Trivia

In 1979 and 1980, was the #1 Women's World Black Belt Champion in Forms & Weapons. Was the first woman to ever officially hold that title. Is a Professor, 8th Degree Black Belt in the Martial Art of Wun Hop Kuen Do, Kung Fu. Competed in gymnastics as a youth.

First woman to win the title of Grand Champion at the prestigious U.S. Open Karate Championship, a win so unprecedented that it was featured on the National nightly television news.

Inducted into the Blackbelt Hall of Fame, Martial Arts Masters Hall of Fame, Martial Arts History Museum's Martial Arts Hall of Fame, U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Action Martial Arts Magazine's Hall of Fame, Munich Hall of Honours, Black Belt International Hall of Fame U.K.

Voted the most popular female martial artist by readers of Kung Fu Magazine.

In Cyborg 2 (1993), the role of "Chen" was originally written for a man. Karen's manager was successful in getting the producer to allow Karen the opportunity to audition for the role, which she won in the third round of callbacks.

Known by fans world-wide as the "Karate Diva", Karen's recurring Guest-Star role as "The Enforcer" on "Hercules, The Legendary Journeys" received the highest ratings ever for the entire series. Unbeknownst to Karen, the show's famed producer, Rob Tapert, had been a long-time fan. After seeing her performance in "Righting Wrongs", Tapert offered Karen the recurring role of "The Enforcer" in the "Hercules" series, filmed on location in New Zealand.

Received "California Legislature Assembly Certificate of Recognition" for her "years of commitment to the martial arts and entertainment industry" on October 16, 2021.

Karen Sheperd holds the distinction of being the first woman to ever grace the cover of Karate Illustrated magazine (February, 1982).

Karen's first episode in her recurring Guest Star role as "The Enforcer" on "Hercules, The Legendary Journeys" received the highest ratings ever for the entire series. This achievement was partly due to the fact that her manager (Cathryn James), knowing that her client (Karen) was a celebrity in the martial arts community, sent a press release to all the martial arts schools across America urging them to tell students when Karen's episode would be airing.

After seeing a full-page ad in "Variety" magazine for a film called "America 3000", which was in pre-production, Karen wrote a letter to the director. He called her in for an audition and that is how she got the role of "Keva", "woman warrior in charge".

Sheperd's dream of one day working with Bruce Lee was dashed with his untimely death in 1973. Karen, however, did have an opportunity to work with his son, Brandon, in a photo shoot for "Interview" magazine in 1992. Sheperd did have the opportunity to meet her other highly-favored action star, Jackie Chan, while she was in Hong Kong costarring in "Righting Wrongs" (aka "Above the Law).