Michael Copley

Michael Copley 3rd Dan

Unlike Sensei Neale, I was a late starter to martial arts. When I first came to Hull University at 18, to study history, most of my physical exertions had been in a variety of racket and team sports. The first club I joined was the badminton club. I soon realised however that this was not the club for me and wished to try something different. Hearing the karate club scream their guts out made me want to have a go myself.

Training mainly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays under Sensei Horne I swiftly advanced through the ranks, earning a green belt at the end of my first year. By this point however I was still a scrawny underfed student. Stepping up training to 4 times a week and eating everything that could reasonably be digested I soon found myself bulking up and improving rapidly. By the end of my degree I had risen to the rank of 1st kyu and many believed would go no further.

Moving back to Scunthorpe (no jokes Dan) I took a part time job while deciding what to do with my life. I took night shifts, early shifts, anything that would not interfere with my training schedule and travelling to and from Hull while training for that elusive dan grade. Many thanks to all the sofas that were provided and big thank you to Steady who lost his bed on numerous occasions to me. Within six months of this arduous travel I found myself taking a dan grade under close scrutiny from my training partner, Sensei Frankland, enormous gratitude sensei for such a beating, an honour to be battered by you. (Oh how things have changed) A dan grade which also saw me winning the Gen shield for my efforts. I later moved back to Hull and became a primary school teacher.

I am currently a 3rd Dan, after a phenomenal 2nd Dan grading with Sensei Smith, god we looked good. In addition I am also the current holder of the Lorrison Memorial shield and utterly devoted to the club and the people that have had such an enormously positive influence on my life. Nanahombi!