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Kazza Morton
@kbeatlegirl
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You wanna save humanity
But it's people that you just can't stand ~ John Lennon
"I got no tears on my ice cream, but you know me I love pretending"
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![Elvis Presley. The King of Rock and Roll. But did you know he was also a black belt? 🥋👑
And there's a chance he trained right here in Pasadena.
Ed Parker's Kenpo Karate studio. Walnut Street. Nineteen fifties and sixties.
Ed Parker wasn't just any martial arts instructor—he was THE godfather of American Kenpo. He revolutionized karate by making it practical, fast, and devastatingly effective for street combat. ⚡
In nineteen fifty-four, Parker opened his first commercial karate school in America right here in Pasadena. Hollywood noticed. Fast.
Elvis walked into Parker's dojo in nineteen fifty-nine while filming a movie. He wanted to learn real self-defense—not movie choreography. 🎬
Now here's where it gets interesting: Parker had multiple locations over the years. We know Elvis trained with him extensively in California. But was it here? On Walnut Street? Possibly.
Parker became Elvis's personal instructor. Trained him for years. Elvis eventually earned his black belt and even incorporated karate moves into his stage performances. The iconic karate chops during concerts? That was Ed Parker's influence. 💥
But Parker's impact went far beyond Elvis. He trained countless celebrities—Frank Sinatra, Robert Wagner, Warren Beatty. He created the International Karate Championships in Long Beach—the tournament that introduced Bruce Lee to America in nineteen sixty-four. 🐉
Ed Parker turned Pasadena into the epicenter of martial arts in America. That part we know for sure.
So next time you drive down Walnut Street, ask yourself: could Elvis have walked this sidewalk? Trained in one of these buildings?
It's one of Pasadena's great mysteries. 🤔
This is Pasadena Vibes Episode #[65]. What hidden cultural landmark should I cover next? Drop your suggestions below—you might get a shoutout like
@kbeatlegirl👇
I'm Justin Borges, a real estate advisor here in Pasadena. Click the link in my bio to submit your story idea. 📍
Thank you @kbeatlegirl for bringing this legend to light! 🙌](https://s8.imginn.com/570180719_17863578153497738_8682544204191783979_n.jpg?t51.82787-15/570180719_17863578153497738_8682544204191783979_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e15_p480x480_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ig_cache_key=Mzc1MTI5OTc1MzQwMjAxOTM4OTE3ODYzNTc4MTQ3NDk3NzM4.3-ccb7-5&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=58cdad&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6IkNMSVBTLnhwaWRzLjU0MC5zZHIudmlkZW9fZGVmYXVsdF9jb3Zlcl9mcmFtZS5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=q4L6Mw81-BYQ7kNvwFvbON7&_nc_oc=AdrY22A1IVafH1sdCBs8ECi4r0pEn0fh6STkNaEKeGK8FABikIsXnnGRfk4Q6OC5IRTCkcubkr0HmabEDwrqI7T2&_nc_ad=z-m&_nc_cid=0&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_gid=MhCSYtQmmsWIOJFI7oo7Tw&_nc_ss=7a20f&oh=00_AQO8rKqrt4NUiQwanKZTtf5j-RrhK4Sz9ywdCDr1ExgRww&oe=6AE5F643)
