Sensei Kai Rankine – My story

I started Karate when I was 7 years old and I’m now 23! Sensei Michael has always been my Sensei and my Coach. The Journey started wanting to participate in Karate with my brother Chad. Eventually me and my brother needed extra help with all the kata’s we were learning and so Sensei Michael put in the extra hours to make sure we were on top of it, something he has always done.  

I started competing regularly and being successful, this was extra fuel to the fire of my passion toward the sport. I was dedicated to training as much as possible on top of school and me and Sensei Michael worked towards and achieved 5 National titles both in Kata and Kumite in which I’m immensely proud of my achievement. But I would have to say the Biggest Achievement in my Karate career so far was gaining my Black Belt at 10 years old and later after achieving 1st Dan Black Belt. The hours and hours of practicing and learning and laughing with my friends at Karate had paid off and I had finally achieved my Black Belt.  

After this my focus was to do whatever I could to do this sport forever and I aspired to continuing competing and have success but thanks to the Sensei’s I have had over the years which includes both Sensei Michael and Sensei Dave who are at Team Rankine Karate now. I decided that I wanted to be like them too. I focused on my PE at school and learning from the teachers there too. I Passed my A Levels and went to University of Derby to study Sport and Education. In this time I have also completed my EKF coaching badge and have had a heavy impact of the students I have a privilege of teaching and watching grow up all the time.  

The biggest thing I think I learnt from Sensei Michael is that we are all on our own journey through both life and in Karate and we try and strive to better ourselves all the time but sometimes this is hard. It’s the trying to understand why someone isn’t able to do something they did yesterday, or why they look like something is bothering them today. It’s the relationship I have the honour of building with so many students and helping them brings me so much satisfaction and pride in the time I spend with them. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this,  

Sincerely  

Sensei Kai.