List of Famous Female Martial Artists

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Updated March 11, 2024 24.8K views 8 items

Delving into the world of famous female martial artists, you will discover women with exceptional talent, groundbreaking achievements, and powerful stories. These artists have overcome adversity and shattered stereotypes, showcasing incredible skills and strength in various martial arts disciplines, including karate, taekwondo, judo, and more. These female martial artists have left an indelible mark on the history of martial arts, proving that gender is no barrier in achieving greatness. 

By exploring the lives and careers of renowned female martial artists, it becomes evident that their success comes from their unique abilities, distinctive styles, and outstanding accomplishments. Each woman in this compilation stands out as an essential figure in martial arts history. These athletes have inspired countless generations to follow in their footsteps, leaving a lasting impact on martial arts culture. 

Among the trailblazers featured are martial arts stars like Michelle Yeoh, Ronda Rousey, and Zhang Ziyi. Yeoh's grace and prowess have made her a household name in martial arts films, while Rousey's dominance in the octagon has elevated the profile of women in combat sports. Zhang Ziyi, on the other hand, achieved international fame through her mesmerizing performances in martial arts epics like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. These women represent the pinnacle of martial arts excellence, transcending the boundaries of film, sport, and culture. 

The extraordinary achievements and diverse talents of these famous female martial artists serve as an inspiration to aspiring athletes and enthusiasts alike. Their remarkable journey to the top of their respective disciplines highlights the power of perseverance, determination, and skill in martial arts. As their legacy continues to flourish, the impact of these female karate and martial arts legends will be felt for generations to come. 

  • Brenda Song, an American actress and producer, has carved a significant niche in the entertainment industry with her prodigious talent and relentless work ethic. Born to a Thai-American father and a Hmong mother in Carmichael, California, in 1988, she was discovered by a talent agent at a young age and began her acting career as a child fashion model. She later transitioned into television commercials before making her screen debut in the children's action series Thunder Alley. Song gained prominence for her role as London Tipton in the Disney Channel Original Series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, a character that she reprised in its spin-off, The Suite Life on Deck. Her performance in these series earned her fame among younger audiences and established her as a stalwart of Disney Channel during the mid-2000s. In addition to her work with Disney, she has appeared in numerous films, including the critically acclaimed social network drama The Social Network in 2010. Beyond acting, Song has made substantial contributions as a producer. She produced the Netflix thriller Secret Obsession, in which she also starred, demonstrating her versatility and ambition in the film industry.
    • Age: 37
    • Birthplace: Carmichael, California, USA
  • Actress and dancer Caity Lotz's diverse early career as a dancer and singer provided the groundwork for her ascension to stardom in features like "The Pact" (2011) and on the TV series "Arrow" (The CW, 2012- ). Born Caity Marie Lotz on December 30, 1986 in San Diego, California, she was a multi-hyphenate at the very beginning of her career. Lotz made her screen debut as a cheerleader in the comedy "Bring It On: All Or Nothing" (2006), and performed as a dancer on stage and in music videos with such pop, rock and R&B performers as Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez and T-Pain. Lotz also pursued her own singing career with a girl group called Soccx, which scored a Top 10 hit in Germany with the 2007 single "Scream Out Loud." Acting eventually became her primary showcase, with her first big break coming as Stephanie, daughter of Anna Draper, on "Mad Men" (AMC, 2007-2015). The exposure afforded Lotz a starring role in the offbeat horror-comedy mockumentary series "Death Valley" (MTV, 2011) as a police officer assigned to fight monsters on the streets of Los Angeles. Her impressive debut as a film leading lady came in "The Pact," an unsettling independent horror film about a young woman investigating the disappearance of her sister in a house plagued by supernatural phenomena. Television again provided her with a breakout role as the vigilante known as The Canary on "Arrow." The Canary - based on the DC Comics character Black Canary - was a recurring role on the series until 2015, when she was dispatched by an unseen assassin while aiding hero Oliver Queen, a.k.a. Green Arrow (Stephen Arnell). Fans who were initially disappointed by her demise were cheered when Lotz was announced as a cast member on an untitled spin-off series from "Arrow" and "The Flash" (The CW, 2014- ) that would feature a number of DC heroes and villains. Conflicting reports circulated the Internet about which character Lotz would play, as the Canary had been killed, with some sources citing her new role as an obscure DC heel called The White Canary, while others believed her to be a resurrected version of The Canary.
    • Age: 38
    • Birthplace: San Diego, California, USA
  • JeeJa Yanin
    Yanin Vismistananda is an actress who appeared in "Triple Threat," "The Protector 2," and "Chocolate."
    • Age: 41
    • Birthplace: Bangkok, Thailand
  • Junelehua Kalaeloa Strode - is an actress, dancer, and is the daughter of actor Woody Strode and Princess Luukialuana "Luana" Kalaeloa Strode, a descendant of the last great queen of Hawaii; Liliuokalani. June was best know for her regular appearance with partner Famous Hook on Dick Clarks American Band Stand during the 1960's. June appeared with her father, actor Woody Strode in the 1975 movie, Winterhawk, and would find work in small acting roles and appearing in some 1970's TV commercials.
  • Bow-sim Mark

    Bow-sim Mark (born 1942) is a martial arts grandmaster who lives in Newton, Massachusetts, US. She is the mother of martial arts film star, Donnie Yen.
    • Birthplace: Guangzhou, China
  • Michelle Gordon

    Michelle Marjorie Gordon (born 19 November 1964) is a Justice of the High Court of Australia. Her Honour was appointed to the High Court in June 2015. Immediately prior to her appointment she was a Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, to which she was appointed in 2007.
    • Age: 65
    • Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
  • Jasmine Simhalan
    Jasmine Simhalan (born 13 November 1970 in Chennai, India to parents from Kerala) is a practitioner of the Indian martial arts and classical Indian dance. Her father, Simhalan Madhava Panicker, was a well-known martial artist from Kerala. Simhalan is an instructor in Silambam and a Gurukkal in Kalarippayattu. Simhalan is a performer and choreographer based in the United Kingdom and India. Simhalan has been a part of physical theatre and Indian contemporary form of dance, theatre and martial art forms for the past twenty years.
    • Age: 54
    • Birthplace: Chennai, India
  • Chris Yen

    Chris Yen is an actress.
    • Birthplace: Guangzhou, China