METAMORPHOSIS
More than four decades ago, Linda Denley made history when she became the first Black woman inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame. It was 1980, and she was named Competitor of the Year because she ruled the point-karate world. The fighting philosophy that carried her there was straightforward. “I just want to win all the time,” she said about her attitude then and now. “Losing is embarrassing to me.”
That mindset drove her to keep on winning, and her record earned her a place in numerous martial arts and sports-related halls of fame. Over the ensuing years, Denley morphed into a skilled instructor, and she’s still going strong. This is her origin story.
GIRLS AREN’T SUPPOSED TO HIT BOYS
In 1972 Denley walked into a karate studio simply to “check it out.” She had no idea at the time, but she was about to embark on a path that would see her become a living legend in the sport.
“I didn’t get into karate to become a world champion,” Denley said. “In fact, I took karate simply because I had an extra hour in my schedule that day.
“I’m an Olympic-qualified track-and-field runner (1976). I was asked to play semipro basketball for the Houston Angels and was an MVP on my college volleyball team and my neighborhood softball team. Some have considered me a natural-born athlete, so when I walked into that karate school, it was to do nothing more than add something new to my résumé. That’s all. I had zero intentions of fighting.”
A mere three weeks after she wrapped a had never thrown a punch at another human being.
