Kicking goals: Karate sensei’s 40-year dedication to sport

The 70-year-old says sparring with young people keeps him on his toes

Senior Karate instructor Wayne Mercer just turned 70. Photo: John McCutcheon / Sunshine Coast Daily

AS A third-dan black belt, it is safe to say that karate is in 70-year-old Wayne Mercer's blood.

Mr Mercer started his martial arts journey in 1978 and has now been training at Coolum's Civic Centre with Anderson Bushi Kai for 25 years.

The sensei (senior instructor) said he couldn't imagine his life without the sport.

"Once you've got it in your blood karate is a way of life, it's a lifestyle," Mr Mercer said.

"I find my life is much more structured, you fall back on it and use it in things like business. It keeps you a lot more centred and focused in where you are."

With the youngest member of the club being 14 Mr Mercer spars with much younger opponents.

"It keeps you young, intermingling with younger people and they like getting out there with me and giving me a touch around the ear hole as well," he said.

"Some of the little ones will get stuck into you.

"But we look at each other as being family, we might get out there with the gloves on and kick and punch each other but there is no malice in it."

Coolum Anderson Bushi Kai head instructor John Core said Mr Mercer was a great inspiration for the younger generation.

"We train with people from all walks of life and it's inspirational to see Wayne who still participates in every element of training," he said.

"He will always do what we ask him to do; if we do 100 push-ups, he will do 100 push-ups."

Mr Core said the experienced karateka's age didn't hold him back.

"He has a lot of experience and what he lacks in speed he makes up for in experience and he is always there to give his opinion to help someone improve," Mr Core said.

After training with Grant Kenny and Hayden Kenny in the 1980s, Mr Mercer said a lot had changed over the years.

"Back in the '80s there was a place where everyone trained in nearly every suburb on the Sunshine Coast," he said.

"Now we find it very hard to keep people - we find they are not willing to do the hard work.

"They say, 'I want my black belt next year', but we have to say, 'Sorry, no you don't get anything given to you here, it doesn't come on a cornflakes packet, you have to earn it', so once it gets a bit hard people drop off."

Mr Mercer, who is training to achieve his fourth dan at the end of this year, said he was simply enjoying the ride.

"I'm quite happy moving along the way I am. I'm due to grade again soon - but I'm not in any hurry to go anywhere, I'm just happy to go to training twice or three times a week."