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Karyn Turner

b. 1946

American martial art expert

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About Karyn Turner

Born 1946. Karyn Turner is an American karateka and taekwondo athlete.

Karyn Turner (born 1946) is an American martial arts expert who has been variously known as “The Queen of Kata”, “First Lady of Kung Fu”, and “The Mother of U.S. Kickboxing”. Named as the “most outstanding woman in the history of martial arts” by Black Belt Magazine in 1978, she was the first woman to take a double victory in both fighting (kumite) and form (kata) in the International Women’s Karate Championship, a feat she accomplished in 1976. In 2009, she was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum “Hall of Fame”.

Born in Lyons, Kansas, Turner graduated from Westminster High School in Westminster, Colorado in 1963. At the age of 19, she began training in tae kwon do, before switching to kung fu, specifically the wun hop kune do technique taught by Al and Malia Dacascos. Eventually, frustrated with the small percentage of TV and promotion revenue’s shared with promoters and fighters, Turner led a revolt by ex-PKA promoters to found a new association and to wrest control of the sport away from the PKA. The nascent Promoter’s Association, started in 1985 in Denver, became the International Sport Karate Association, and Turner served as its first Commissioner. Turner retired from active promotion in 1991.

Turner published “Secrets of Championship Karate” with Mark Van Schuyver in 1991.

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Important facts

Born
1946
Birth century
Nationality

People in Karyn Turner's life

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Frequently asked questions

Who is Karyn Turner?

American martial art expert

When was Karyn Turner born?

Karyn Turner was born in 1946.

What is Karyn Turner's occupation?

Karyn Turner is a karateka and taekwondo athlete.

What nationality is Karyn Turner?

Karyn Turner is American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Karyn Turner

· Wikidata: Q6373862

· DBpedia: Karyn Turner

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Karyn Turner. https://biography.guide/karyn-turner/

MLA: "Karyn Turner." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/karyn-turner/.

Chicago: "Karyn Turner." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/karyn-turner/.

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