Graciela Casillas-Boggs

Graciela Casillas-Boggs is a martial artist who was a pioneer of women's boxing and held the World Women's Boxing Association and World Karate Association bantamweight title.cite web | title = Women's Boxing World Ratings 1977-1984 | work = WBAN | publisher = Women Boxing Archive Network | url = http://womenboxing.com/ranking2.htm
accessdate = 08/15/2008 ] Retiring undefeated with a record of 31-0, 18 KO's she spent the following years developing her own eclectic martial art of Shen Chun Do, "the way of the warrior spirit".

Originally a student of TaeKwonDo and full-contact karate she earned a 3rd degree black belt in Kenpo as well as Kodenkan Jujitsu. Casillas-Boggs trained under Grandmaster Angel Cabales and became the first woman instructor for Cabales Serrada Eskrima. She later studied Jeet Kune Do under Sifu Dan Inosanto and Arnis under Grandmaster Bobby Taboada and her husband Sensei Ernie Boggs. [Kelly, Perry (2000). "Dan Inosanto: The Man, The Teacher, The Artist", Paladin Press. ISBN 1-58160-079-8.] She has been President of the United States Sport Jujitsu Trade Association and an assistant coach to the USA Jujitsu Team. She was awarded Black Belt Magazine's and Inside Kung-Fu Magazine's "Woman of the Year" in 1989 and inducted into the Martial arts Hall of Fame. She has been credited as the designer of the Boxing Skirt.cite web | title = Women of Steel | work = Playboy Magazine | date= February 1984 | url = http://www.womenboxing.com/biog/Casillas.htm
accessdate = 08/15/2008 ]

In 1996 Casillas-Boggs designed a knife known as the Ladyhawk, manufactured by Masters of Defense (MOD) as a collaboration with Microtech Knives and marketed as a self-defense knife designed for women.Citation | last = Kertzman | first = Joe | title = Tactical Folders for Her | journal = Blade Magazine | volume = 25 | issue = 8 | pages = 124-129 | date = 08/01/1998 | year = 1998] Impetus for this design came after Casillas-Boggs stabbed one of two attempted rapists, using the thug's own knife after disarming him. [Massad Ayoob "Selling Select Self-Defense Knives". Shooting Industry. March 2001. FindArticles.com. 15 Aug. 2008. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3197/is_3_46/ai_72346103]

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