Instructors

Sensei James James - Sandan (3rd Dan) - Chief Instructor & Technical Director, JKA Manitoba Sensei James is our Head Instructor at Nintai Dojo, and Chief Instructor & Technical Director for the JKA Manitoba. With over 35 years of training and teaching in Shotokan karate, he also holds a black belt in Judo and has studied several other self-defense styles in his exploration of traditional martial arts. Sensei James has been the long-time principal student of Sensei Philip Dingman - one of the pioneers of Shotokan Karate in Central Canada starting in the 1970's.

Sensei Deanna Deignault - Nidan (2st Dan) - Instructor

Sensei Jason White - Shodan (1st Dan) - Instructor

Our Lineage - Sensei Phillip Dingman

In the late 70’s and throughout the 80’s and 90’s, Sensei Phillip Dingman was the Chief Instructor of ISKF/JKA of Manitoba.

Physically small, outside of Karate he would instantly transform into a giant when on the dojo floor. He was the second person in Canada to successfully examine for his Rokudan (6th degree black belt) under the JKA.

Under his direction the Province flourished on a tournament level with many of the top spots at the Canadian Nationals being occupied by Manitoba. His Dojo on Albert Street in Winnipeg served as the ISKF/JKA Headquarters Dojo in Manitoba.

His Dojo was profoundly important to many of the traditional Shotokan practitioners in Winnipeg for decades, and hundreds of black belt karateka can trace their roots back to Sensei.

Many of the great Japanese Shotokan instructors set foot on that well worn hardwood floor over the years including Senseis Nakayama, Okazaki, Yaguchi, Tanaka, Takashina, and many more. In fact, the first place Yaguchi Sensei ever taught in Canada was in Winnipeg, and he visited regularly every three months for many decades.

Sensei Dingman is the only Manitoba coach to have a winning team at the Canada games, and is considered to be the winningest Coach of Shotokan Karate in the province. Sensei trained and coached JKA Champion Nivishia Shipshurn who won the 1994 Shotocup Kata Championships, and Tammy Dingman who took second in the Ladies Shotocup Championship.

But more than all of his accomplishments, it is the unending impact of his passion for karate, love of teaching, and commitment to his students that represent his legacy. Sensei had to retire as the Chief Instructor of the JKA Manitoba several years ago due to health reasons, but his influence and the values he instilled in us - the instructors at the Nintai Dojo - enables us to continue to carry forth his ideals.