Former World Kickboxing Champion, Actress and Stuntwoman Kathy Long

Although retired from the ring for several years now, Kathy Long is still one of the most recognized woman in kickboxing today! She is still active in the sport from doing special appearances and giving seminars to serving as an event official. She’s also been in several movies as well. During her career she won 5 World Kickboxing Titles.

Kathy began her studies in the martial arts with Aikido and has also studied in arts such as Shorin Ryu Karate & Kung Fu. She currently holds 4 different Black Belts in 4 different styles

(Kung Fu San Soo, Aikido, Kung Fu and Shorinryu Karate) including a Masters Rank in Kung Fu San Soo. She is an expert in handling firearms, knives, swords and all other weaponry. As a Professional Kickboxer Kathy has been known as as a well conditioned and hardened fighter.

She was a very successful kickboxer winning a total of 5 World Championships and they include:

2, KICK World Titles
1, WKA World Title
1, ISKA World Title
1, WMAC World Title where she pummeled Japanese fighter Kyoko Kamikaze in Las Vegas, breaking her ribs and bruising her kidneys as Kathy walked away with (at the time) the highest purse ever paid to a Female Kickboxer of $20,000.

Her ring career included wins over Ramona Gatto,Bonnie Canino, Japanese star Kyoko “Kamikaze” Miyazaki, French champion Dani Rocard, Canadian champion Nora Daigle and two defeats over Denise Taylor.

Her only loss as a professional kickboxer (18-1-1/5) came in a Muay Thai match with Britain’s Lisa Howarth at Pickett’s Lock near London in February 1990. There was to have been a rematch later that year and Kathy trained in the Thai style with that in mind. But then Lisa got badly cut in a loss to French savate champion Nancy Joseph, and had to cancel. A two time Black Belt Hall of Fame Inductee (Woman of the Year 1991 & Full Contact Fighter of the Year 1992), she retired from kickboxing in the mid 1990s choosing to concentrate on her film career and other interests.

She has appeared on more than 35 martial arts magazines covers in the United States, Europe and Asia. Her work in the movie industry includes stunt work and fight choreography: She was Michelle Pfeiffer’s stunt double in “Batman Returns” (1992) and fight choreographer for the “Death Becomes Her” (1992). She has appeared on several television shows, including “Walker, Texas Ranger” with Chuck Norris.

She has written several monthly columns, titled “Long Shots” for Black Belt Magazine and has also appeared in movies such as Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997), Under the Gun (1995), The Stranger (1995) Natural Born Killers (1994), Knights (1993) and Rage and Honor (1992).

However, Kathy has a long list of other accomplishments as well. She has appeared on numerous television shows and in publications ranging from People magazine to a full-color layout in the National Enquirer. She is also an accomplished musician who plays proficiently musical instruments such as the Harp, Violin and Guitar.

She also wrote a book entitled “No! No! No!: A Woman’s Guide to Personal Defense and Street Safety “( Paperback / Berkley Publishing Group / October 1993) along with Kickboxing Fitness Videos such as, “Kickboxing for Fun & Fitness” & “Championship Kickboxing with Kathy Long – “Round 1” Kathy is also a model and spokesperson for Century Martial Arts Equipment.