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Elvis Presley Signed 1974 Tennessee Karate Institute Rank Certificate

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
Elvis Presley Signed 1974 Tennessee Karate Institute Rank Certificate

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Auction Date:2022 Nov 17 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:15th Floor WeWork, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Spectacular DS, one page, 11 x 8.5, July 5, 1974. An official certificate of rank from the Tennessee Karate Institute (TKI) issued to David Stanley who “has attained the Rank of Green Belt.” Signed at the conclusion in black ballpoint by Elvis Presley as ‘Master of Martial Arts,’ and countersigned by Ben Edwards as ‘Chief Instructor,’ and by distinguished American Kenpo Karate founder Ed Parker as a second ‘Master of Martial Arts.’ The certificate, numbered “001,” features a pair of opposing loong dragons facing bottom central text: “Way of the Warrior.” Framed and in fine condition. Accompanied by four photos of Presley wearing his Karate gi, and a ticket for the Ed Parker presented International Karate Championships held at the Long Beach Arena on August 7, 1977.

Items related to Presley’s passion for martial arts are exceptionally rare, with rank promotion certificates such as this—signed by Presley for his own Karate institute—placed in a special category all their own given their intimate connection to Elvis’s ‘Golden Years,’ a four-year period of peace and spiritual contentment for ‘the King.’

Presley's lifelong study of Karate began in 1958 while stationed in Germany, where he studied under Jurgen Seydel, and he took private lessons during his time off with one of Japan’s top Shotokan stylists, Tetsuji Murakami. From 1970-1974, Presley trained under Master Kang Rhee in Memphis, Tennessee, eventually receiving his 8th Degree San Black Belt certificate at a private ceremony on September 16, 1974—less than two months before signing this certificate for his stepbrother, David E. Stanley.

Stanley was 4 years old when he met Presley and moved into Graceland. One of three stepsons of Elvis’s father Vernon Presley, Stanley relocated to the mansion after his mother Dee divorced his father to marry Vernon. Stanley’s life would be forever shaped by that moment—from the early days of Elvis’s welcoming ways to touring with the legend as his bodyguard and witnessing his tragic downfall and death.

In 1960, Elvis met the ‘Father of American Kenpo,’ Ed Parker, at the Wilshire Beverly Hills Hotel after a Karate demonstration. Parker introduced Elvis to Hank Slomanski, an instructor at Fort Campbell to test for his black belt. It was Slomanski who promoted Elvis to 'Black Belt' on July 21, 1960, and personally gave Elvis his own personal black belt when he promoted him. He is said to have sent word back to Parker: 'Your boy ain't pretty anymore, but he's a black belt.’ In addition to being Presley’s personal martial arts instructor, Parker worked as his bodyguard in the 1970s. As a result, Parker was often by his side when Presley was doing concert tours.