Neil Dunnigan

5th degree black belt (Godan)

Started July 1974

Owner and Chief Instructor

Born and raised in Edmonton, Neil left home at age 17 to join the Royal Canadian Navy. His journey into the world of karate began in July 1974, while working for the Canadian Coast Guard in Halifax. Being athletically inclined and intrigued with all aspects of the study, he learned rapidly. Neil devoted extensive amounts of time to the study of karate, progressed quickly through the junior ranks and earned his first degree black belt in December 1976. Neil’s natural teaching talents were recognized early by his teacher and as a result, he was soon running an affiliated school while continuing his own training.

Neil enrolled in the Physical Education faculty at Acadia University in Nova Scotia; specifically taking courses that would deepen his understanding of his karate and aid him as a teacher. These courses included the study of kinesiology (human movement), anatomy, physiology, as well as the care and prevention of athletic injuries. In 1981, Neil’s dream to teach full-time came true when he and wife, Susan pulled up stakes in Nova Scotia and returned to Neil’s hometown of Edmonton, where he continues to teach. In 1983 Neil developed a specialty program of non-abusive psychological and physical intervention, which he has been teaching for government and community human service programs since that time.

 

Teaching Credentials:

Neil holds the rank of 5th degree black belt (Godan) in Shohei Ryu Karate. The Okinawan Karate Association, on December 11, 1992 formally tested him for this rank in Okinawa. At this time he also obtained certification as a Master Instructor (Shihan). Neil maintains close links with Okinawa and his teacher, Master Tsutomu Nakahodo, 9th degree, President of the Okinawan Association of Karate.

 

Specialty Workshops and Consultation: Non Abusive Psychological & Physical Intervention

 

Sample Organizations from Government and Non Profit Sectors:

Alberta Family and Social Services (AF&SS) - Child Welfare Branch: Yellowhead Youth Centre, etc.  - Services to Persons with Disabilities Branch:                   Community Behavioral Services - Gunn Center: residence for indigent men Foster Parent Association of Alberta Catholic Social Services Winifred Stewart Association for the Mentally Handicapped Grant McEwen College- Child Care Counselor Program Workers Compensation Board BC Aboriginal Police Services

 

Volunteer Workshops on Fitness and Self Defense

Public Schools- Edmonton and surrounding area United Way - Alberta Family and Social Services staff and friends Canadian Mental Health Sexual Assault Center

 

Other Volunteer Affiliations

Canadian Association for William's Syndrome- Alberta Director Edmonton Food Bank- donations raised at volunteer workshops with schools Bissell Center- contributor to annual fund-raiser auction Effort Society- contributor to annual fund-raiser auction Queen Mary Park Community League- newspaper editor

 

Neil Dunnigan ... Committed to leadership, student achievement and social responsibility