Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan received four rare honours in classical Japanese martial arts on January 11. He was awarded the Fifth Dan in Karate, inducted into the historic Takeda Shingen Clan, which carries Samurai lineage, and Jenjutsu, the ancient Japanese swardmanship, and bestowed with the “Tiger of Martial Arts” title.
He has been awarded the prestigious Fifth Dan (Godan in Japanese) by the Sogo Budo Kanri Kai, a respected Japanese organisation that governs traditional martial arts, including Karate, Kenjutsu, Iaido, Jujutsu and other classical combat systems. The honour recognises more than three decades of his sustained dedication to martial arts practice and discipline.
The Fifth Dan is considered a senior black belt rank, conferred only after years of rigorous training, teaching and adherence to the philosophical foundations of Budo (the martial discipline). With this recognition, Pawan Kalyan is reportedly the first Indian celebrity to receive the Godan rank or fifth level from the Sogo Budo Kanri Kai, marking a rare international acknowledgement of an Indian practitioner in Japanese martial traditions.
In another significant honour, Pawan Kalyan was inducted into the historic Takeda Shingen Clan, becoming the first Telugu-speaking individual to be admitted into the samurai lineage outside Japan. The induction was carried out under the guidance of Muramatsu Sensei, an honour that is seldom extended to non-Japanese practitioners and reflects deep trust in both skill and character. Though the number of non-Japanese practitioners who got this honour was not publicly available, news reports suggest that it is a rare honour.
He was also formally inducted into Kenjutsu, the ancient Japanese art of swordsmanship, further underlining his long-standing engagement with traditional combat forms. In recognition of his lifelong commitment to martial discipline and philosophy, the international Golden Dragons organisation conferred on him the title “Tiger of Martial Arts”.
A black belt in Karate, Pawan Kalyan trained under Dr Siddiq Mahmoodi, one of India’s leading Budo experts. His martial arts background has shaped his personal discipline and has also influenced his film career, where he is known for showcasing authentic combat techniques.