Kathleen Murphy (born April 13, 1979), known as Katie Murphy, is an American martial artist. She is a twenty-two time World Champion in karate, a fifteen-time U.S. National Champion, and a ten-time New York State Champion. In 2012, Murphy was awarded "2011 Female Competitor of the Year" by Action Martial Arts magazine.
Personal life Murphy was born and raised in LaGrange, New York. The second oldest of nine children, she started her martial arts training as a teenager in 1991. She earned her first black belt (Shodan) in USA Gōjū-ryū karate in 1996 (two weeks after her 17th birthday) under Sensei Thomas Maloney and Sensei Joseph Rinaldi. She was awarded her Fourth degree Black Belt (Yodan) from her instructors in 2010.
She was the Head Instructor of the Unionvale, New York Martial Arts Dojo until it ceased operation in 2014. She earned her Ed.D. degree from Western Connecticut State University in 2014. Dr. Murphy and her husband David Kalish currently live in the Hudson Valley, New York.
She currently trains at the Fighting Spirit Karate Studio in New Paltz, New York, under Shidoshi Sean Schenker. Recently, Katie has expanded her martial arts journey, training in Goju-Ryu, Kyokushin, Shotokan, Judo, and Krav Maga.
Career highlights 2007 CompetitionCategoryResultKarate Rating Association of New England (KRANE) Nationals18-29 Women's Traditional FormsBronze medalistNew York State Martial Arts Karate Championships18-29 Women's Point SparringNew York State ChampionBushido Challenge Karate TournamentWomen's FormsGold medalistWomen's WeaponsGold medalist
2008 CompetitionCategoryResultKarate Rating Association of New England (KRANE)18-29 Women's Traditional FormsNew York State Champion18-29 Women's Traditional Weapons New York State Champion18-29 Women's Point SparringNew York State ChampionKRANE Nationals18-29 Women's Traditional FormsBronze medalist18-29 Women's Traditional WeaponsBronze medalist
2009 CompetitionCategoryResultKarate Rating Association of New England (KRANE) Nationals 30-39 Women's Traditional FormsUS National ChampionKRANE Nationals30-39 Women's Traditional WeaponsUS National ChampionKRANE 30-39 Women's Traditional FormsUS National Champion30-39 Women's Traditional Weapons New York State Champion30-39 Women's Point SparringNew York State Champion30-39 Women's Traditional WeaponsTriple Crown Winner
2010 LocationCompetitionCategoryResultAlbufeira, PortugalWKC World Championships18-34 Traditional WeaponsSilver medalist18-34 Traditional Hard Style WeaponsBronze medalistWomen's Team Point SparringBronze medalistDetroit, MIWKC Nationals18-34 Traditional Forms US National Champion18-34 Traditional Hard Style WeaponsUS National ChampionNew York (NY)Karate Rating Association of New England (KRANE)30-39 Women's Traditional FormsNew York State Champion 30-39 Women's Traditional WeaponsNew York State Champion New York (NY)KRANE Nationals30-39 Women's Traditional FormsUS National Champion30-39 Women's Traditional WeaponsUS National ChampionKRANE30-39 Women's Traditional FormsTriple Crown Winner30-39 Women's Traditional WeaponsTriple Crown WinnerNew York, NYTwin Towers Classic Tournament Women's FormsGrand ChampionWomen's WeaponsGrand Champion
2011 LocationCompetitionCategoryResultOrlando, FLUS Martial Arts Games26-35 Adult Blackbelt Traditional WeaponsBronze Medalist26-35 Adult Blackbelt Creative WeaponsSilver Medalist26-35 Adult Blackbelt Traditional FormsSilver Medalist26-35 Adult Blackbelt Creative FormsSilver MedalistCádiz, SpainWorld Karate and Kickboxing Council (WKC) World Championships 18-34 Traditional WeaponsWorld Champion18-34 Traditional WeaponsWorld Champion18-34 Creative FormsWorld Champion18-34 Traditional Hard Style FormsBronze medalist18-34 Creative WeaponsBronze medalistWomen's Team Point SparringBronze medalistDetroit, MIWorld Karate and Kickboxing Council (WKC) US Nationals18-34 Traditional FormsNational Champion18-34 Creative FormsNational Champion18-34 Traditional Hard Style Weapons National ChampionNew York (NY)Karate Rating Association of New England (KRANE) New York State Champion 30-39 Women's Traditional FormsNew York State Champion30-39 Women's Traditional WeaponsNew York State ChampionNorth American Sport Karate Association (NASKA)Women's 30-39 Traditional Forms2nd place Women's 30-39 Traditional Weapons3rd place Philadelphia, PAAmerikick InternationalsWomen's 30+ WeaponsGrand ChampionWomen's 30+ FormsGrand ChampionMarlborough, MANew England Open Karate ChampionshipWomen's 30+ WeaponsGrand ChampionWomen's 30+ FormsGrand ChampionNew York (NY)Twin Towers Karate TournamentWomen's 30+ WeaponsGrand Champion
2012 LocationCompetitionCategoryResultNorth American Sport Karate Association (NASKA)Women's 30-39 Traditional FormsWorld ChampionWomen's 30-39 Creative FormsWorld ChampionWomen's 30-39 Traditional WeaponsWorld ChampionPhiladelphia, PAAmerikick InternationalsWomen's 30+ Weapons Grand ChampionWomen's 30+ Forms Grand ChampionDaytona Beach, FLGator NationalsWomen's 30+ FormsGrand ChampionMarlborough, MANew England Open Karate ChampionshipWomen's 30+ WeaponsGrand Champion Women's 30+ FormsGrand Champion Orlando, FLUS Open ISKA World Martial Arts ChampionshipsWomen's 30+ FormsGrand ChampionWashington, DCUS Capitol Classics / China Open Women's 30+ FormsGrand ChampionNew York, NYTwin Towers Karate TournamentWomen's 30+ FormsGrand ChampionWomen's 30+ WeaponsGrand ChampionMiami, FLPan American Internationals / WKF World Championships Women's 30+ Forms Grand ChampionBregenz, AustriaUS Martial Arts Games26-35 Women's Black Belt Traditional WeaponsWorld Champion26-35 Women's Black Belt Traditional FormsWorld Champion26-35 Women's Black Belt Musical FormsWorld Champion26-35 Women's Black Belt Creative FormsWorld ChampionWorld Karate and Kickboxing Council (WKC)United States National Team MemberMontreal, CanadaWKC World Championships18-34 Creative FormsWorld Champion18-34 Traditional FormsSilver medalist18-34 Traditional WeaponsBronze medalistDetroit, MIWKC Nationals18-34 Traditional FormsUS National Champion18-34 Creative FormsUS National Champion18-34 Traditional Hard Style WeaponsSilver medalist
2013 LocationCompetitionCategoryResultNorth American Sport Karate Association (NASKA) Women's 30+ Overall Forms Grand Champion World Grand ChampionWomen's 30+ Overall Weapons Grand Champion World Grand ChampionWomen's 30-39 Traditional FormsWorld ChampionWomen's 30-39 Creative FormsWorld ChampionWomen's 30-39 Traditional WeaponsWorld ChampionPhiladelphia, PAAmerikick InternationalsWomen's 30+ Weapons Grand ChampionWorld ChampionWomen's 30+ Forms Grand ChampionWorld ChampionWarwick, RIOcean States Grand NationalsWomen's 30+ WeaponsGrand championWomen's 30+ FormsGrand championQuebec, CanadaQuebec City Open Karate ChampionshipWomen's 30+ WeaponsGrand championMarlborough, MANew England Open Karate ChampionshipWomen's 30+ WeaponsGrand championWomen's 30+ FormsGrand championMyrtle Beach, SCDixieland Nationals Karate ChampionshipWomen's 30+ FormsGrand ChampionWomen's 30+ WeaponsGrand ChampionDetroit, MIWorld Karate and Kickboxing Council (WKC) Nationals18-34 Creative FormsUS National Champion18-34 Traditional Hard Style WeaponsUS National Champion18-34 Traditional FormsSilver Medal WinnerKarate Rating Association of New England (KRANE) 30-39 Women's Traditional Forms US National Champion30-39 Women's Traditional Weapons US National Champion
2014 LocationCompetitionCategoryResultNorth American Sport Karate Association (NASKA) Women 30-39 Creative Forms DivisionWorld ChampionWomen 30-39 Traditional Weapons DivisionWorld ChampionWomen 30-39 Traditional Forms Division2nd placePhiladelphia, PAAmerikick Internationals30+ Forms Grand ChampionWorld ChampionWarwick, RIOcean States Grand NationalsWomen's 30+ WeaponsGrand ChampionWomen's 30+ FormsGrand ChampionMarlborough, MANew England Open Karate ChampionshipWomen's 30+ WeaponsGrand ChampionWomen's 30+ FormsGrand ChampionNew York, NYTwin Towers Classic Karate ChampionshipWomen's 30+ FormsGrand ChampionWomen's 30+ WeaponsGrand ChampionDublin, IrelandWorld Karate and Kickboxing Council (WKC) World Championships18-34 Traditional FormsGold Medal Winner18-34 Creative FormsWorld Champion18-34 Traditional Hard Style WeaponsSilver medal18+ Classical FormsSilver medalDetroit, MIWKC Nationals18-34 Creative FormsUS National Champion18-34 Traditional Hard Style Weapons US National Champion18-34 Traditional FormsSilver medalNew York, (NY)New York Tournament League (NYT)Adult Black Belt FormsOverall Grand ChampionAdult Black Belt WeaponsOverall Grand ChampionNew York, (NY)NYT NationalsBlack Belt FormsUS National ChampionNew York, (NY)New York State ChampionshipsBlack Belt FormsNew York State ChampionNew York, (NY)Long Island Summer OpenBlack Belt WeaponsGrand Champion
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