Human rights director's efforts win her a new belt

Human rights director's efforts win her a new belt

Karen Mackey has joined an elite rank of women in the United States.

While she may have gotten black and blue to reach that level, she has a red and white belt to show for her efforts. Earlier this month, the U.S. Judo Federation promoted her to 6th degree black belt."

I know of about 10 women who are currently Rokudans (6th degree) in this country," said Mackey, director of Sioux City's Human Rights Commission. "I know of only three women who hold 7th degree black belts."

A rarefied stratum indeed. She has reached the master's rank in judo, a martial-arts form originating in Japan. In judo, there are 10 degrees, or ranks.

"I already had this dream that I might get this, perhaps before I died. I figured if I worked long and hard enough I might get it sometime in my 70s. I'm 51," she noted.

"I was very surprised because it is so unusual for a woman to get her 6th degree."

She credited the late Frankie Williams, who held a 6th degree black belt, for encouraging her to seek the 6th degree ranking.Incidentally, her belt is not black. It's made out of alternating panels of red and white, reflecting Japanese tradition and history.

The highest Mackey has placed in national competitions is first place in the Senior Nationals (over 30 years of age) five times, second place in the U.S. Open in 1980 and second place in the U.S. Trials for the World Championships in 1991.

Her promotion to 6th degree, however, recognizes much more than her winning ways. The ranking acknowledges what she has done and continues to do for judo as a volunteer with national organizations and as a coach. She has produced eight national champions in 21 years as a judo instructor at Girls Inc. In January, she will start teaching a judo class at the Long Lines Family Rec Center."

During the last 25 years I have been involved in the administrative end of judo," she said.

She credited her late mother, Louise Mackey of Beaverton, Ore., for getting her involved in volunteering for the U.S. Judo Federation, U.S. Judo and the U.S. Judo Association. Her mother started learning judo at the age of 40 after watching her daughter and son participate in the sport."

In 1982, Mom was going to some meetings for the U.S. Women's Federation Committee before the nationals in Indianapolis and she convinced me to go with her, so I did. Since then, I've been to almost every national meeting."

Karen Mackey serves on more than a half-dozen national committees. In 1996, she received the U.S. Judo Federation's President Award. She has been president of Iowa Judo Inc. since 1994. Two years ago she penned an article for Judo Magazine on the history of women participating in a predominately male sport."That's probably an awfully big part of why I got the 6th degree," she said. "They should know you at the national level.

"Will she strive to obtain the 7th degree black belt?"

No, I don't think I ever will," she admitted. "The minimum time in grade is 18 years, so I have to be a 6th degree for that length of time.

"Mackey credited judo for bringing her out of her shell as a teenager and changing her life."

I was very shy as a child. I hated doing any public speaking. After the first or second judo demonstration, I discovered I could make a fool of myself out there and if I was willing to look foolish, I could get up and talk to people. That's simple by comparison. Judo gives you confidence in all areas of your life.

"Judo played a role in her acceptance by the University of Nebraska College of Law, where she obtained her law degree in 1994. She wrote an essay about a national match she lost, competing with a back injury.In coaching young women, Mackey said she teaches judo's lessons about emphasizing responsibility and respect, traits she has carried into her own life.

"I can't image how different my life would be without judo."

FONTE: Sioux City Journal - Sioux City,IA,USA

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/