My double life as a classical musician and professional boxer
Hannah Rankin (R) has two very different loves in her life
Heather Saul 2 years Wednesday November 29th 2017
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Classical music and combat sport sit on polar opposite ends of the career spectrum. But for Hannah Rankin, a bassoonist and professional boxer from Luss, Loch Lomond, the two are not so dissimilar.
Ms Rankin, 27, has performed in orchestras across the world and now uses the rhythm she mastered as a classical musician to land powerful punches in the ring. "I love the discipline of boxing," she tells i.
"It's very close to classical music for me. If we're doing combinations and my trainer wants a power on a certain shot, he asks me to think about which one I put the accent on in music and apply it to boxing."
The classical warrior
Hannah Rankin in her day job (pic: Montys Photography)
The self-styled 'Classical Warrior' made her professional debut in the boxing ring in May and the victories are already rolling in. She recently took her first belt, the International Challenge belt for super welterweight, becoming the first woman to win that title.
When not teaching music at schools and performing in orchestras, she will be found training in the gym twice a day, six days a week. It's a punishing schedule by mere mortal standards, but not punishing enough for Ms Rankin. "I'm hyperactive. My trainer is often trying to keep my away from the gym."
The daughter of two farmers, Ms Rankin grew up in a house filled with music. Her mother Clare played the piano, the French horn and the cello. Ms Rankin started playing the flute at the age of 10 and picked up a bassoon for the first time aged 14 when one was donated to her school.
You go in for a boxing fight and people are shouting, it's very noisy – and someone is trying to punch you in the face (Pic: Montys Photography.)
While her two sisters followed her parents into farming, she found the early morning starts rather less appealing. Instead, Ms Rankin's sights were firmly set on a musical career. She studied at the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow, later moving to London to study for a Masters degree at the Royal Academy of Music.
Keen to keep fit in her final year of university, she decided to join a fitness class that was a cross between circuit training and Muay Thai martial arts. After moving to London she was paired with her manager Derek Williams, former European, British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion, and learned to box. Noel Callan came on board later as her professional trainer.
When Ms Rankin's mother died of cancer, boxing became a way of releasing a bit of anger and frustration sparked by her loss. "Sometimes it's good to get a sweat on when things are stressful and upsetting," she says. "My mum was always really keen for us to achieve and work hard at things, and I think that is what has always driven me to do well."
Her first competitive match was a white collar fight for charity. She emerged as a fearsome opponent after four more thanks to four wins and one draw. "Derek and Noel both said to me: 'We think you've got a bit of a talent for this." They were also running out of people for her to fight in the white collar scene.
Boxing puts orchestra nerves into perspective
Hannah and her trainer Noel
Boxing has helped quell her performance nerves in an orchestra. "After my first white collar fight, I suddenly found things put into perspective a little," she explains. "When you stand on stage to play your instrument, the audience there is a classical music audience. They want to hear some nice music. You go in for a boxing fight and people are shouting, it's very noisy – and someone is trying to punch you in the face. It's a little bit more stressful."
Combat sport may be bruising, but her trainer knows how important it is to protect the instruments she uses in the ring. "He wraps my hands every time I train as if I was going to do a fight so they are really well protected. He knows I'm a musician and we work everything around that. If I have a concert on Friday for example, I won't be sparring with anybody because I might end up with a cut lip or something like that."
Ms Rankin also has the full support of her family. Her father has now revealed himself as a boxing fan and her fiance Mike, 31, has taken her boxing career on the chin. "Everyone said how remarkably calm he was while watching my first fight," she laughs. "He knows how much hard work I've put into it and he really trusts that my trainer is looking out for me and my manager. They won't be letting me go and do something they thought was dangerous."
I've had men say boxing isn't a job for women
Ms Rankin hopes to shine a light on women's boxing with her success in the ring. "In Scandinavia and Germany it's quite a commonplace thing for women to become professional fighters but in the UK we are a little bit backwards about it. I've come up against men saying women really shouldn't box, or it's not a job for a woman. But I work just as hard as the men."
Her walk-out song is Can't be Touched by Roy Jones Jr and lucky rituals before a match includes touching gloves and foreheads. Her ritual is somewhat different for a musical performance: "I always have a banana half an hour before. I really hate bananas but it's good for nerves."
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