Prof W. Rankin was a 10th Dan in Ju-Jitsu with 78 years experience, starting serious training in 1928, he has always refused to be interviewed, preferring his anonymity.
This article was compiled with his permission, by Sensei Andy Manwaring who was one of his personal students, from years of conversations about his background and training, which evolved into his own style Lan-Kin-Fa Ju-Jitsu.
Lan-Kin-Fa includes pressure point & nerve centres, close quarters combat (including many small joint locks), as well as the conventional Ju-Jitsu techniques.
In my years of training in Ju-Jitsu, no one has shown me the depth of knowledge that he has, in the working of Ju-Jitsu techniques and the anatomy of the body.
Bill started his Ju-Jitsu training in 1928, at the age of 14, under his father who was a student of Yukio Tani, one of the first Ju-Jitsu Masters to bring the Art to the UK. His training started in their back garden, with a GI made from an old rain coat and a mat that was a canvas tarpaulin laid over some loose turned soil, which of course compacted over time.
At this time the only place in the UK where Bill could further his training was in London, which meant him travelling there every other weekend to continue his training, but it did enable Bill to train under some of the greatest Ju-Jitsu Masters outside of Japan, such as the aforementioned Yukio Tani, Prof. S. K. Uyenishi and Prof. Gunji Koizumi, the latter was the founder of the Budokwai in 1918, the London Judo/Budo Headquarters. Koizumi was to European Judo what Kano (the founder of Judo) was to World Judo, and like Kano he was also a Ju-Jitsu Master, often giving Ju-Jitsu demonstrations at Judo Tournaments.
The training was very strict, with often only one or two techniques taught in a whole weekend. The grading's were also strict with Bill failing his first through one foot being out of place in a stance and the break falls for his yellow belt were to be done on a cobble stone street.
Bill never charged for his teaching and in 1989 he was presented an award on Esther Rantzen’s “Hearts of Gold” TV show, for his time spent teaching local nurses and pensioners self defence. It was while on this show he was also had his 9th Dan Ju-Jitsu recognised by the AMA.
In 1994, while on one of his many visits to the United States, he was awarded his 10th Dan Ju-Jitsu by Prof. Wally Jay 10th Dan, Founder of Small Circle Ju-Jitsu, and his Panel.
He was also been inducted as a member of the World Head of Family Sokeship Council.
Prof. Bill Rankin 10th Dan
“The Gentle man of Ju-Jitsu”
1914 - 2006