A new karate dojo ‘for the community’ has opened in the heart of Irvine.
Kenshin Shukokai Karate is the brainchild of chief instructor and 4th Dan, Martin McCall, who proudly opened the club’s new premises on Eglinton Street.
And while the club has been going for a decade, their new base in the heart of the town is a place to call their own – and one that Martin hopes can be an asset for the entire community.
The club hosted a hugely successful Open Day, with around 90 people attending, and Martin says he’s also hopeful of bringing other martial arts into the facility.
Speaking to the Irvine Herald, he said: “I’ve had the club for about 10 years, we were formerly at Towerlands but I always strived to have my own place and premises.
“It’s been a labour of love but we now have a full-time dojo and our own place to call home situated in Eglinton Street right in the town centre.
“It used to be an antiques shop and we’ve spent a lot of time, effort and money to get it all set up.”
He added: “It’s for the community. That’s what it’s all about. We see it as a community asset and something we want to be of benefit to the people of Irvine and the surrounding area.
“Anyone can come along to the classes, anyone can use it to get fit and active and be part of a group. There’s no pressure to reach certain targets or have ideas when you come in – whatever you want to get out of karate, we’ll help you achieve.
“And we’re also chatting to people from other martial arts and there might be the option of having other practices using the facility, too.
“We had an Open Day recently and around 90 people attended and the feedback was positive. A lot of them were saying ‘wow, what a transformation.”
The opening of his new dojo brings an end to a long journey for Martin – who confessed they had plans in place that had to be halted due to the covid pandemic, although he insists everything worked out for the best.
He said: “It’s something I’d been looking at for a while. I actually had a place basically signed and sealed and then covid happened and it all fell through.
“In a way, I’m actually glad it did because this place just kind of really landed on my lap and everything about it was simply too good to turn down.
“We’re really happy with how everything has turned out and over the next year or two hopefully we can contiue to make improvements and become really something special for the town.”