Front Entrance
| Welcome to Neil Dunnigan's School of Karate! The tasteful yet understated entrance conceals behind its doors Edmonton's finest martial arts facility. The 5200 sq. ft. facility was custom designed and developed in 1996 at the specifications of Sensei Neil Dunnigan. Having a senior student as a construction manager ensured that all specifications were carried through in extraordinary style! |
Foyer
| Visitors entering the wheelchair accessible facility are welcomed with a tranquil Zen rock garden and oriental artwork. Off the foyer is a boot room where visitors and students remove their footwear prior to proceeding to the reception area. |
Reception Area
| The front desk is a busy spot where students sign in, guests are greeted and items are purchased from the retail area. Behind the reception counter is a window which provides an excellent view of the workout areas. |
Waiting Room
| Off the foyer and to the left of the front desk is a quiet waiting room where siblings color, play or watch television when waiting for brothers and sisters to finish class. For older teens it provides a study room for use prior to class time. For adults, the Waiting Room provides a welcome chance to sit quietly, read a magazine and enjoy a coffee. |
Black Belt Gallery
| The Back Belt Gallery honors the many black belts who are an active part of our school. Each picture contains a formal portrait of the black belt, along with photograph of the individuals certification, and recorded in Okinawa, Japan. The gallery displays the pictures in descending rank order. It is interesting to note the more senior the ranking, the lower the certification number, attesting to the dedication required to achieve the higher ranks. |
| It is an honor to have one's picture and certification displayed on the gallery wall. All students aspire to one day have their picture added to this impressive testimonial to our dedicated and talented black belts. |
Formal Training Hall
The formal training hall is referred to by its Japanese name, the "Dojo". A weapons rack at the front of the Dojo holds a variety of traditional weapons, including those initialy used as farm tools and converted to weapons for purpose of personal protection. |
The front of the main dojo is marked by a large wooden structure called a "Kamidana", which is a replica of a senior master's in Okinawa. The kamidana is used as a centering point at the beginning and end of classes and embodies the spirit of respect and humility within traditional karate. The kamidana is flanked by portraits of Karate Masters, which reflect the karate lineage of this school. The portraits from left to right depict the initial study of this style in the Shoalin Temple in China, to Okinawa (past and present masters) and the linkage with our school through Sensei Neil Dunnigan. |
| Our school was designed to allow for the space to accomodate large or small groups. We have the capacity of readily dividing this spacious are into two seperate workout rooms through the use of movable and attractive Japanese screen wall. The training hall has a beutiful natural wooden floor with cushion spring features, which absorbs shock. |
There is a large mirror (6'x11') along one wall to assist in individual practice and self correction. A water fountain is also on one wall. A weapons rack at the front of the dojo holds a variety of traditional weapons, including those initially used as farm tools and converted to weapons for protection purposes. |
Student Ranking Board
| Every Student hold a formal rank, whether a novice white belt rank or a senior black belt. As all students are valued and recognized within our karate family,each new member is presented with a wooden ceremonial stick with the students name on it. When presented with a name stick, the student places it at the end of the white belt row of sticks. Upon each promotion to a different color belts, the student moves the stick to the end of the appropriate color row as a sign of their graduation to this next level of study. Upon reaching the level of Black Belt, the sticks are rank ordered to reflect the Black Belt rankings, from the most senior to junior level. |
Warm-up Room
The warm-up room can be accessed from the training hall/Dojo, as well as from both change rooms. It is a place where students are able to develop their personal conditioning. Students may work on unique, traditional conditioning tools, practice kicking on water filled and traditional heavey bags or use the weight equipment. Students condition arems, legs, knuckles and develop finger strength with the traditional equipement shown here. |
Change Rooms
| Men's and Women's change rooms are spaceous and well maintained. Change rooms are fully equiped with shower stalls, a foot bath, ample coat hooks and a private washroom. As a private washroomj is available for guests off the workout area, guests do not need to enter the student's change areas. |
Both change rooms have two enterances, one from the main hallway and the second from the adjacent warm-up room. Main enterances are readily identified by unique oriental curtains with depictions of a male female traditional cerimonial dress. |
