Iconic Guyanese-Canadian Karateka Frank Woon-A-Tai

– hails success of inaugural International Karate Daigaku Shoto

By Ravendra Madholall

Famed in the Karate world, Guyanese-Canadian Frank Woon-A-Tai is extremely pleased to have hosted his first major international event with resounding success recently in Canada.
The inaugural 2012 International Karate Daigaku Shoto (IKDS) World Cup brought in excess of 650 competitors from around the globe to one venue (Ryerson University) to participate in a three-day tournament. Woon-A-Tai, who holds a dual citizenship with Canada and his native country, Guyana, was the Chief Instructor at the championship.
In an interview with Caribbean Times International Magazine at his home and doju (gym), located in the heart of Toronto, Woon-A-Tai said he believes the tournament united the athletes and helped them to cement stronger relationships.
While the event was his initiative, Woon-A-Tai said his colleagues, families and friends supported him greatly to make the tournament a success. Eighteen-months ago, he resigned as Chairman and Technical Director of the International Shotokan Karate Federation in Canada to establish the IKDS.
“After40 years of dedicated and loyal support to my teachers, I resigned from my former affiliations, not once, but twice, with my heartbroken in two pieces. Fortunately for me, true, unselfish friends lifted me up again and in time, my heartache ceased. With support, I rose again from the ashes like phoenix to reach to a level of satisfaction,” Woon-A-Tai declared.
According to the 62-year-old veteran Karateka, IKD has now embarked on a course that will take traditional karate-do into the digital 21st century by focusing on research and development.
“Among our programmes are: the introduction of red and blue gloves sparring gloves and belts that will make it easier to identify competitors; judges uniforms will be changed from shirt to tie under a kimono jacket known as a ‘haori’, which is a practical approach in keeping with tradition,” Woon-A-Tai explained.
Reflecting on the recent event at Ryerson University, Woon-A-Tai said he was impressed with the massive turn-out and more importantly the togetherness he witnessed among the karatekas.
A phenomenal fighter since he entered the sport of karate in 1964, Woon-A-Tai is rated a 10thDan karateta.
He migrated to Canada 32 years ago but still has time to serve and help build karate in Guyana. He is currently president of the Guyana Karate College (GKC).
Woon-A-Tai, who holds a B.A degree in Japanese Studies from the University of Toronto, said he is also very proud to know that he can still contribute significantly to Guyana’s Karatekas.
With construction of a Dujo building at Liliendaal, EastCoast Demerara in Guyana on a plot of land granted by former Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo, Woon-A-Tai is confident that this development will encourage other aspiring Karatekas to do greater things for Guyana in the near future.
“This should make a great impact for Karatekas in Guyana to take the sport more seriously.”
He added, “My main goal continues to be of service to young people throughout the world by helping them find direction in life, helping to keep them off drugs, and to break the cycle of crime and violence through the discipline of Karate training, so I think with this kind of project we can make our task a reality comfortably.”
He related that discipline, self-defence, good character, sincerity, dedication and self-control are the main factors to propel Karatekas to a philosophical level. The toughness of the game along with physicality, he pointed out, can make an eager individual prosperous.
With this in mind, the Karate master also disclosed that “On the academic and philosophical levels, IKD will focus on the educational system as in the Caribbean, especially at the University level as a credit course. In 2011, IKD received accreditation from the Guyana Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. Our guiding principles in the Dojo Kun will help keep young people off drugs and the streets, show them direction in life generally.”
Woon-A-Tai said he will continue to travel around the world to assist with his teaching in this field. He has devoted a lot of time not only for the ascension of the sport in his homeland, Guyana, or his adapted country Canada, but also played pivotal role in the Caribbean as well. He previously served as president for the Caribbean Karate College.
His accomplishments date back to 1964, when Woon-A-Tai became a Karate student. He received his first black belt in 1971 from the JKA in Tokyo, and his eighth degree black belt from Masters Okazaki and Yaguchi, two Masters. He also received an ‘A class Instructor’, ‘A Class Examiner’, and ‘A Class judge’ licences at the same time.
In turn, he has produced thousands of black belt students ranging from first and seventh Dan as well as several international instructors, examiners and judges.
In2011, Woon-A-Tai received his greatest honour from the government of Guyana. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Service of Guyana and awarded the Medal Service for long and outstanding service as an exponent and trainer in martial arts at the national, regional and international levels by Jagdeo.