Few people are yet to maintain the focus, confidence, and demanding nature of learning the arts to its completion. Unsurprisingly, several celebrities have dedicated their time to honing their Tae Kwon Do skills. These celebrities underwent full training to understand the art piece better.
Elvis Presley
Well-versed cultural researchers from the most prestigious college essay writting service can attest that the ‘Burning Love’ hit maker is one of the 20th-century’s most significant cultural icons.
Elvis Presley’s first encountered karate in 1958 after an army draft in Germany. During his off days, he was intrigued by the art and sought private lessons from German shotokan stylist Juergen Seydel. His early introduction to the art saw him fully dedicate his time and hours to training.
Presley conditioned his hands for board breaking and knocking hard surfaces with his bare knuckles. Afterwards, he acquired the Japanese belt.
He later proceeded with the training regimen despite his growing popularity and press. He earned his seventh-degree black belt in 1973 by Master Rhee. He also served as an instructor for the Pasaryu Karate Association.
Chuck Norris
It is only possible to think of Chuck Norris by referring to Walker’s Texas Ranger. Before becoming a well-known name in the TV world, he was an active martial artist with many wins. He was also a sixth-time undefeated WPMKT champion and a Karate instructor. At the same time, he trained the big names in the entertainment world.
Another accolade under his belt was being the first person even indoctrinated into the Black Belt Hall of Fame. His lustrous career shows dedication and passion towards the art, with the most prominent program being the Kickstart Foundation for fights against drug abuse.
Jean-Claude Van Damme
The ‘Bloodsport’ hit star is more than a cultural icon who doubles up as an action star with kickboxing prowess. According to our royalwriter review, any movie connoisseur reveals how he ruled the blockbuster action movies in the ’90s and slowly rose to prominence as one of the popular action stars of our generation.
Unlike fancy moves and stunt doubles, Van-Damme is the real deal in the martial arts world with a black belt. In the early days, we were introduced to a talented young teenager who had started at Shotokan karate school.
Also, he got into bodybuilding and ballet dancing, which helped his breakout movie Bloodsport become a blockbuster hit featuring a dancing fighter.
Willie Nelson
The 90-year-old is a true living legend with various accolades, including being a weed connoisseur, a cultural icon, and a martial artist. The twelve-time Grammy Award Winner holds a five-degree black belt at the Gongkwon Yusul.
Additionally, Nelson studied Tae Kwon Do, holding a second-degree black belt. The title has earned him an elite status in Hollywood alongside other celebrities, including Steven Seagal and Sarah Michelle Gellar. Nelson has not shown any signs of slowing down in the martial arts youthful days, even with the black belts.
Joe Rogan
A decorator podcaster is a comedian, TV host, actor, and black belt. Joe Rogan is an enthusiastic martial arts practitioner with credentials. His Tae Kwon Do and Jiu-Jitsu are both Black belts.
The stand-up comedian is known for his lethal kicks from his tenures in Fear Factor, where he acted as the host. He is also versatile in other arts. He has now played his part and given the true respect of the root that made him a legend.
His teenage years shaped his discipline and confidence, adding to his love for martial arts; Joe was only 15 when he switched to Tae Kwon Do. Joe became a champion in his late teens while working at the Massachusetts Full Contact Taekwondo.
Donnie Yen
If you’re an avid follower of the hit series’ IP Man,’ you know the high-octane action it contains with real-life stunts performed by Donnie Yen. He cemented his status as a martial artist in the first installation of the film. The sequels to the film further portrayed his prowess and stunt work.
Donnie Yen mixes 13 martial arts forms from boxing, Muay Thai, Kung Fu, kickboxing, judo, wrestling, MMA, jiu-jitsu, tai chi, and wing chun, among many more.
He started learning the art form of Kung Fu, combining various Chinese martial art styles known for their fluid movements and acrobatic techniques. He also practiced Wudangquan, known for exposing balance, harmony, and internal power.
Dolph Lundgren
Avid action movie enthusiasts crave high-octane action movies like in the early 90s, where Dolph Lundgren was a major hit for each movie. His early days painted a bright future in the martial arts with stints at judo and karate.
Lundgren is now the owner of the fourth dan in Kyokushin karate. His instructor, Shihan Brian Fitkin, handed down the belt.
The story behind his affection for martial arts is owed to his traumatic childhood under an abusive father. He captained the Swiss karate team in the OW Championships and received accolades in his fighting department.
Katheryn Winnick
Don’t get fooled by her elegant and sassy looks. Katheryn Winnick is a 3rd Dan in Taekwondo and 2nd Dan in karate. The Canadian actress was popular for her roles in films like Bones, Art of Steal, Love & Other Drugs, and The Dark Tower.
She started training in her teenage years and claimed her first black belt at 13. By 21, she grew into the role and earned her third Dan in Taekwondo. She also taught Taekwondo and self-defense to other actors.
Final Word
The list of celebrities enrolling in martial arts keeps growing. Most actors are adding karate and taekwondo to their portfolio. It is a good sign that celebrities are learning the art and what it teaches about patience, determination, and dedication.
