Which fighting style of Karate was studied by Elvis Presley?

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Which fighting style of Karate was studied by Elvis Presley? Elvis Presley studied Chito-Ryu Karate.

Presley began training in martial arts while serving in the U.S. Army in Germany during the late 1950s. After returning to Memphis, he continued his study under Hank Slemans, a Chito-Ryu instructor, and earned a first-degree black belt in 1960. Chito-Ryu is a Japanese karate style founded by Tsuyoshi Chitose, emphasizing practical movement, balance, and efficient technique.

Elvis’s interest went beyond casual exercise. He practiced karate throughout his career, incorporated martial-arts-inspired movements into his performances, and later studied other systems, including Kenpo. This broader training sometimes causes confusion about which style the question asks for. Kenpo was important in his later development, but Chito-Ryu is the style associated with his early black-belt training.

His martial-arts passion also influenced his public image and philanthropic work. Presley sometimes presented karate demonstrations and used his celebrity to promote martial-arts education.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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