Kathleen Murphy (martial artist)
Kathleen Murphy, 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.
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 in USA Gōjū-ryū karate in 1996 under Sensei Thomas Maloney and Sensei Joseph Rinaldi. She was awarded her Fourth degree Black Belt 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
2014
In 2014, Murphy competed on the following circuits: North American Sport Karate Association, World Karate and Kickboxing Council, and the New York Tournament League. She was a sponsored athlete by Team Off The Line.Tournament Highlights:
2014 North American Sport Karate Association
- Women's 30-39 Creative Forms Division Ranking – 1st place '
- Women's 30-39 Traditional Weapons Division Ranking – 1st place '
- Women's 30-39 Traditional Forms Division Ranking – 2nd place '
- Amerikick Internationals Women's 30+ Forms Grand Champion '
- Ocean States Grand Nationals Women's 30+ Weapons Grand Champion
- Ocean States Grand Nationals Women's 30+ Forms Grand Champion
- New England Open Karate Championship Women's 30+ Weapons Grand Champion
- New England Open Karate Championship Women's 30+ Forms Grand Champion
- Twin Towers Classic Karate Championship Women's 30+ Forms Grand Champion
- Twin Towers Classic Karate Championship Women's 30+ Weapons Grand Champion
- WKC World Championships Gold Medal Winner 18-34 Traditional Forms '
- WKC World Championships Gold Medal Winner 18-34 Creative Forms '
- WKC World Championships Silver Medal Winner 18-34 Traditional Hard Style Weapons
- WKC World Championships Silver Medal Winner 18+ Classical Forms
- WKC Nationals Gold Medal Winner 18-34 Creative Forms '
- WKC Nationals Gold Medal Winner 18-34 Traditional Hard Style Weapons '
- WKC Nationals Silver Medal Winner 18-34 Traditional Forms
- Overall Grand Champion Adult Black Belt Forms
- Overall Grand Champion, Adult Black Belt Weapons
- NYT Nationals – Black Belt Forms Grand Champion '
- New York State Championships – Black Belt Forms Grand Champion '
- Long Island Summer Open – Black Belt Weapons Grand Champion
2013
Tournament Highlights:
2013 North American Sport Karate Association
- Women's 30+ Overall Forms Grand Champion '
- Women's 30+ Overall Weapons Grand Champion '
- Women's 30-39 Traditional Forms Division Ranking – 1st place '
- Women's 30-39 Creative Forms Division Ranking – 1st place '
- Women's 30-39 Traditional Weapons Division Ranking – 1st place '
- Amerikick Internationals Women's 30+ Weapons Grand Champion '
- Amerikick Internationals Women's 30+ Forms Grand Champion '
- Ocean States Grand Nationals Women's 30+ Weapons Grand Champion
- Ocean States Grand Nationals Women's 30+ Forms Grand Champion
- Quebec City Open Karate Championship Women's 30+ Weapons Grand Champion
- New England Open Karate Championship Women's 30+ Weapons Grand Champion
- New England Open Karate Championship Women's 30+ Forms Grand Champion
- Dixieland Nationals Karate Championship Women's 30+ Forms Grand Champion
- Dixieland Nationals Karate Championship Women's 30+ Weapons Grand Champion
- WKC Nationals Gold Medal Winner 18-34 Creative Forms '
- WKC Nationals Gold Medal Winner 18-34 Traditional Hard Style Weapons '
- WKC Nationals Silver Medal Winner 18-34 Traditional Forms
- WKC Regional Qualifier Gold Medal Winner 18-34 Traditional Forms
- WKC Regional Qualifier Gold Medal Winner 18-34 Creative Forms
- WKC Regional Qualifier Gold Medal Winner 18-34 Traditional Hard Style Weapons
- KRANE Nationals Gold Medal Winner 30-39 Women's Traditional Forms '
- KRANE Nationals Gold Medal Winner 30-39 Women's Traditional Weapons
2012
Murphy is the top ranked Female Forms competitor on the following Karate Circuits: NASKA, WKC, and the US. Martial Arts Games.
Tournament Highlights:
North American Sport Karate Association
- 2012 Women's 30-39 Traditional Forms Division Ranking – 1st place '
- 2012 Women's 30-39 Creative Forms Division Ranking – 1st place '
- 2012 Women's 30-39 Traditional Weapons Division Ranking – 1st place '
- Amerikick Internationals Women's 30+ Weapons Grand Champion
- Amerikick Internationals Women's 30+ Forms Grand Champion
- Gator Nationals Women's 30+ Forms Grand Champion
- New England Open Karate Championship Women's 30+ Weapons Grand Champion
- New England Open Karate Championship Women's 30+ Forms Grand Champion
- US Open / ISKA World Martial Arts Championships Women's 30+ Forms Grand Champion
- US Capitol Classics / China Open Women's 30+ Forms Grand Champion
- Twin Towers Karate Tournament Women's 30+ Forms Grand Champion
- Twin Towers Karate Tournament Women's 30+ Weapons Grand Champion
- Pan American Internationals / WKF World Championships Women's 30+ Forms Grand Champion
- 26-35 Women's Black Belt Traditional Weapons – Gold Medalist '
- 26-35 Women's Black Belt Traditional Forms –Gold Medalist '
- 26-35 Women's Black Belt Musical Forms – Gold Medalist '
- 26-35 Women's Black Belt Creative Forms – Gold Medalist '
- 2012 WKC United States National Team Member
- Gold Medalist 18-34 Creative Forms – '
- Silver Medalist 18-34 Traditional Forms
- Bronze Medalist 18-34 Traditional Weapons
- Gold Medal Winner 18-34 Traditional Forms '
- Gold Medal Winner 18-34 Creative Forms '
- Silver Medal Winner 18-34 Traditional Hard Style Weapons
2011
Tournament Highlights:
US Martial Arts Games
- 26-35 Adult Blackbelt Traditional Weapons – Bronze Medalist
- 26-35 Adult Blackbelt Creative Weapons – Silver Medalist
- 26-35 Adult Black Belt Traditional Forms – Silver Medalist
- 26-35 Adult Black Belt Creative Forms – Silver Medalist
- Gold Medalist 18-34 Traditional Weapons – '
- Gold Medalist 18-34 Creative Forms – '
- Bronze Medalist 18-34 Traditional Hard Style Forms
- Bronze Medalists 18-34 Creative Weapons
- Bronze Medalist Women's Team Point Sparring
- Gold Medal Winner 18-34 Traditional Forms '
- Gold Medal Winner 18-34 Creative Forms '
- Gold Medal Winner 18-34 Traditional Hard Style Weapons '
- 2011 KRANE New York State Champion 30-39 Women's Traditional Forms '
- 2011 KRANE New York State Champion 30-39 Women's Traditional Weapons
- 2011 KRANE Division Champion 30-39 Women's Traditional Forms
- 2011 KRANE Division Champion 30-39 Women's Traditional Weapons
- 2011 Women's 30-39 Traditional Forms Division Ranking – 2nd place Overall
- 2011 Women's 30-39 Traditional Weapons Division Ranking – 3rd place Overall
- Amerikick Internationals Women's 30+ Weapons Grand Champion
- Amerikick Internationals Women's 30+ Forms Grand Champion
- New England Open Karate Championship Women's 30+ Weapons Grand Champion
- New England Open Karate Championship Women's 30+ Forms Grand Champion
- Twin Towers Karate Tournament Women's 30+ Weapons Grand Champion
2010
Tournament Highlights:
2010 WKC World Championships
- Silver Medalist 18-34 Traditional Weapons
- Bronze Medalist 18-34 Traditional Hard Style Weapons
- Bronze Medalist Women's Team Point Sparring
- Gold Medal Winner 18-34 Traditional Forms '
- Gold Medal Winner 18-34 Traditional Hard Style Weapons '
- 2010 KRANE New York State Champion 30-39 Women's Traditional Forms
- 2010 KRANE New York State Champion 30-39 Women's Traditional Weapons
- 2010 KRANE Nationals Gold Medal Winner 30-39 Women's Traditional Forms '
- 2010 KRANE Nationals Gold Medal Winner 30-39 Women's Traditional Weapons '
- 2010 KRANE Triple Crown Winner 30-39 Women's Traditional Forms
- 2010 KRANE Triple Crown Winner 30-39 Women's Traditional Weapons
- 2010 Twin Towers Karate Tournament Women's Forms Grand Champion
- 2010 Twin Towers Karate Tournament Women's Weapons Grand Champion
2009
- 2009 KRANE Nationals Gold Medal Winner 30-39 Women's Traditional Forms '
- 2009 KRANE Nationals Gold Medal Winner 30-39 Women's Traditional Weapons '
- 2009 KRANE New York State Champion 30-39 Women's Traditional Forms '
- 2009 KRANE New York State Champion 30-39 Women's Traditional Weapons '
- 2009 KRANE New York State Champion 30-39 Women's Point Sparring
- 2009 KRANE Triple Crown Winner 30-39 Women's Traditional Weapons
2008
- 2008 KRANE New York State Champion 18-29 Women's Traditional Forms '
- 2008 KRANE New York State Champion 18-29 Women's Traditional Weapons '
- 2008 KRANE New York State Champion 18-29 Women's Point Sparring
- 2008 KRANE Nationals Bronze Medal Winner 18-29 Women's Traditional Forms
- 2008 KRANE Nationals Bronze Medal Winner 18-29 Women's Traditional Weapons
- 2008 Urban Cup Goju Karate Tournament Champion Black Belt Kata
2007
- 2007 KRANE Nationals Bronze Medal Winner 18-29 Women's Traditional Forms
- 2007 New York State Martial Arts Karate Championships Winner 18-29 Women's Point Sparring
- 2007 Bushido Challenge Karate Tournament Gold Medal Winner Women's Forms
- 2007 Bushido Challenge Karate Tournament Gold Medal Winner Women's Weapons
- 2007 Northeast Open Tournament – 3rd place Adult Blackbelt Traditional Forms