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 “My
Martial arts were always my inspiration. They helped me maintain
my drive for success and gave me the discipline to follow my heart
toward achieving my goals.” |
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Karen
Sheperd is considered a role model by martial arts fans and
action oriented film and television audiences worldwide. The
former #1 Black Belt Martial Arts Champion has successfully converted
the focused determination of an awarded athlete into a steadfast
passion for acting and stunt fighting. |
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Having been a gymnast, Karen was first attracted to the physical
beauty of martial arts movements and quickly found herself deep
into studies ranging from Tai Chi Chuan to Shotokan Karate...and
many systems in between. Having found a physical art that
also emphasizes spiritual and mental development, Karen became hooked
for life. She began competing in and consistently winning
national competitions. Karen was the first woman to hold the
title of #1
USA Women's Black Belt Champion in Forms (Kata) competition,
a title she held for two consecutive years. She was the first
woman to win the Grand
Champion title at the prestigious U.S.
Open Karate Championship, a win so unprecedented that it attracted
much publicity, including the national evening television news.
Karen's showmanship and prowess with forms and weapons wowed audiences
worldwide and help set a new standard for forms competition.
She excels with such weapons as the Double
Broad Sword and the Steel
Whip Chains. |
Karen is one of an elite group of individuals to have been inducted
into the Black
Belt Hall of Fame. Respected worldwide for her expertise
and skill, Karen has been featured on the covers of every major
martial arts publication and in hundreds of articles worldwide. |
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Karen
was in the middle of a successful national tournament tour when
she was approached to star in her first film. She went to
Japan to film Shinobi
(also starring Tadashi Yamashita and Eric Lee) and realized
she was hooked. She left the competition circuit and relocated
to Hollywood to immerse herself in acting studies. Karen also
taught fitness, aerobics and martial arts. She landed a role
in the Universal Studios stage production of The Adventures of Conan
where she performed as the sword wielding "Red
Sonja" in over 3,200 performances.
Along the way she went to Hong Kong to appear in what would become
a martial arts cult classic, Righting
Wrongs (a.k.a. Above
the Law), directed by Cory Yuen. |
Some of Karen's other
films include: Eliminator
Woman, Cyborg
2 (with Jack Palance and Angelina Jolie), Markus
4 (with John Savage & Robert Caradine, For
Life or Death (with Nancy Kwan and James Lew), Boogie
Boy (with Joan Jett, Frederic Forrest, Emily Lloyd & Mark
Dacascos), Mission
of Justice (with Brigitte Nielsen and Jeff Wincott), and Operation:
Golden Phoenix (with James Hong). |
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Having been a longtime fan of martial arts movies, Rob Tapert (the producer of the Hercules: The Legendary Journeys television show) offered Karen the role of The Enforcer. Under the direction of T.J. Scott, Karen turned in a most memorable performance in her first episode which drew the highest ratings garnered to date for the entire series. The Enforcer role is one of Karen's favorites: "On my first day in New Zealand, I had a costume fitting and a make-up test. When I put on the costume and the black wig, it felt right...but not complete. The director, T.J., suggested the black contact lenses. When I popped those into my eyes and turned around to face the mirror, it was as if I became possessed. The Enforcer was born ... her movements, mannerisms and focus came to me like magic." |
Karen
has also guest-starred
and co-starred in other television shows such as Diagnosis
Murder and V.I.P.
Besides acting, Karen lends her expertise to the stunt business.
She regularly performs all the fights for "Nikki" (played
by Natalie Raitano) on V.I.P.
Karen has turned in some memorable fights (doubling "Faith"
and "Kathy" the roommate) with "Buffy" (doubled
by Sophia Crawford ... a hot Karate Diva herself!) in
Buffy
the Vampire Slayer. |
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One of the most versatile talents to go before the camera, |
Karen is a contributing editor for Martial Arts Training magazine where she writes a regular motivational and training column. She travels the seminar circuit sharing her knowledge and insight on training tips, martial arts conditioning, the secrets of winning combat for film and stage and motivation and focus in the martial arts. Karen continues to support her art with personal appearances at martial arts tournaments, charity benefits and conventions. Karen possesses a winning mixture of self confidence and unorthodox determination. Film makers seem to like the combination as Karen continues her steady rise to prominence as a member of an elite fraternity of performers and martial artists dedicated to the mastery of their craft. |
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