Fredia "The Cheetah" Gibbs (born July 8, 1963), is an American former professional martial artist, kickboxer, and boxer who competed from 1975 to 2005. During her kickboxing career, she held ISKA, WKA, and WKF World Titles. Before her kickboxing career, she was an All-American in basketball and track.

Fredia "The Cheetah" Gibbs (born July 8, 1963), is an American former professional martial artist, kickboxer, and boxer who competed from 1975 to 2005. During her kickboxing career, she held ISKA, WKA, and WKF World Titles. Before her kickboxing career, she was an All-American in basketball and track. 

She is also a model and actress. Fredia has been featured on the Fresh Prince of Bel Aire with Will Smith. She was one of the women who was throwing Will Smith around in his nightmare.  Her latest film is called Knockout."

Gibbs made history when she became the first African-American female Kickboxing ISKA World Champion. She earned the name "The Most Dangerous Woman in the World" after an upset in 1994 in her fight against World Champion Valérie Wiet-Henin of France in the "Battle of the Masters" Pay Per View Event in San Jose, California. She went on to become one of the most dominant champions of all time, and remains a significant historical figure in light and super lightweight kickboxing divisions. She competed from 1991 to 1997, amassing a record of 16 wins, 0 losses, and 15 KOs, and three world titles. She also competed as a top contender in women's professional boxing from 1997 to 2005 with a record of 9 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw.

She wrote The Fredia Gibbs Story about her life in 2016

“Being bullied is such a terrifying experience, especially for a child,” Fredia said. “[We] are just trying to learn our identity and learn who we are; to be threatened and quartered by kids who are supposed to be your classmates, whom you help with homework, it was uncomfortable, ugly and very negative.”

As she ran home to escape her bullys, her uncle Dr. William Groce, met her at the door this last time. “Look, baby girl, you can’t continue to run all of your life. You’re going to have to learn how to stand firm and face your fear(s),” he advised.

Gibbs began her instruction in Jeet Kune Do/Aikido fight style at Quiet Storm Martial Arts School in Chester, Pennsylvania. She learned martial arts to rebuild her self confidence and self esteem, which suffered as a result of being bullied. She was trained with her Uncle Will and by a group of lethal martial artists, lawyers, judges, doctors, business leaders, and blue collar workers. Earning her black belt was the unorthodox result of throwing powerful jab combinations and mastering tactical takedowns to obtain the glittering key on the ground behind Groce, the only way out of The Storm.

“It was tough. It was difficult but, I got the key. I unlocked the door and walked out.”

KIDNAPPED

In 1993, Gibbs martial arts training saved her life. She had lost her paycheck and bus fare in a game of Dominoes at a gathering in Inglewood, Calif. Strapped for cash, stranded and wanting to sleep in her bed instead of the couch she was offered, Gibbs accepted a ride from Lonnie Franklin Jr. after spending hours playing against him. She had no way of knowing her Domino opponent was California’s infamous Grim Sleeper, the serial killer responsible for murdering at least 100 Black women in South Central, displacing their bodies throughout Los Angeles circa 1985.

Now with him in his RV, something sinister in his sudden need for coffee awakened her intuition as he pulled into a secluded area. She refused to let him "violate" her. She tried to exit the passenger’s side door. The handle had been removed. When she scrambled for the van’s rear doors, she came face-to-face with a monster intent on violating, then adding her to his list of lifeless victims.

“He came charging at me like a football player...” She explained the aikido technique that uses an assailant’s clothing against them. “I tied his shirt over his head, pulled his pants down and grabbed his... so he couldn’t move,” demanding that he tell her where his keys were.

With her second key to freedom in hand, she told Grim, “When a "b" says, ‘No,’ she means, ‘No.'”

Gibbs was terrified and called her mom. She moved away from the Los Angeles area immediately.

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In 1994, Gibbs’ meteoric brawling record warranted an invitation to compete in a pay-per-view International Sport and Karate Association (ISKA) match-up against Valerie Wiet-Henin, dubbed “The Most Dangerous Woman in the World.”

Wiet-Henin was a formidable opponent renowned for breaking jaws and bruising ribs, a million-dollar baby who did not scare Gibbs.

In the third round, Gibbs said, “My legs began to get weak.” Looking to The Hill from whence her help was to come, she cried out, “Oh God! You gotta help.”

Stitched-up, torn and tattered, she delivered a lethal kick followed by an overhand right to the back of Wiet-Henin’s head, knocking her out.

In addition to becoming “The Most Dangerous Woman,” Gibbs also became the only martial artist except Bruce Lee to have a combat statue dedicated in her honor.

Gibbs has been featured in Black Achievers, Black Belt, Delco Times, Inside Karate, Jet, Los Angeles Sentinel, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sports Illustrated for Women, and Upscale Magazine. 

Her fight gear is displayed at the Sports Legend of Delaware County Museum, dedicated to preserving the history and memory of Delaware County Sports Legends. She is an author, celebrity trainer, philanthropist, motivational speaker, and radio host. In 2016–2017 she was honored and participated in the Orange County Heritage Black History Parade and was nominated to attend the United State of Women summit hosted by the White House.

In 2016 Gibbs was named one of the Top Ten Greatest African American Female Athletes of All time for Kickboxing.

In 2022, Cabrini University honored alumna Fredia Gibbs (ʼ19) during a statue dedication ceremony.