Confirmed Al Tracy article • 2001
Was Elvis really a Black Belt?
Al Tracy's best-documented surviving web article examines the often-confused story of Elvis Presley's original black-belt promotion and focuses attention on Hank Slomanski.
Why Al wrote it
Al explains that he had held the story for decades and chose the website rather than a magazine because he wanted the account to remain accessible. In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, he also framed the story as a tribute to military service.
Historical subject
The article challenges later celebrity-centered accounts by asking who actually awarded Elvis his original black belt. Al turns the focus toward Hank Slomanski, a serviceman and martial artist whose role had often been reduced to a footnote.