Linda Denley

Linda Denley (born August 8, 1960) is a martial artist from Houston, Texas. She is widely considered one of the greatest Karate point fighters and semi-contact kickboxers of all time. From 1973 to 1996, she was the top-ranked female point fighter in the world and went her first nine years competing without a single loss. She also appeared in several movies, including Jackie Chan's Armour of God and Chuck Norris's Sidekicks. While still in high school, she qualified for the Olympics in five track and field events. She was known for her aggressive, hard-hitting style, crab style and fierce competitive spirit, with a simple philosophy: "I just want to win all the time." She is also known for several wins over Olympic Taekwondo Gold medalist Arlene Limas.

She made history in semi-contact kickboxing, becoming the first American woman to win a WAKO world title in London (1985). She successfully defended her title in Germany (1987), and Italy (1990), making her the first female to hold three consecutive world titles.

· Mars Hall of Fame (1988): Another major martial arts Hall of Fame that recognized her as "Competitor of the Year."

Life After Fighting After her competitive career, Denley transitioned into a skilled instructor and school owner. She is the owner and chief instructor at the Texas Black Belt Academy in Houston, a role she has held for over 45 years. She has achieved the high ranks of 10th degree in Tang Soo Do and 4th degree in Taekwondo

She continues to promote her annual Space City Open Karate Championships and conducts seminars nationwide. She emphasizes teaching her students to be "black belts" in all aspects of life.

Acting

Denley also appeared in several movies, including Jackie Chan's Armour of God, Chuck Norris's Sidekicks, and Killpoint with Leo Fong and Richard Roundtree. She also appeared on the television show Walker, Texas Ranger.