not enough to get him inducted but wouldn't
his being in the Hall of Fame have given Karate a boost?

[KPM]

I just know it.

it's just one of those things that you just know.Go ask 100 people that study Martial arts if they wanted to get into because of Elvis Presley.
then ask 100 more.

I would bet you money right now that none of them say Yes.

Brian I could also say-"I just Know it" on my side-but it would be nothing more than my opinion.......just as yours is your opinion.]
You know it-from your.....point ...of view.
ANNNND the important thing in the realm of "The Martial Arts Hall of Fame" is not what you and I think about it-it was what they and their members who have to be fairly learned on the subject of Martial Arts and its widespread acceptance and growth around the world.
Hypothetical 100 people of today 2009-but we are not talking 2009 we are talking early 60s where average people had virtually no knowledge of karate, or martial arts-Elvis was using it in his movies, its mentioned in Roustabout by the college boy........before this it was used I believe 1st in a 1940s Jimmy Cagney movie with Cagney as a FBI secret agent- thats the first time I recall it used in a film. But Cagney had no real skill-he did not mention it in interviews, he did not practice it on the sets of films, he did not attend karate exhibitions. Elvis did all these things- its funny you read books and 2 things mentioned very often are Elvis's love of music and karate. Red and Sonny West have both acknowledged this.
As I said its not what you and I think which puts someone into any hall of fame for whatever reason-the people who run the organizations and their members make those calls-and thats how it should be.

[KPM]

yea i gotta agree he was maybe acomplished at best,but not the smoothest but hey he still looked cool onstage well sumtimes xcept for sum of that 74 footage!

I think from what I have read that their was a period where he practiced daily and trained in some way daily. Out of the Army and into the movie years-but like many things his real study and training began to diminish into the late 60s and from their on he dabbled rather than actually trained.
I recall statements by the fight trainer who trained him for Kid Galahad, Mushy Callahan,-he had trained Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, John Wayne, and several other stars for fight pictures-he said Elvis was the best of the lot-quick hands, good balance and he also mentioned Elvis knew karate and that made a huge difference.
Callahan had been a pro boxer and was a champion in the 30s I think-he became a celebrity trainer after his career was finished.

[Brian]

Brian I could also say-"I just Know it" on my side-but it would be nothing more than my opinion.......just as yours is your opinion.]
.

No, it is a fact

Elvis didn't influence that many people to get into Karate.

some Elvis fans tried it because of him but that's it many of them probably didn't even stick with it for very long.

serious martial artists students were not influenced by Elvis neither were non fans and I'd say most Elvis fans didn't practice karate.

The Hall of fame put him in there to boost it's profile.

[Brian]

Maybe Elvis' influence was not enough to get him inducted but wouldn't
his being in the Hall of Fame have given Karate a boost?

That's why he was inducted not because of the influence.