A Tooting woman who devoted 37 years of her life to martial arts has become the highest graded female in a worldwide karate organisation.

Linda Marchant, 49, celebrated this week as she successfully completed her test to become the only woman in the history of the International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate Federation to reach 7th Dan Black Belt.

She said: "The actual test itself was an intense scrutiny of both kata and bunkai, the fundamentals of Okinawan Goju-Ryu. There was no room for error."

She returned home from Okinawa this week after a gruelling test in front of a grading panel by the Grandmaster of IOGKF, Shihan Morio Higaonna 10th Dan.

Ms Marchant gave up her banking career in the City last year to dedicate herself to karate full-time.

Now the former world champion, who is originally from the Isle of Wight, runs Tooting Karate Club.

She said: "For me, I have had to battle throughout my career with men who have doubted my abilities, but the teachers that matter most have always believed in me and I am glad to1 have repaid their faith in me.

"I hope my success paves the way and inspires other women and shows that Okinawan Goju-Ryu is available to all. If you train hard, you will get there."

Traditional Okinawan Goju-Ryu karate is one of four main styles of the martial art and was made famous by the Karate Kid films of the 1980s.