Ernest H. Cates
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Ernie Cates is the creator of Neko-ryu Goshin Jitsu.
He was awarded the title of Professor from the U.S. Judo Association of which he currently holds an eighth degree black belt (Hachi Dan) in Kodokan Judo. He also holds a seventh degree black belt in Taiho JuJutsu (Police Tactics) and a seventh degree black belt in Goshin Jitsu (Self Defense Tactics).
Cates is retired from the U.S. Marine Corps where he achieved the rank of Captain. During his career in the Marines, he was the 1956 Okinawa Judo Champion, the overall All Marine Corps Judo Champion from 1959 to 1963 and the All Marine Corps Judo Champion from 1959 to 1965 in his weight division. He was also twice the USMC Inter-service Grand Champion in Judo. Professor Cates is currently the only American ever to be awarded the Japanese Ambassador's Cup in Judo which he received in 1962. Cates has taught over half a million U.S. Marines in hand-to-hand combat. Cates has served as Captain of the Eastern United States USMC Team Championships and the Southern U.S. AAU. Cates was also part of the group that trained Dan Severn for the Ultimate Fighting Championships.
During a military tour of Vietnam from 1965 to 1967, at the University of Hue he trained Ngo Dong in Judo, and helped Professor Dong add Judo techniques to the art of Cuong Nhu.
Cates also served as a law enforcement officer and taught police recruits in tactical training at the Mid-Michigan Police Academy while serving as a deputy sheriff in Shiawasi County, Michigan. The mid-Michigan Police Academy is located in Lansing and serves as a training ground for all of Michigan's Law Enforcement drug task force entry teams. Professor Cates has trained Federal, State and local law enforcement officers throughout the United States, and has been chosen to instruct nuclear facility and private security personnel. Cates has also served as the Michigan State University Judo Team Coach.
Cates currently holds seminars and clinics in Neko-ryu throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. He also holds classes in Judo, JuJutsu and Neko-ryu weekly at the Burlington Martial Arts Center in North Carolina. His late wife is Mary Davis-Cates.
