Sensei Ian Sammy first started practicing karate in 1987, at the Arima Branch of the Young Men Christian Association, his instructor was Sensei Neville Mason. The club was affiliated to Trinidad Karate Association which was a branch member of the Japan Karate Association. In 1989 Sensei Sammy became a member of the Shotokan Karate do International Federation (SKIF) when his Sensei Mason, formed the local branch of SKIF in Trinidad and Tobago. In 1991 Sensei Sammy was graded to first (1st) degree black belt by Sensei Kenzo Dozono. He also won the SKIFTT (Shotokan Karate-do International Federation Trinidad and Tobago) kata and kumite black belt division in 1991. In 2006, Sensei Ian Sammy travelled to Japan to participate in the 9th SKIF World Championship, while there he was graded to fourth (4th) degree black belt by Soke Hirokazu Kanazawa, who was the head of the SKIF organisation. Sensei Ian Sammy started teaching Karate in 1992 but in 1997 Sensei Sammy opened his first dojo at the La Joya Sporting Complex. 2009 started a new direction for Sensei Sammy as he became affiliated to another branch of SKIF in Trinidad and Tobago. Since that time Sensei Sammy has trained with the likes of Soke Kanazawa, Kancho Kanazawa, Shuseki Murakami, Hanshi H. Ishikawa, Hanshi M. Mura, Hanshi R. Koga, Kyoshi A. Castro, Sensei F. Kanazawa, Sensei S. Tanaka. Sensei Sammy was graded to 5th Dan by Hanshi Hiroshi Ishikawa and Kyoshi Castro in 2018. On January 25th 2025, Sensei Sammy was appointed as president and chief instructor of SKIF Trinidad and Tobago.