Willie Nelson is always on our minds, but especially this week, because he’s celebrating his 81st birthday. And also because on Monday, the legendary singer received his fifth-degree black belt in GongKwon Yusul, a martial art which he’s been practicing for 20 years.
“It’s just good for you physically. For your lungs. The more you’re breathing, exercising, the better you’re going to feel,” Nelson told Austin’s KVUE.
Shortly before the ceremony, the singer told the Associated Press that he was surprised to be receiving the degree at all. “I don’t know what else is out there,” he said. “I never thought about anything beyond second-degree black belt.”
Though Nelson is best known for his music (and for his prolific pot habit), it’s a bit lesser known that he’s very into martial arts too.
“I think martial arts is one of the best exercises you can do. Mentally, spiritually, physically, everything,” he told the AP.
This past weekend, Nelson was also inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame, so he’s had a pretty good week.
- How an Alleged Spy Balloon Derailed an Important U.S.-China Meeting
- Effective Altruism Has a Toxic Culture of Sexual Harassment and Abuse, Women Say
- Inside Bolsonaro's Surreal New Life as a Florida Man—and MAGA Darling
- 'Return to Office' Plans Spell Trouble for Working Moms
- 8 Ways to Read More Books—and Why You Should
- Why Aren't Movies Sexy Anymore?
- Column: Elon Musk Should Not Be in Charge of the Night Sky
- How Logan Paul's Crypto Empire Fell Apart
- 80 for Brady May Not Be a Masterpiece. But the World Needs More Movies Like This