Elvis Presley "Public Karate Demo" US Half Dollar Commemorative Coin

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Elvis Presley is rightly called the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. As a real Elvis fan, you love capturing your favorite historic moments from the life of the original American idol. This coin preserves one of your favorite Elvis memories

Mystic has permanently bonded a vibrant image of Elvis to this uncirculated US Half Dollar. The coin features an original photog... more

Public Karate Demonstration

Elvis’s interest in karate began when he was serving in the US Army. When he was stationed in Germany, he began learning the Shotokan style with German instructor Juergen Seydel. While on leave from the Army, Presley traveled to Paris to train intensively with a master in karate. After Elvis completed his service in the Army, he returned to the US but continued to improve in karate. He qualified for his black belt just two years after beginning to learn the martial art. At the time, karate wasn’t popular in the US, and Elvis may have been one of about 100 Americans to have earned a black belt.

Presley’s devotion to karate continued for the rest of his life. Someone close to him said, “Elvis admitted that his love for karate was second only to his love for music.” The moves he learned in karate inspired his on-stage performances. His jumpsuits were designed to give him the freedom of movement necessary to perform the karate kicks he incorporated into his dance moves. This coin shows Elvis giving a karate demonstration with his instructor, Ed Parker. In 1974, they began work together on a documentary that followed the US Karate Team in international competition. Presley died before the project was completed, and it was forgotten until the films were found in 2001 and remastered. The documentary was named The New Gladiators and was released the next year.