Willie Nelson - Martial Arts Expert

We all know Willie Nelson for his music, his acting and his activism, but did you know that the country music statesman is also a black belt? On Monday, April 28, 2014, Nelson will receive his 5th degree black belt in Gong Kwon Yu Sul during a special ceremony at his martial arts studio in Austin, Texas.

Willie started practicing martial arts when he was a young songwriter in Nashville. He has trained in kung fu, Taw Kwon Do and Gon Kwon Yu Sul. He works out on his bus while traveling to shows.

He talked about his lifelong love of the art to Men’s Health Magazine last year, saying, "Really, all my life, Charles Atlas and Bruce Lee were on my mind. It’s a good form of exercise, especially as you get older. I went through school playing all kinds of sports. I played shortstop. I ran track. I played football. I was a pole vaulter. Then when I went to Nashville, I got into some martial arts and kung fu. I liked it. We used to offer kung fu lessons to the kids in town. It’s good for you."

His black belt ceremony will occur one day before his 81st birthday. Obviously, practicing martial arts has kept him young and fit.