Telugu superstar and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has been conferred the prestigious ‘Tiger of Martial Arts’ title by the Golden Dragons organisation, marking a major milestone in his journey in Japanese martial arts.

He was formally inducted into Kenjutsu, the ancient Japanese art of swordsmanship, and awarded the 5th Dan black belt by the Sogo Budo Kanri Kai, one of the most respected authorities in traditional Japanese martial arts.

Pawan Kalyan also became the first Telugu-speaking person to be inducted into the Takeda Shingen Clan under the lineage of Soke Muramatsu Sensei outside Japan, an honour rarely extended beyond Japanese practitioners.

A video capturing his progression from a karate black belt to a katana master, set to music by Thaman S, sparked widespread fan celebrations and drew praise from filmmakers including Sujeeth, reflecting his blend of cinema, politics and martial tradition.

Martial arts has long been an integral part of Pawan Kalyan’s life alongside his careers in cinema and politics. He began training well before entering the film industry, undertaking rigorous practice in karate and other combat disciplines, particularly during his time in Chennai. Beyond the physical aspects, he has also studied Japanese samurai traditions and the philosophy underlying martial arts.