This rare and limited edition photo, 16x20, featuring Elvis Presley's Karate history is a true gem for any collector who's a fan of his music and persona.

THE AUTOGRAPHS ON THE PHOTO OF KANG RHEE, WAYNE CARMAN, AND Bill Superfoot Wallace ARE ORIGINAL.

JSA CERTIFIED Card Included

Great CONDITION

16x20 photo

100% hand signed

100% authentic

100% rare

100% authenticated with COA

PHOTO is CLEARER THAN THE PHOTOS I TOOK OF it.

With a focus on his prowess in karate, the book showcases the King of Rock & Roll's athleticism and love for martial arts. The book is a must-have for any Elvis Presley fan who wants to own a piece of his legacy. Get your hands on this rare item today!

Who are these folks?

Kang Rhee:

Karate Master Kang Rhee, who taught Elvis Presley martial arts, has died. Rhee trained in Kong Soo Do, Chang Mu Kwan, Kwon Bup, Kang Duk Won and Han Kuk Hap Ki Do in the 1950s and 60s. He started PaSaRyu Association in Memphis in 1966. Countless Memphians learned the martial arts at Rhee’s studio – including martial artist Bill “Superfoot” Wallace and Elvis Presley.  Elvis trained with Rhee from 1970-1974 in Memphis. Elvis was awarded the 8th degree black belt by Rhee in 1974.  Elvis gave Rhee a custom deluxe Eldorado Cadillac. Elvis’ father Vernon purchased the car for Elvis, who used it as his personal car for 10 months before gifting it to Rhee. Rhee gave Elvis his karate nickname, Tiger. Rhee produced an annual charity karate championship that benefitted St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He was given the State of Tennessee Governor’s Award in 1988, won numerous Certificates of Appreciation from the City of Memphis Mayor and was named the Tennessee Ambassador of Goodwill in 2001.

Wayne Carman:

Grandmaster Wayne Carman was born and raised in Memphis Tennessee. Wayne started studying a martial arts weapon from Don Winters in 1969 called the nunchaku which comprised of two pieces of wood approximately 12” long connected together with a chain or cord. Wayne started teaching members of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department along with the Memphis Police Department on how to defend themselves against this weapon.  In 1969 Wayne started studying Tae Kwon Do from Kang Rhee, and in 1973 fought his way into becoming a United States Karate Champion. He went on to fight “Superfoot” Bill Wallace for the world title. Wayne started teaching Elvis Presley’s Chief of Security, Red West, the nunchucku and began training with Elvis in the early 1970’s. In 1974 Wayne started working on the road as part of the security team for Charlie Rich and became interested in the management side of the music business. He went on to manage acts such as The Blackwood Quartet, and Johnny Paycheck.  Wayne is the Author of the Best seller ”Elvis’ Karate Legacy” and has appeared in several issues of Black Belt Magazine, The Official Karate Magazine, The Fighter International Magazine and the book, The Official History of Karate in America. He has appeared on several television programs including the Geraldo Rivera Show and is in two movies with Elvis, the New Gladiators and This Is Elvis. Wayne has been inducted into several Halls of Fame: The United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame;The Sokeship Council of America; The Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame;The Bluegrass Nationals Hall of Fame; Action Martial Arts Hall of Fame and several more. Wayne loves working with the walking cane and is a cane master. Grandmaster Carman has nearly 40 years of Martial Arts Experience.

Bill Superfoot Wallace

ELVIS CONNECTION...

Wallace met Elvis Presley in 1973 before he started doing Kickboxing while Bill was doing graduate work at the University of Memphis (then called Memphis State University) in Tennessee. One of the reasons he had gone to Tennessee was to open a martial arts school for somebody else, but the school had closed. So Bill went over to the school of Kang Rhee, who ran a large school in Memphis, and introduced himself. Rhee recognized Bill and offered him a teaching position. One evening when he was working out, in walked Elvis and Priscilla Presley. Kang Rhee stopped the class and asked everybody to sit down, then introduced Bill to Elvis Presley. Elvis said he'd seen Bill win the U.S. championships in Dallas over Skipper Mullins and complemented him on his kicking. The two talked for about 10 minutes and not long after that first meeting in May of 1974, Elvis asked Bill to come work for him as a teacher and personal trainer which he did until Elvis' death in 1977.

It was 1974 when Wallace became Elvis' bodyguard and personal trainer. About two years later, Elvis said he wanted to open a karate school in Memphis and asked Wallace to run it. Elvis basically wanted his own place to train and he would stop in once in a while and work out with Bill. Wallace ran the school until 1977 when Elvis died.

Bill was then hired to start a new program at the University of Memphis where he taught karate, judo, wrestling and helped out with boxing.

****

This is part of the Steve Black collection that I have been helping himself for the last several months. This item will ship safely and securely from Enid, Oklahoma.