Sensei Karen Mackey
Rokudan. Competitor. Leader. Teacher.
Sioux City Judo · Rokudan
A Lifetime of
Judo Leadership.
Sensei Karen Mackey is a 6th degree black belt whose judo career is defined by elite competition, service, and the growth of the sport. Her record spans U.S. Opens, National Championships, Olympic Sports Festivals, Pan Am Team Trials, and World Trials.
Beyond the podium, Karen has spent decades leading Iowa Judo and serving national committees focused on standards, ethics and coaching.
Competitive Legacy.
Selected Career Milestones
U.S. Open
Bronze in the +72 kg division began a remarkable national competition record.
Double Medalist
U.S. Open silver in the Open division and bronze at +72 kg.
Masters Champion
Four U.S. National Masters titles across five championship appearances.
World Trials
Bronze in 1990 and silver in 1991 at the +72 kg World Championship Trials.
National Champion
Returned to the top of the podium with another Masters national title.
Service to the Sport.
Decades of leadership at the state and national levels.
Iowa Judo, Inc.
- President, 1986–92 and 1994–2008
- Vice President, 1992–94
- Promotion Board member since 1982
U.S. Judo Federation
- Women’s Committee chair, 2004–06
- Standards Committee
- Development and Law committees
USA Judo
- SportsWomen Section
- Coach Screening Committee
- Nominating, Judicial and Ethics committees
National Recognition
USJF President’s Award (1996) and induction into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame (1995).
Published Educator
Author of “Women in Judo: A Teaching Module,” published in USJF’s Judo Magazine as “A Brief History of Women in Judo” (Spring 2005).
The Story Behind the Sensei.
Karen Mackey · Rokudan (6th Degree Black Belt)
Ms. Mackey is a USA Judo International coach, making her the highest-level coach in Iowa and the highest-ranked black belt in Siouxland. She has studied martial arts longer than anyone else in Siouxland and is the most successful competitor to come out of our combative arts community.
Ms. Mackey began studying judo in 1972 under Frankie Williams, a well-known local judo instructor, and was his first student to earn a black belt. Ms. Mackey formed the Sioux City Judo Club in 1984.
Ms. Mackey competed for nearly two decades, placing in numerous national and international tournaments. In 1991, she was USA Judo’s alternate to the World Championships in the +72 kg division. She retired from competition in 1991 to attend law school.
Ms. Mackey was awarded the USJF President’s Award in 1996. In 1995, she was inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame. She was President of Iowa Judo, Inc. for 20 years and currently serves on several USA Judo and USJF committees.
Her family was active in judo for decades. Her mother, Louise, was a Yodan and an active USA Judo volunteer. Her father, John Sr., was a Shodan and studied ju jutsu in Japan. Her brother, John Jr., a Shodan, competed nationally as a junior. Her niece, Samantha, studies judo in Oregon.
Train With Purpose.
Discover Sioux City Judo at 712 Training Center.