Shihan Kathy Gangemi gotrained in Sydney in the mid 80's with Goshin Ryu.
When she and her family moved to Tasmania she resumed her training of Karate under the guidance of her father Soke Les Elliott in the Shito Ryu system.
At the Honbu Dojo she has her group of 4 to 8 year old students "The Junior Red Dragons" whom train at her Saturday morning class.
Shihan obtained her teaching accreditations in 1988 passing with honors in Anatomy, Physiology, Self Defence, Weaponry ( Sai, Nunchaku, Bo and Arnise), Shiatsu massage and Teaching Principles.
She is Level One Sport Specific accredited with ACCA.
Shihan is a former Hunter Valley Kumite Champion;
Double Gold medal winner in Kata & Kumite at the Goshin Ryu National Championships,
Silver medalist in Team event ( synchronised kata),
And had been a consistant medalist in Kata & Kumite in both NSW State and club events for some years.
For several years Shihan Kathy specialised in Self Defence classes for women taught through the NSW Adult Education Department.
During her years in Sydney she trained with -
Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, Antonio Oliva Spanish National Coach,,Tadashi Yamashita all Japan Champion.
.... as well as several years training with the Australian National Karate Team whose members included Charlene Machin the first Womens World Champion and Brian Peakall, Mens World Champion.
Shihan is currently receiving instruction in the art of Jodo ( short stick defence) .
In June 2011/12/13 she was fortunate enough to participate in, and recieve personal instruction, from visiting
Japanese Sensei's Nagayama and Oohara. in Jodo.
Nagayama Sensei was the Technical Adviser in Jodo to AKR Australia.
In November 2010 Shihan Kathy was awarded her 2nd Dan and the title of Uchi -deshi Sensei, successor to Head of Style, Soke Les Elliott, and in 2012 achieved 3rd Dan level.
In 2017 she was awarded her $th Dan in Shito-Ryu Karate
2015 Shihan Kathy was inducted into the Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame in the category of Junior development and ongoing support of the Martial Arts.
Sept 2015 Shihan was awarded her Black Belt ( Shodan) in the Art of Jodo ( short stick defence).
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Sensei Christine Cash
Sensei Christine is a 4th Dan in Karate, 5th Dan in Iaido and 5th Dan in Jodo.
In Dec 2011 I was awarded the rank of 5th Dan in Jodo.( short stick defence).
I have made several trips to Japan to study under Soke Tsumaki Head master of Tamiya Ryu Iaido School, unfortunately Soke passed away at the age of 103 in 2007.
I have also trained with Ueno Sensei and his senior instructor Ono Sensei, 2 of the most Senior teachers in Japan.
I have trained with many Japanese Sensei in Australia and Japan in the Art of Jodo most recently in 2013 with Nagayama and Oohara Sensei's.
With Elliott Soke as my partner we became National Jodo Champions in 2002.
