About the AWMAI - board members

Certification Director, Sherry Mcgregor

Sherry McgregorSherry McGregor – Certification Director

Sherry McGregor is one of the highest-ranking female martial artists in the world and is recognized as one of the best female fighters in traditional martial arts. She is one of only a handful of women to be awarded the rank of tenth degree in a traditional Okinawan / Japanese martial art. Sherry currently serves as headmaster of McGregor’s Martial Arts, the division head for Shorin-Ryu Karate for Juko-Kai, as Certification Director for the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors (AWMAI), and as International Director of the women’s division of Pachivas Pankration. She travels worldwide for appearances on television programs, talk shows, at martial arts and sports clinics, and corporate seminars. She now has over thirty six years martial arts experience and holds the rank of fourth degree or higher in seventeen different traditional styles of martial arts.
Sherry is a personal student of Dr. Rod Sacharnoski, Soke and founder of Juko-Kai International, the most prestigious traditional Okinawan / Japanese martial arts association in America. Her martial arts career began at the age of seven when she joined a self-defense class at her elementary school and has continued uninterrupted throughout her life. As a member of Soke Sacharnoski’s international Ki Demonstration Team, she is the first and only female on the team.

  • Served as AWMAI’s Executive Director for 3 years
  • Certified Post Defensive Tactics Instructor for Law Enforcement
  • Sherry was named an "Ushi Deshi"  Personal assistant to Soke Rod Sacharnoski and the first ever female Ushi Deshi known in a traditional organization in 2008
  • Chosen to represent the United States in the World Karate Organization (WKO) world championships against 38 countries (One of eight women chosen)  and won a silver and bronze medals in fighting at the 1998 WKO World championships

Sherry has been most notably featured on The Discovery Channel’s show “Way of the Warrior”, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Univison’s show “Control”, the Learning Channel in “The Top 10 Martial Arts” show, and People Magazine.
Sherry holds membership in the AWMAI, NWMAF, PAWMA, E-Women’s Network, AAU, Juko-Kai, IOMAU, NAPMA and is a personal trainer.  More about Sherry at: www.sherrymcgregor.com


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