Frank Woon-A-Tai

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Frank Woon-A-Tai

M.S. , M.H.
Frank WoonATai.png
Shuseki Shihan, Frank Woon-A-Tai, 9th Dan
Born (1950-05-22) May 22, 1950 (age 71)
Georgetown, Guyana
EducationJapan Karate Association Instructor Training Program (1989) University of Toronto (2004)
OccupationChief Instructor of the International Karate Daigaku and Author
Years active1964-present
OrganizationInternational Karate Daigaku
Notable work
Shu-Ha-Ri: My Life in Japanese Karate (2020)
TitleShuseki Shihan
Spouse(s)Maureen Woon-A-Tai (1974-present)
Children3 Children

5 Grandchildren

1 Great-Grandchild
HonoursThe French Guiana Medal of Service (1996) Member of The Order of Guyana (2011)
Websitewww.internationalkaratedaigaku.com

Frank Woon-A-Tai (born May 22, 1950) is the chief instructor of the International Karate Daigaku, President of the Caribbean Karate College, Chief instructor and Chairman of the Guyana Karate College, and Chairman of IKD Canada and IKD Guyana. He is a ninth degree black belt in Shotokan Karate.

Early life[]

Frank was born on May 22, 1950 in Georgetown, Guyana. He revealed his DNA test results in his book, which came up as 86% Chinese from Canton and 14% Afro-Guyanese.[1]

Career[]

In 1964, Frank Woon-A-Tai began self-training in Guyana, which eventually led to earning his black belt in 1971 at the Mecca of Karate - the Japan Karate Association (JKA) HQ in Tokyo, Japan. He was the first, and to date, the only Guyanese to be awarded this rank from Japan. Frank spent the next 40 years training with the best Japanese masters worldwide: Masatoshi Nakayama, Hidetaka Nishiyama, Teruyuki Okazaki, Yutaka Yaguchi and all the other JKA legends of the 60s and 70s, making his “Lineage” direct to the founder of karate Gichin Funakoshi.[1]

In 1978, Woon-A-Tai first gained international prominence at the Japan Karate Association's Pan American Championships in Montreal, Quebec, Canada where he emerged as Kata Champion.

In 1989, he graduated as the first Guyanese/Canadian graduate of the prestigious ISKF/JKA Instructor Training Institute, which led to ISKF Technical degrees of A-class Instructor, A - class Examiner and A-class Judge. Frank was the first in the ISKF to earn the highest rank granted to a non-Japanese – the JKA Seventh Dan and one of the first four instructors to be promoted to ISKF Eighth Dan black belt.

Frank founded JKA Guyana in 1971 and was chief Instructor of JKA Jamaica from 1976 to 1980. After that, he moved to Toronto and served as ISKF Canada chairman for 26 years.

In 1981 he founded the Toronto JKA. Frank served as co-vice chairman of the ISKF Technical Committee for several years. He is the first chairman of the Caribbean Karate College, and in 2006, he founded the Guyana Karate College (GKC), a non-profit association.

In 2011 Frank received the official Land Title to an acre of prime land from His Excellency, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, President of Guyana, to build a state-of-the-art 12,000 square foot GKC International Budokan Dojo. Moreover, his five-year plan is to develop a massive four-storied complex that will house a Martial Arts Arena, 48 student dormitories, 24 apartments for coaches and officials, and a restaurant on the top floor overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. [1]

What was missing in his life was higher academic education due to his impoverished childhood. Frank returned to school at the ripe age of 50 and, at age 54, graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Japanese Studies with a Minor in History. In 2011, he was appointed to the Order of Service of Guyana, M.S. And back in 1996, he received the French Guiana Medal of Honour, M.H, for 20 years of karate service to that country. [2]

In 2011, he founded the IKD - International Karate Daigaku (University), with a membership of 80 regions in 56 countries in ten years. This remarkable accomplishment demonstrates his credibility, knowledge, administration, and technical skills in such a short time. Today, IKD is much larger than many karate organizations that are descendants of the JKA. [3]

Frank is the author of Shu-Ha-Ri: My Life in Japanese Karate, published by IKD Honbu Inc., 2020 [4] and has produced DVDs: FW Vintage Demonstration, 1992; Eclipse of Life, 1997; Soul of Kata 1, 2000; IKD First World Cup, 2012; Road to the Cup, 2015; and The Next Generation; 2015. He also edited several Newsletters, Technical Manuals and written several Association By-Laws. [5]

Championships and awards[]

Woon-A-Tai first gained international prominence when he won the JKA Pan American kata championship in 1978.

Awards/medals[]

  • Awarded The French Guiana Medal of Service in 1996. [2]
  • Georgetown, Guyana Mayor's Award in 2009. [6]
  • Member of The Order of Guyana - recipient of the Medal of Service from Bharrat Jagdeo, President of Guyana, in October 2011. [1]

Education[]

Personal life[]

On June 1, 1974, Frank Woon-A-Tai married Maureen, a fellow karate-ka, in Georgetown, Guyana. Together they have three children, five grandchildren including D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, and one great-grandchild. The Woon-A-Tai family currently reside in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d "56 years of Karate | Guyanese Karate Ambassador now training successors". Guyana Chronicle. 2020-12-27. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  2. ^ a b "Woon-A-Tai promoted to eighth dan black belt". 22 June 2008.
  3. ^ "Woon-A-Tai announces formation of new world karate organization". Stabroek News. 2011-02-16. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  4. ^ GTIMES (2020-12-02). "Minister Charles Ramson to attend launch of book by 9th Dan karateka Frank Woon-A-Tai". Guyana Times. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  5. ^ "Shihan Frank Woon-A-Tai – International Karate Daigaku". Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  6. ^ "Mayor's award for 2009 presented to Master Frank Woon-a-Tai". Kaieteur News. 2009-12-02. Retrieved 2021-09-23.

External links[]

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