Katherine R. (Katy) Lyall
Life Member - United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) ®
Life Member - USA Traditional Kodokan Judo (USA-TKJ) ®
Associate Instructor - Examiner, USJJF & USA-TKJ
Katy originally didn't know about Judo and Jujitsu. She was visiting her older brother in the East coast when she was goofing around with him and he put her in an arm lock. Surprised by the maneuver, she asked her brother what was that? He said Jujitsu. She was like what's Jujitsu? He gave her a little history. Katy was fascinated by it. Her brother is a black belt in small circle Jujitsu. He told her if she couldn't find a school with Jujitsu back in Colorado to look for one with Judo. Since Judo originated from Jujitsu.
So super excited when she got home she looked in the yellow pages. There was a school The Institute of Martial Arts, they had both Judo and Jujitsu. They also had Karate, Weapons and Kick boxing. When she called she had a 50/50 chance who would answer Larry or Angelo. Angelo answered and he immediately asked her how tall she was and how much she weighed. He said oh you must come down you would be perfect for my Judo team. Angelo is a three time Olympian in Judo. His Sensei was a Japanese man. Katy met him once at the Senior Nationals he was quiet and very intimidating.
She started training in Judo with Angelo and Jujitsu with Larry in 1989. When Katy started in Judo all of her teammates where black belts except for one brown belt. Katy's teammates were very intimidating and rough with beginners. They where surprised that Katy kept coming back after each pounding. She told them she wanted to learn. They trained 2 to 3 hours during the school year, all of them where in High School or just leaving middle school. In the summer they trained 6 hours a day, including weight training and running for endurance.
Katy competed at all levels of tournaments including local, Junior Nationals, Senior Nationals and the US Open at an International level. She just kept training and training and got her belt ranks by winning and competing. Most of the tournaments had Judo camps after for a week. They would learn from the best at a National level or an International level. Her Judo Sensei Angelo was good friends with the Japanese team that trained at the Kodakon. We hosted the Japanese and Puerto Rican teams at our Dojo several times and learned from their Senseis. We also began training twice a week at The Olympic Training Center which at the time Eddie Liddie was the Sensei, he was Bronze medalist at the 1984 Olympics. Katy was asked to compete at the 1993 Olympic Festival in San Antonio Texas. Which is the trials for the Olympic team. She ended up being injured and didn't place. But it was an amazing experience. Her goal was the 1996 Olympics but life had threw some curves. Katy was still involved with Martial Arts though.
Now during her intense training in Judo and after she still trained with Larry in Jujitsu. Larry was the owner and Shihan of The Institute of Martial Arts. Katy went to his classes any chance she could like Saturday mornings and continued to train for years after competing in Judo. Katy has known Larry for over thirty years now. Katy has helped Larry teach classes and brought her own kids to learn from him. Larry is an amazing instructor and friend. We learned Jujitsu, Karate, Judo, Kick boxing, Boxing, and Weapons from Larry. We even trained some with some Aikido friends. She even taught Judo on Fort Carson with Larry for awhile.
Katy also learned Taekwondo with Nick Eimer and Scott Arnold. Katy and her son took it for about four years. Katy got to green belt in ranking. During this time she was introduced to Robert Koski and his son Tyler Koski. Robert was partnering with the Taekwondo instructors to share the buildings space. Nick told Robert about Katy's history in Judo and Jujitsu and that we should teach together. So Robert and Katy taught together the police athletic league and started USA Jujitsu and Judo. Robert tested and ranked her to Shodan in Judo and Jujitsu for the USJJF. He also had me help him in Taiho-Jujitsu for his police colleges. She has known Robert Koski and Tyler Koski for over 16 years now. They are both very talented instructors and friends.
Katy's journey in Martial Arts has taught her so much about life and how to handle it. They have also helped her improve her Classical seat riding with her horses. Its very interesting the similarities in the two Arts.
Katherine Lyall's Current Martial Art Ranks:
Nidan, 2nd Degree Black Belt in US Ju-Jitsu - United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF)
Nidan, 2nd Degree Black Belt in Traditional Kodokan Judo - USA Traditional Kodokan Judo, (USA-TKJ),
Green Belt in Taekwondo
Katherine Lyall can be contacted at:
Email: [email protected]
Life Member - United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) ®
Life Member - USA Traditional Kodokan Judo (USA-TKJ) ®
Associate Instructor - Examiner, USJJF & USA-TKJ
Katy originally didn't know about Judo and Jujitsu. She was visiting her older brother in the East coast when she was goofing around with him and he put her in an arm lock. Surprised by the maneuver, she asked her brother what was that? He said Jujitsu. She was like what's Jujitsu? He gave her a little history. Katy was fascinated by it. Her brother is a black belt in small circle Jujitsu. He told her if she couldn't find a school with Jujitsu back in Colorado to look for one with Judo. Since Judo originated from Jujitsu.
So super excited when she got home she looked in the yellow pages. There was a school The Institute of Martial Arts, they had both Judo and Jujitsu. They also had Karate, Weapons and Kick boxing. When she called she had a 50/50 chance who would answer Larry or Angelo. Angelo answered and he immediately asked her how tall she was and how much she weighed. He said oh you must come down you would be perfect for my Judo team. Angelo is a three time Olympian in Judo. His Sensei was a Japanese man. Katy met him once at the Senior Nationals he was quiet and very intimidating.
She started training in Judo with Angelo and Jujitsu with Larry in 1989. When Katy started in Judo all of her teammates where black belts except for one brown belt. Katy's teammates were very intimidating and rough with beginners. They where surprised that Katy kept coming back after each pounding. She told them she wanted to learn. They trained 2 to 3 hours during the school year, all of them where in High School or just leaving middle school. In the summer they trained 6 hours a day, including weight training and running for endurance.
Katy competed at all levels of tournaments including local, Junior Nationals, Senior Nationals and the US Open at an International level. She just kept training and training and got her belt ranks by winning and competing. Most of the tournaments had Judo camps after for a week. They would learn from the best at a National level or an International level. Her Judo Sensei Angelo was good friends with the Japanese team that trained at the Kodakon. We hosted the Japanese and Puerto Rican teams at our Dojo several times and learned from their Senseis. We also began training twice a week at The Olympic Training Center which at the time Eddie Liddie was the Sensei, he was Bronze medalist at the 1984 Olympics. Katy was asked to compete at the 1993 Olympic Festival in San Antonio Texas. Which is the trials for the Olympic team. She ended up being injured and didn't place. But it was an amazing experience. Her goal was the 1996 Olympics but life had threw some curves. Katy was still involved with Martial Arts though.
Now during her intense training in Judo and after she still trained with Larry in Jujitsu. Larry was the owner and Shihan of The Institute of Martial Arts. Katy went to his classes any chance she could like Saturday mornings and continued to train for years after competing in Judo. Katy has known Larry for over thirty years now. Katy has helped Larry teach classes and brought her own kids to learn from him. Larry is an amazing instructor and friend. We learned Jujitsu, Karate, Judo, Kick boxing, Boxing, and Weapons from Larry. We even trained some with some Aikido friends. She even taught Judo on Fort Carson with Larry for awhile.
Katy also learned Taekwondo with Nick Eimer and Scott Arnold. Katy and her son took it for about four years. Katy got to green belt in ranking. During this time she was introduced to Robert Koski and his son Tyler Koski. Robert was partnering with the Taekwondo instructors to share the buildings space. Nick told Robert about Katy's history in Judo and Jujitsu and that we should teach together. So Robert and Katy taught together the police athletic league and started USA Jujitsu and Judo. Robert tested and ranked her to Shodan in Judo and Jujitsu for the USJJF. He also had me help him in Taiho-Jujitsu for his police colleges. She has known Robert Koski and Tyler Koski for over 16 years now. They are both very talented instructors and friends.
Katy's journey in Martial Arts has taught her so much about life and how to handle it. They have also helped her improve her Classical seat riding with her horses. Its very interesting the similarities in the two Arts.
Katherine Lyall's Current Martial Art Ranks:
Nidan, 2nd Degree Black Belt in US Ju-Jitsu - United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF)
Nidan, 2nd Degree Black Belt in Traditional Kodokan Judo - USA Traditional Kodokan Judo, (USA-TKJ),
Green Belt in Taekwondo
Katherine Lyall can be contacted at:
Email: [email protected]