Head Coach Katie Roche
Info
Rank:Renshi
Number of year: 21
School: TC '16,'20
Ed.M.:Motor Learning & Control
M.A: Physical Education
B.A: Asian Studies (Mount Holyoke College)
Hometown: NYC
Tournament History
UNITED STATES NAGINATA CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Women’s Individuals: 1st Place (2008, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023), 2nd Place (2012), 3rd Place (2006)
Women’s Team Matches: 1st Place (2010, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018), 2nd Place (2017, 2023)
Engi-Kyogi: 2nd Place (2018), 3rd Place (2010)
WORLD NAGINATA CHAMPIONSHIPS: Representing U.S.A.
Women’s Team Matches: Silver (2007, 2011, 2024)
Engi-Kyogi: Bronze (2023)
Zen-Nihon no Kata: Silver (2023)
Representing Team USA: Women’s Team (2019), Captain (2023)
.GREATER NEW YORK NAGINATA CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Women’s Individuals: 1st Place (2006, 2007), 2nd Place (2005, 2009, 2010)
Team Matches: 1st Place (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009), 2nd Place (2010) College Individual Shiai: 2nd Place (2009, 2010)
Zen Nihon no Kata: 2nd Place (2010)
Engi-Kyogi: 1st Place (2006, 2010)
Mudansha Engi-Kyogi: 1st Place (2005)
EAST COAST NAGINATA CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Women's Yudansha Individuals: 1st Place (2013)p>
Bio
As both a Columbia alumna and the head coach of the Columbia University Naginata Club, Roche Sensei has led the team since its founding in 2012. She has been practicing naginata for over 21 years and is currently the youngest person outside Japan to hold the rank of Renshi, as well as the highest-ranking naginata practitioner on the East Coast. She is also recognized as the youngest woman chief instructor of a martial arts dojo in the United States. She is also one of only two holders of the B-class Referee Certification outside of Japan.
Roche Sensei is a record-holding seven-time U.S. Women’s Individual Champion and has been part of multiple national team victories with the Greater New York Naginata Federation. Internationally, she has represented Team USA at four World Naginata Championships, earning silver medals in Women’s Team matches (2007, 2011, 2024), a bronze in Engi (2023), and a silver in Zen Nihon no Kata (2023). In 2023 she also captained Team USA.
A graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University, Roche Sensei holds both an Ed.M. in Motor Learning & Control and an M.A. in Physical Education, along with a B.A. in Asian Studies from Mount Holyoke College. Her coaching philosophy blends movement science research, effective constructivist teaching practices, and her Japanese cultural background to develop strong and well-rounded naginata players at Columbia.
Outside of coaching at Columbia, Roche Sensei serves as President of the Greater New York Naginata Federation and has been instrumental in growing the art across the region and is the Chief Naginata Instructor of Ken-Zen Institute, the oldest Japanese swordsmanship school in NYC. She has founded and mentored several university naginata clubs, including Columbia, and is dedicated to passing on both the martial and cultural traditions of naginata to the next generation of students.
When she’s not coaching, Roche Sensei enjoys Japanese calligraphy (shodo), pottery, and traditional music such as koto and guqin, as well as collecting rare plants — and is known for her love of all things pink.
Assistant Coach: Otto Herman
Info
Rank: 2-dan
Number of years: 4
School: CC ‘24
B.A.: Philosophy
Hometown: LA
Favorite waza: Yaechigae
Tournament History
UNITED STATES NAGINATA CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Men’s Individuals: 1st Place (2025)
Men’s Individuals: 1st Place (2025)
Mixed Team Matches: 1st Place (2025)
Men’s Team Matches: 2nd Place (2023)
Dangai Men's Individuals: 1st Place (2023)
Dangai Engi-Kyogi: 2nd Place (2023)
GREATER NEW YORK NAGINATA CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Mixed Individuals: 1st Place (2024, 2025)
Men’s Individuals 2nd Place (2024, 2025)
Team Matches: 1st Place (2025), 2nd Place (2024), 3rd Place (2023)
Engi-Kyogi: 2nd Place (2024)
Dangai Engi-Kyogi: 1st Place (2023)
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NAGINATA ANNUAL TAIKAI:
Mixed Individuals: 2nd Place (2023)
JSS NICHIBUKAN ANNUAL TAIKAI:
Dangai Men’s Individuals: 1st Place (2023)
Dangai Engi-Kyogi: 2nd Place (2023)
Bio
As an alumnus of Columbia College, Otto started learning naginata under Roche Sensei as a sophomore in 2021. Throughout his time as a student, he served as President and Captain of the CU Naginata Club Team and oversaw growth of the club to nearly three times its size. He often opted to procrastinate his schoolwork so he could practice 5 times a week. He also attended extra practices at Roche Sensei’s dojo Ken Zen Institute as well as training in Southern California Naginata Federation dojos during breaks from school. What he lacks in experience and wisdom he makes up for with rigorous dedication to practicing and a willingness to learn and teach unique, cutting-edge waza (techniques).
In 2025, Otto won the U.S. Men’s Individual Championships. Additionally, he is the only person to ever win the Dangai (non-black belt) Individual Championships, and in the following tournament, win the Men’s Individual Championships.
Outside of coaching at Columbia, Otto serves as Head Coach of the newly formed Pratt Institute Naginata Club.
When he’s not practicing naginata, Otto works as a paralegal, studies for the LSAT, runs, and plays Minecraft.