Celebrities and 'Famous' People who study (or have studied) martial arts !!

[suziwong]

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin (right) is considered a "Master of Sports" in the arts of Judo and Sambo, according to his official website. The website goes on to say that Putin has also won several local
Sambo tournaments in St. Petersberg and holds black-belts in both arts. The Russian people seem toenjoy Taekwon-Do, as well, and they appear to be
very good at it.​

In British Columbia:

The art of Taekwon-Do was reportedly introduced to British Columbians in the early 1970's by Master C.K. Choi at the Vancouver YM-YWCA. Master Choi was a cousin of the late founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi.

In the Okanagan:

-Darren Handschuh, Photographer, Kelowna Daily Courier (Taekwon-Do student with Mr. Harry Bryant)
-Dr. John Weisbeck, Deputy Speaker for B.C. Legislature, M.L.A., Okanagan Center (Green Belt-Judo)

In Canada:

- The late Prime Minister - Pierre Elliott Trudeau (studied Judo?)
- 3X World Figure Skating Champion Elvis Stojko (Black-belt, Kung-Fu)

In the United States:

- California Governor/Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger is apparently a huge fan of Taekwon-Do, (his kids study it); He also sponsors a major martial arts tournament, each year ! Waaaaaaaay to go, Arrrrrrrnold !

- Former President Bill Clinton is an honourary 4th Degree with the A.T.A. (American Taekwon-Do Association).

- Former Secretary of Education, William Bennett, 1st Degree, Taekwon-Do. (student of Master Jhoon Rhee)

-Former President Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt, reportedly took Judo lessons (at the White House, actually!).

- Actor Steven Seagal, "Shihan" (7th Degree) Aikido, also holds black-belts in Karate, Kendo, and Iaido. (Seagal is the real thing, folks! No creampuff promotions, here!)

- Actor Chuck Norris, 9th Degree, well-known tournament champion in 1960 and 70's, United Fighting Arts Federation (U.F.A.F.) and Tang-Soo-Do.

- Actor Gregory Hines, 1st Degree, Taekwon-Do.

- Actor Danny Glover, Black-Belt, Karate.

- Actor Patrick Swayze, 1st Degree (Kung-Fu).

- Actor Jean Claude Van Damme 1st Degree Shotokan (Van Damme claims to be a former European kickboxing champion, but no one in the kickboxing community can independantly verify any of his titles.)(Belgium)

- Actor James Coburn, (studied Jeet Kuen Do with Bruce Lee).

- Late Actor Steve McQueen (studied Jeet Kuen Do under Bruce Lee).

- Actor Sean Connery, (James Bond) is said to have studied Karate in Japan and holds a black-belt (in karate).

- T.V. Game Show Host Bob Barker, ('The Price Is Right') Black-Belt (Tang Soo Do, U.F.A.F.) - (student of Chuck Norris)

- Football star Joe Montana, Black-Belt, Taekwon-Do.

- Football star Hershel Walker, Black-Belt, Taekwon-Do.

- Late Singer/Actor Elvis Presley, Black-Belt in Kenpo (studied under the late Ed Parker)

**********

Very interesting !!!

 

[tora]

And of all these fellows Seagal and Putin are the only ones who seem to mean real business!

 

[Lotussan]

Seagal is the master, always, heeheehee!
But what is Iaido?
ooh a new one, he's is amazing...
He is everything!
What an exciting man!

 

[Amos Stevens]

Thanks Suziwong-interesting!

 

[yudansha]

Good Job!

Good job Suzi for finding that.
I already have mentioned that Arnold Schwarzenegger has an honourary black belt in Tae-Kwan Do for organizing his nationally popular 'get-fit' health and bodybuilding programs.

It doesn't surprise me that Patric Swayze has a Kung-Fu dan, you can see that in his films. Anything goes with Bill Clinton (very energetic, and everybody knows it ... no need to question that).

Lotussan Iaido is the mastery of sword handeling. It is the teachings of techniques (circular as in Aikido), and bases itself on PERFECTION of those techniques; many masters spend years on perfecting what seems to be a simple movement. Steven Seagal studied such martial art along with Kendo (where Kendo and Kenjutsu is more of a combat sport by the use of sword techniques, where Iaido is an art of a perfectionist).

Nowadays, there are many who obtain a 1st degree black belt in Karate due to the simple fact of its dominating popularity. Martial arts in general are becoming more and more popular, so when people decide to study the art, the first thing that comes to an average person in America is Karate (as opposed to Iaido or Aikido, which are some of the least popular, at least here in Canada).

As far as Chuck Norris, he DEVELOPED his own martial art by the name of Chun Kuk Do, based on Tang Soo Do ('the art of the knife hand' probably based on Tae-Kwan Do as it is relatively modern) with elements of Jujitsu making it more of a defensive art where more of the techniques studied are to oppose strikes instead of applying them.

Vladimir Putin by the way, is more than just a winner of some competitions, he is a serious practitioner and stylist; always calm but ready, a true leader for the Russian people!

 

[suziwong]

Thank you very much for your explanations especially for Iaido, Yudansha !!
But Seagal really and really incredible guy. He thought and worked totally and he took high degrees and belts !! This is really not easy !! What a patience !! He is really ONE OF THE GREAT MASTER all over the world !! I can not believe !!! I respected him again and again.
He is very special, extraordinary, sweet and very strange big guy !!!
Sensei you are Excellent !!!

 

[Kc_colt.45_ryback]

This is all real cool info! Thankx alot. Have u heard of the new action star(not as good as Seagal though) Jet Li? He is real kool! Cya.

 

[Lotussan]

Thanks for the information yudansha, I do love to see him with a sword...He just gets more and more interesting...I bet he is a perfectionist in a lot of ways...suzi, you are right he is extraordinary! He is the master! And yes, I think he is probably very sweet and romantic too, what a man...He is everything!

 

[SAS Guardian Angel]

According to my records

According to my records which are usually acurate, I have he is a black belt in all above plus Kendo which is defense of sword. Iaido is drawing of the sword as an artform course he may have that too Im not gonna argue with him. but theres a slight difference..I was just confused to see that.

 

[yudansha]

Iaido and Kendo

Thanks SAS, yes drawing, that's the word I was looking for. Well, Iaido is all about that (different techniques for drawing the sword) and although some may seem simple, it takes a long time to perfect them. I have watched some masters in their prime and they all say the same thing.

Although Kendo may have originated as a defensive art, right now there are just too many competitions that emphasize the attacks (otherwise you don't get the points and basically lose by being disqualified). That's how Kendo and Kenjutsu differ (Kenjutsu originated as a well defined strategic, 'war-time' art based solely for combat; but now adays people confuse themselves about the two arts. So the solution to the problem was basically combining if you will, the two arts (otherwise it is practically impossible to find a traditional teachings of Kenjutsu, or Jujutsu for that matter where others do judo instead).

Don't get me wrong SAS but you are quite right in a way, but today's world got very corrupt and if you want to study a traditional art you better go to Japan or you will never experience the art as it was meant to be (unless Seagal teaches you, so then call me up, I will leave my examination room in a second for that).

 

[Mister_Opinion]

Elvis Presely held a black belt...

 

[tora]

Elvis Presely held a black belt...

In what exactly?

 

[Amos Stevens]

Elvis Presley's hand-to-hand combat training in the Army sparked his interest in the martial arts. While stationed in Germany, he received private instruction & soon after returning to the United States, tested for and earned the rank of first degree black belt. Elvis would remain devoted to the martial arts for the remainder of his life & eventually achieve the rank of eighth degree black belt.

 

[Lotussan]

Thanks Amos, I think Sensei and Elvis have a lot in common...

 

[SAS Guardian Angel]

Elvis

Elvis was into Kempo I believe under Ed Parker, but comparing Elvis to Seagal Sensei is a no no. I do not see how Elvis could have gotten an 8th he didnt live that long unless it was honorary.

My grandmaster is a 9th and is almost 70. Elvis lived to 42 (my point)
Elvis had some personal issues I found annoying and non makoto I hope Steven isnt like that. Read his bio and find out Im not saying anymore except Steven is hopefully more respectful with his women than Elvis was and because of that I cannot put him in a black belt status..except honorary

 

[Lotussan]

a no, no huh? Well, I wasn't talking serious similarities, but of course we don't know actually...I believe Steven is a very respectable man, however...He strikes me that way, and I adore him...And so he might have a rebel in there, that's fine with me, I think he's exciting and interesting as they come...You are very lucky SAS GA...

 

[Amos Stevens]

Yeah-I wouldn't compare Elvis & Steven Seagal-two different ways of studying & practicing the art of Martial Arts

 

[Mama San]

Comparing Elvis & Steven Seagal Martial Arts is like
comparing apples and oranges!!
God bless,
Mama san