Today we’d like to introduce you to Cat Gurinsky.
Hi Cat, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began training in martial arts on Long Island in the summer of 2000 when I was 15. I originally started studying iaido (Japanese sword) and karate. I was a nerdy, skinny and awkward kid with exercise-induced asthma, and karate was the first sport that I could really do well. It became addictive, I grew muscle mass and became good at competing in forms, weapons and sparring. I also learned to help teach and mentor at that school as I progressed through the ranks. Even back then, by the time I was a senior in high school, I was telling my parents that one day I would have my own karate school. I moved away to Indiana for college but continued training and practicing my karate, and by 2004 received my first black belt on one of my trips back home. I ended up switching to a tae kwon do school after graduation in Indiana and later received my black belt there in 2009.
A couple of years after that, I moved to California for work and ended up at a Shaolin Kenpo Karate school. I started at the beginning in ranks yet again but for the first time, I felt like I had found my “forever” style and that if I ever left, I would continue that no matter what. Shortly before testing for my black belt, we moved to Austin, TX to start our family here, and I flew back and tested for my Kenpo black belt six months after my son was born at the end of 2016. When we moved to Austin, I initially cross-trained at an American Kenpo Karate school, but by the summer of 2017, I decided it was time to bring the Shaolin Kenpo variant here and began subletting and teaching my own classes since there was no where in TX to train. Earlier this year in January, I finally signed my first lease for my own dedicated storefront. I also tested this past June for my 2nd degree black belt in Kenpo, since that pandemic has enabled me to take both black belt and private lessons with my parent school back in California unlike the pre-COVID years where I could only train on my own and then just travel back in person for additional help.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In the first three years, before I had my storefront location, I was usually between 3-10 active students at any given time. The places I subletted from were not high traffic and so no one found me unless they googled for Kenpo Karate generally. I didn’t mind though as I always had my day job and was just happy to teach, but I did want to grow the school eventually, which really didn’t become a proper size until I finally got the dedicated location where we are today. When we moved into the new place, I started with 11 students, and as of last month, we were up to 40!
I also work a full-time day job for Apple Inc as a Senior Network Engineer, so my other challenge is that while I would love to be at the dojo nonstop, I have to limit my days there due to the day job, and more importantly, my family. My husband and I have two young children at home (an almost four years old daughter and a 5 1/2 years old son). If I was teaching at the dojo every night, between that and the day job, I would never see any of my family at waking hours.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in Shaolin Kenpo Karate, the branch that derived from Ralph Castro in San Francisco. When I moved to Texas, I was surprised to learn that no one had opened up any schools in this variant of kenpo anywhere in the state. So I am the first person to bring this specific branch of Kenpo to TX. I also am very patient and LOVE to work with all ages, from the young pre-school/kindergarten aged kids all the up to adults older than myself. I accept all kinds of students regardless of physical or mental abilities and pride myself in my ability to work with and help anyone. I love my dojo to feel like an extension of my family. I am here because I love to teach and work with others, and I believe that shows when I’m on the mat teaching a class. I also LOVE to analyze which is a major part of what makes Kenpo so interesting to myself and our students because every move is practical and there’s a reason behind it.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My martial arts teachers through the years. My current instructors are Master Professor Bill Grossman and his wife Professor Pati Grossman. Before that, I trained with Grandmaster Deborah Grimaldi and Renshi Chris Lohwasser. My iaido instructors as well, my current instructor Brandon Burkett and my first original iaido instructor Shihan Nicole Cardiello. They all shaped me into the martial artist I am today. Master Professor Bill Grossman has been a huge advocate for me in helping me on my journey to finally owning my own school, how to run it, and tips for general success. He may be miles away in California but I feel his presence and advice with me every day.
Pricing:
- $79 introductory special (includes uniform and first month)
- $134/month unlimited classes after that
Contact Info:
- Email: cat@immortaltiger.com
- Website: www.immortaltiger.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/immortaltigeraustin/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImmortalTigerAustin
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/immortaltigerkk
- Youtube: http://youtube.com/c/ImmortalTigerKenpoKarate
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/immortal-tiger-kenpo-karate-austin
