--- title: Willie Nelson Earns Fifth-Degree Black Belt In Korean Martial Art description: Willie Nelson rings in his 81st birthday this week with a black belt. canonical: https://time.com/81530/willie-nelson-black-belt/ author: Samantha Grossman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-04-29T20:08:55.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:09:14.772Z og:title: Willie Nelson Earns 5th-Degree Black Belt During His Birthday Week og:description: Willie Nelson rings in his 81st birthday this week with a black belt. og:url: https://time.com/81530/willie-nelson-black-belt/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltcc7c50c655070436/69868d02e8524b87cb602a11/aptopix-willie-nelson_gros.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Willie Nelson og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Willie Nelson Earns 5th-Degree Black Belt During His Birthday Week twitter:description: Willie Nelson rings in his 81st birthday this week with a black belt. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltcc7c50c655070436/69868d02e8524b87cb602a11/aptopix-willie-nelson_gros.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Willie Nelson Celebrates His 81st Birthday by Earning a 5th-Degree Black Belt by [Samantha Grossman](https://time.com/author/samantha-grossman/) ## Samantha Grossman Apr 29, 2014 8:08 PM UTC  Willie Nelson, the country music icon who turns 81 this week, smiles as he receives his fifth-degree black belt in the martial art of Gong Kwon Yu Sul on Monday, April 28, 2014, in Austin, Texas. Willie Nelson, the country music icon who turns 81 this week, smiles as he receives his fifth-degree black belt in the martial art of Gong Kwon Yu Sul on Monday, April 28, 2014, in Austin, Texas.Ralph Barrera / AP by [Samantha Grossman](https://time.com/author/samantha-grossman/) ## Samantha Grossman Apr 29, 2014 8:08 PM UTC Willie Nelson is [always on our minds](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7f189Z0v0Y&feature=kp), 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 ](http://www.kvue.com/news/Willie-Nelson-receives-a-5th-black-belt-in-GongKwon-Yusul-257089471.html)Austin’s KVUE. Shortly before the ceremony, the singer [told ](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/28/willie-nelson-black-belt%5Fn%5F5230070.html)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](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/28/willie-nelson-black-belt%5Fn%5F5230070.html) 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. 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