He then moved to the Kobe Osaka Karate Club in Glasgow in 1974 where his instructor was the renowned Tommy Morris. Dave later opened a branch of Kobe Osaka with Ivy Rennie.

In 1979 Dave left the Kobe Osaka Club and in the same year founded his own club naming it the Sakai Karate Club after an area in Japan.

The Sakai Club began in the Buchanan Centre then moved to the Shanks Hall, then another move to the Arts Guild and finally to the present address, the Grand Hall in Kilmarnock, in 1984.

The Sakai Karate Club has also expanded over the years to be an association of clubs under the banner of Sport Karate Sakai. This association is a full member of the Scottish Karate Governing Body. The clubs are throughout Ayrshire (Ayr, Kilmarnock, Darvel, Mauchline)

Fellow instructors ( Sensei ) are Kris Coulter 4th Dan , Hugh Rooney 3rd Dan and Richard Mallinson 2nd Dan (Dundee)

David was the first recipient to be awarded a grade from the Scottish Karate Governing Body. Over the years he has won many championships and awards:

4 times Scottish individual Champion
7 times Scottish Team Champion
2 times European Lightweight Champion 1978 & 1983
2 times World Team Champion
Scottish Team Captain

Dave then retired from competition and became the Scottish Team Coach for the under 21s from 1985 till 1993.
He then took over as national team coach until 1997.
He is now an assistant National Coach with Gerry Fleming as the National Coach and Hamish Adam Assistant.

The Sakai Karate Club over the years has produced many excellent fighters who have represented Scotland and Great Britain:

Pat McKay : 2 times World Lightweight Champion, European Champion Team & Individual.
Tom Gibson : European Champion
Laughland Wylie : European Silver,Dutch Open Champion.
Tommy Burns : European Silver & Bronze
Scott Cunningham : 2 European Silvers, 4 European Bronzes,British Champion.
Robert McCulloch : Scottish and British Champion and European Bronze
Kirsty Coulter : World Cup Silver, European Bronze & 6 times Scottish Champion
Alan Wallace : 6 times Scottish Champion,Dutch Open Champion.
Michael Coulter : British Champion & 6 times Scottish Champion

Kris Coulter :- 4th Dan Instructor.
8 times Scottish Champion under 65kgs
10 times Scottish Team Champion
7 times British Champion under 65kgs
10 times British Shukokai Champion under 65kgs
10 times British Shukokai Team Champion
Dutch Open Champion, 2x Bronze Medal
Venice Cup Champion, 2x Bronze Medal
Commonwealth Silver Madalist.
British Team Champion.
Isernia Open Italy Champion -65kg,Team Champion.

Steven Rooney :-2nd Dan
Venice Cup Cadet Champion.
Scottish cadet Champion.
British cadet Champion.
British Team Champion.
2x British Shukokai -65 Champion.
4x British Shukokai Team Champion.
Scottish International Open Champion.2x Bronze Medal.

Craig Moffat -2nd Dan
Scottish Champion.
British Champion.
Scottish Universities Champion.
British Universities Champion.
British Team Champion.
4x British Shukokai Team Champion.

The list goes on.......

All told the Sakai Karate Club has had over 100 Individual Scottish Champions, 9 British Champions, 3 European Champions, 2 Commonwealth Champions and 12 European Medalistss.5 Dutch Open Champions.2 Venice European Cup Champions.