Elvis and Chuck Norris

Elvis Presley’s love affair with martial arts and guns started when he was inducted into the U.S Army in 1958. It was in Germany ,where he met his future wife Priscilla Beaulieu, who was barely in her teens then. At the time of his death in 1977, Elvis owned 37 hand guns and rifles and one machine gun.  When I went to Graceland in Memphis, I also saw Elvis’ shooting range. But Elvis was crazy with Karate too,  he even used karate moves during his concerts.  His passion for the discipline probably influenced Priscilla who asked the King if she could get lessons.  Elvis, according to Chuck Norris in his book phoned him if he (Chuck) could teach Priscilla, the moves, which he agreed.  Priscilla took her private lessons in Chuck’s martial arts studio in Sherman Oaks, California.  Chuck was impressed with Priscilla’s flexibility owing to her being a ballet dancer.  When they started sparring sessions.  Chuck  asked Priscilla to wear a boxer’s headgear but she rejected it.  “ I wont have one of these on the streets.”

Chuck in Las Vegas

On one occasion, Priscilla invited Chuck to watch Elvis concert at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas.  It was the first time Chuck met Elvis in person.  Chuck sat in the front booth with Priscilla and was captivated by Elvis’ showmanship.  After the show, Elvis invited Chuck to his suite and they talked until four o’clock in the morning. At first Chuck was hesitant since he does’nt  know much of music.  But he was surprised with Elvis’ knowledge in martial arts.  Like Elvis, Chuck  was introduced to self-defense when he was in the military.  Elvis studied many styles under different instructors.  In 1958, he started as a student under German master Juergen Seydel (a shotokan sensei), then under Tetsugio Murakami ( a Japanese  Shotokan master), Kang Rhee (a Korean Sa-Ryu Taekwondo grandmaster), American Ed Parker ( founder of American Kempo and Elvis’ life long teacher) and Henry Slomanski (under whom Elvis earned his black belt) and oh yes, Filipino Dan Inosanto (later a student of Bruce Lee). Over 15 years, Elvis was awarded  advancing black belt degrees and in time received a honorary seventh degree black belt.  Elvis opened his own martial arts school in Memphis, the Tennessee Karate Institute, where his chief instructor was Bill Wallace.

Trina Uytiepo Armonio

My niece Trina Uytiepo Armonio, a martial arts practioner, recently broke her arm in a judo competition in a mall in Iloilo City.  A metal brace had to be inserted in her arm after her operation.  Trina,  a wedding singer looks more of a model because of her light weight built, than a martial arts fighter.  After  I checked the details, I found out she was a guest performer in an open category with her opponent, 10 kilos heavier.  I told her that was a crazy move it’s just like  pitting Manny Pacquiao against Mike Tyson.  Doctors  said she will be out of action for at least a year.  Asked by her mom if she’s quitting the sport, she said no amount of injuries could stop her from continuing.  True, some athletes just keep on asking for more.  Get well soon Trin.  Let’s try  Taekwondo, at least we don’t  have to use your arms.

Did you know?

In the 1930’s threats to his life, mobster Alphonse “al” Capone bought a custom-built, seven ton, armor plated Cadillac limousine with half-inch bullet proof glass.  Speaking of gangsters, here’s the “price list” of a violent gang  based in Manhattan’s Lower West Side. Punching $2 , both eyes blacked $4, broken nose and jaw $10, jacked out (knocked out with a black jack) $15, ear chawed off $ 25, salvage (one-way trip) $100.  “Mas barato pa sa Pinas, dungab with ice pick Php 500.00.”

Leader of the five Pointers Union  was racketeer and  ex bantam weight boxer Paul Kelly (real name, Paulo Antonini Vacarelli)