GRACIELAS CASILLAS
2020 IWBHF INDUCTEE

Graciela Casillas fought as a professional boxer from 1979 - 1986, and became a world champion during that time. After retiring from boxing, where
she fought many of the top pioneer female boxers at the time  in the sport.

Casillas retired undefeated with a combined record of 31-0, 18 KO's, and after her retirement she dedicated herself to teaching martial arts. 

Casillas spent the following decades incorporating knowledge acquired from different arts, including her own personal and professional experiences to formulate a highly effective street defense system. Devotion to the martial arts, coupled with two advanced degrees in Education, and Physical Education has led Casillas to dedicate herself to the promotion of the art as a teacher, student and writer.

Graciela was honored as a  Black Belt Hall of Fame inductee, “Women of the Year,” and has earned international acclaim as one of the world’s top martial artist, and as a teacher of the art of self-defense. Casillas’s 45 years as student, instructor, and professional competitor has given her an eclectic approach to the martial arts which she shares with students at home and abroad.

Casillas was the first athlete to simultaneously hold world titles in the two sports of kick-boxing (World Karate Association Bantamweight World Champion) and boxing,  (International Women's Boxing Association Bantamweight champion) Casillas also became a world champion in Filipino stick fighting (World Escrima, Kali, Arnis Federation-WEKAF). she was the first and only women to be certified to the advance level of instructor under the late Grand master Angel Cabales.

Casillas has a Bachelor’s degree in Law & Society from UCSB, a Master’s degree in Counseling, from California Lutheran University and a Masters degree in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific University.

She is also a graduate of Executive Security International (ESI) an elite training program for executive protection specialists, and a graduate of the Lethal Force Institute under the tutelage of Massad Ayoob.

Casillas was the first and only women to be certified to the advanced instructors level in Serrada Escrima, a close quarter combative system of self-defense under the late Grand Master Angel Cabales. She also holds a 7th degree black belt in jujitsu. She recently published The Lioness Within, A Personal Guide to Self-Defense for Women.

A recent retiree from Oxnard College where Casillas was an academic counselor, she dedicates her time to running CMA Academy in Oxnard where she offers, boxing, kick-boxing and other martial arts programs.